The Basics of Domino
Domino is a tile-based game. Each tile has a rectangular face and two square ends, and each end is marked with a number of spots. The goal of the game is to build a row of dominoes of the same type and color. To start, you need to find out the origins of dominoes. You can also learn more about the types, scoring, and spinners. Read on to learn more about dominoes.
Types
There are many different types of domino games, and some of them are even completely new! Some of these games rely on novel mechanisms, such as dice matching, to solve the puzzle. Other games use dominoes as a form of solitaire. Mathematicians have even created puzzles with dominoes! Read Joe Celko’s page on the mathematics of dominoes to learn more! Here are some examples:
Scoring
A domino game is played by alternating the number of doubles and singles, and alternating the directions in which players place their tiles. Doubles must touch the center of the chain to score. The player who misplays a tile scores the difference between the numbers of two adjacent tiles. The playing surface limits the shapes that can be achieved by each player. A single is the smallest number and the highest number must be in front of the setter.
Spinners
Spinners are the small, metal pieces in the middle of a domino’s dividing bar. They are typically rounded to avoid scratching the table’s surface. In western-style domino sets, spinners are used to prevent tiles from being stacked in neat rows. The spinners also penalize the player who has not played enough tiles to cover the double. In Chinese dominoes, spinners are not used.
Colors
In Colors of Domino, players must tile a square with a matching color, and the blocks must be the same size. The goal is to grow the areas of a similar color. The colored area is cleared from the board when it reaches the target area, or exceeds the number of tiles in the area. Different grid sizes change the game’s strategy and mechanics. For example, a standard game mode sets the area target at seven or nine tiles, while a challenge mode regularly increases the target area.
Rules
In the most basic variation of the game, domino players must create enclosed spaces between tiles. These ‘cells’ have an area of half a domino tile. For every cell created, a player scores a point. To learn how to play these cells, refer to the graphic illustration below. Game Option 1 is the easiest to learn. You may want to try practicing your tactics by playing all five end tiles. If you have difficulty playing these tiles, you can use Game Option 2 to learn the game.