The domino is a small rectangular block that is used for many different games. Most common are solitaire, trick-taking, and scoring games. There are also many variations.
Dominos are typically made from dark hardwoods, such as ebony. They are usually lined up in long rows. In some cases, they are stacked on end. Several domino sets are available, including the double nine, the double twelve, and the double twenty-one. Some of these sets have Arabic numerals instead of pips.
When the first domino in a line falls, the next one will also tip over. This starts a chain reaction that can continue until all the dominoes have flipped over. It can be fun to watch the dominoes fall down and see the different designs they create.
While dominoes are often played with other people, they can also be played against the computer. This is especially popular with children. Using a domino set to play online is a great way to have fun with friends.
A basic game of dominoes requires two players. Each player picks seven tiles from a stock. Then, each player places them edge-to-edge against each other. To win, the second player must have the same number of pips as the first.
Originally, each domino was a representation of one of the 21 results from a throw of two six-sided dice. By the late 1700s, dominoes were being introduced to England. Since that time, the domino has been used in various countries around the world.
Although the origin of the domino is somewhat obscure, it can be traced back to the late 17th century. Its first recorded use in French literature is in the Dictionnaire de Trevoux in 1771. Other uses of the word can be found in the mid-18th century, when the domino was brought to Europe by prisoners of war from France.
In China, the domino is known as a dotted card, and is usually used for trick-taking games. Unlike European-style dominoes, Chinese dominoes lack the distinctions between the four suits. Instead, the value of a single tile is the same as the sum of the number of spots on the other tiles.
The most common domino set is the double six, which includes 28 tiles. The double nine has 55 tiles, the double twelve has 91, and the double twenty-one has 253. However, there are also large domino sets that have a total of 190 tiles. These can be used in a variety of games, including the game of Che Deng.
Another popular domino game is Five-Up, which has multicolored tiles. Like Che Deng, this can be played with a double-six or a double-six and six. In this game, each player must take the same number of pips as the number on the other side of the domino.
One of the more complex forms of domino is the concentration variant. With this type of domino, the total pip count must be 12. If a single player draws all of the tiles from the stock, the other players must take the same number of pips.
