Domino is a game of chance and strategy that originated in Italy during the 18th century. It became popular in France, Austria, and southern Germany. By the 1860s, it was widely played in America. Today, dominoes are used in a variety of games.
In the basic game, one player chooses seven tiles from a stock of 28. The second player tries to match the number of pips on the first domino. If both players fail, they lose the game. Afterward, the score is calculated by counting the pips on the losing player’s hand.
Dominoes are made of various materials, including bone, ivory, and dark hardwood such as ebony. Traditionally, European dominoes were made from mother of pearl oyster shell. Some domino sets contain blank faces. Other sets use Arabic numerals instead of pips.
Originally, each domino was the result of a throw of two six-sided dice. As the set grew, identifying pips became more difficult. However, many sets are still constructed this way. For example, a 32-piece Chinese domino set consists of each possible face of two thrown dice.
A domino is a small, rectangular block. Typically, it is twice as long as it is wide. On the opposite side, it is marked with the arrangement of spots. Each tile in a domino belongs to a certain suit. During the game, a player can flick it or line it up in a line to create interesting shapes.
In the early 18th century, Italian and French prisoners of war brought the domino game to England. After the Napoleonic war, the domino game spread across the world. Various versions of the game were introduced in American literature. Although there are various forms of dominoes, the most popular types are those involving scoring games and layout games.
Most of these variations involve a set of twenty-seven or fifty-five tiles. The most basic domino variant is for two players. One player starts the game by playing a domino. He can then flick the domino to a blank spot in the other player’s hand. This causes the next domino in the chain to fall, creating a chain reaction.
When a domino falls, a pulse of energy travels along its length, like a firing nerve. The impulse does not lose energy as it travels. Eventually, the domino reaches the end of its length and tips over.
Many children prefer to play the game as a toy. They are also able to make their own course if they do not own a set. There are a number of games based on the domino, such as Pai Gow and Che Deng. Others include trick-taking and solitaire domino games.
Dominoes are great for playing with family or friends. Several different games can be played using the set, and you can play against a computer as well. Generally, the goal is to clear your hand while blocking your opponent’s.
The origin of the domino has been a source of debate. Some say that the name refers to a cape worn by priests. Others claim that it refers to a masquerade mask. Yet others claim that the word is derived from the Latin doma, which means “men.” Whatever its original meaning, it is certainly a fun game.