Dominos are small, rectangular blocks that are used for playing a variety of games. They are typically made from either bone, ivory, plastic, or wood. They are also marked with a series of pips that are in an arranged pattern.
There are different types of dominos, with the most popular variant requiring a double-six set. The largest is a double-21 set, with 253 tiles. They can be used in positional games, or trick-taking games. They can be played with two, three, four, or five players.
Traditionally, European-style dominoes were made from dark hardwood, such as ebony. Some larger sets use Arabic numerals instead of pips. Some are blank on one side. Other sets are marked with Chinese suit distinctions.
When played, the player must position the tile so it touches an end of a chain of dominoes. The first domino in the line is tipped, which starts a chain reaction that eventually reaches all the dominoes. The chain shapes vary depending on the surface on which the game is being played.
Most of the time, a domino is laid out edge to edge, with the tiles on the sides being placed against the edge of the table. However, there are some games that are played with curved or multicolored tiles. A variation called Bendomino uses curved tiles to create a block that may block a part of a line of play.
A variety of other games are played with dominoes, including Five-Up. These games require the player to place a number of tiles that are stacked on top of each other to form a winning combination.
Other games that use dominoes include Tien Gow and Pai Gow. These games require the players to lay a number of tiles in an attempt to win. Unlike the more traditional games, the players do not have to match the color or design of the tiles to make a winning combination.
The game’s origin is not known. Some sources indicate that it was a fad in France in the mid-18th century. However, the name “domino” appeared in the Dictionnaire de Trevoux in 1771.
The most basic type of domino game is played with two players. The first player draws seven tiles from a stock of dominoes, and the second player picks up six of the same. The players then take turns choosing and placing the tiles. In some versions, each player must chip out a domino or else both partners will take the entire set.
Another variant is the Draw Game. This is played with the same rules as the other games, except that each player takes turns drawing from the stock. The player must play a tile when he has knocked it over. This can sometimes be a tricky process, as the dominoes have to be placed so that they are able to reach the other end of the chain. The other players can then mentally note the numbers that are available.
Some variations of the Draw Game, such as Chicken Foot, require the player to occupy all the sides of the spinner. There are also several variants of the game with unique matching rules.
