Domino is a game of matching the ends of domino pieces and laying them down in lines and angular patterns. It is also used to score points, and the number of points scored is recorded on a domino board or cribbage board. It is easy to get drawn into a game of domino and lose track of the time; it can be challenging to learn how to play, though. For a beginner, it is best to begin with a smaller game, such as a fives and threes game.
A domino is a small, flat thumb-sized rectangular block with a line or ridge on one side and either blank or bearing from one to six pips (dots) on the other. A complete set of dominoes has 28 such pieces. The number of pips on a domino determines which suit it belongs to. Each domino can be matched with another domino of the same suit, or it can be paired with a domino of a different suit, or it can stand alone.
The rules for domino are not strictly written, but there are certain basics. The winner of the previous hand picks first, and he or she starts the new round by playing any domino in his or her hand. Then each player takes turns laying down tiles in a line. Each tile must be matched with a domino of the same suit, or it must have a blank side (also called a zero). If you have a lot of tiles and run out of space on the table, you can lay them at an angle to make room.
Most domino games are positional, meaning that a player in turn places a domino edge to edge against another domino with the goal of making a specified pattern or total. The resulting pattern is then followed by the next domino in line, and so on. This basic pattern is often seen in videos of domino players competing to build the most elaborate and impressive lineups of dominoes before an audience of fans.
The basic rules of domino vary somewhat depending on the game, but most involve scoring points by placing tiles end to end so that the open ends of the dominoes touch each other – one’s touching two’s, and so on. Then, when all the dominoes are played, the player who scores wins the game. For example, in a game called Muggins, the object is to place all of your tiles so that their exposed ends form a multiple of five. A point is awarded for each multiple of five that is scored. A player may also call “Muggins” when he or she has placed a domino and didn’t realize that it would score. The other players may then score that particular domino. Keeping a score is an important part of the game and is usually done by placing a marker in front of each player to keep track of their points.