Dominoes, also known as ‘bones’, are a game of playing cards which is played in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. It is thought to have originated in China. The pieces are made from dark hardwoods such as ebony and ivory, and have a carved face. They are marked with an arrangement of pips on one side.
Each domino has a distinct shape and size, with the most common form having six pips. Some have no pips at all. There are a number of different versions of the game, which range from solitaire to trick-taking.
A domino game begins with a platform of three or four dominoes, each of which is drawn in turns. Players are able to add tiles to the layout at any time. However, players cannot see the value of the other players’ tiles. In most games, a player’s score is determined by how many pips they have awarded to their opponents, and the number of pips awarded to the other players in a losing hand.
The first player chooses a tile, then lays it in the middle of the table. The second player draws a tile, then places it on the table, making sure that it is at least a square away from the first tile. For example, if the first tile is a double-six, the second player must draw a tile which is two-six.
The first player is then able to place one of his dominoes against the second, and the next player must lay one of his dominoes on top of it. If the first and third tiles are identical, the next player must lay one of his dominoes against the two end tiles of the first. When a player plays a domino with the same number on both ends, he is said to have “stitched up” the ends of his domino.
The game’s name originates from the French word ‘Domino’. It was originally used to describe a hooded masquerade mask that was worn by Christian priests. This name is still used today, and is often associated with a particular style of clothing.
Before the game begins, all of the players must agree on a target number, which is the minimum score that each of them should achieve. They must also agree on how to determine the target. One method involves drawing lots, while another uses the heaviest hand. Once the number is agreed upon, each of the players takes a turn.
When the first player is done, the other players will begin to add tiles to the layout. The goal is to make the tower as stable as possible. Ultimately, the player who has the most pips in their hands wins the game.
The game was first played in Italy and France in the mid-18th century. Later, dominoes arrived in England, where they were played by prisoners of war. Today, they are widely played in the Caribbean, as well as other parts of Latin America.