DOMINOS

History of Dominoes

Dominoes (or dominos) is a game played with rectangular “domino” tiles.

 The domino gaming pieces make up a domino set, sometimes called a deck or
pack. A domino set may consist of different numbers of tiles and dots.
 The traditional Sino-European domino set consists of 28 dominoes.
 Dominoes are called bones because the earliest domino tiles were made from
animal bones or ivory.

• In addition to "bones", dominoes are also called tiles, stones, men, tickets, or
spinners.

• Each domino is a rectangular tile with a line dividing its face into two square ends.

• Each end is marked with a number of spots (also called pips) or is blank.

• The word "pip" commonly means a spot or a speck, and perhaps that's why a
domino's spots are called "pips".

• Evidences show that tile games have been found in China as early as 1120 CE.

• Some historians credit Keung T'ai Kung, in the 12th century BCE for creating them.

• Other historians stated that dominoes were invented by a statesman named Chu sz
yam in 1120 CE.

How to Play Domino:

SHUFFLING THE DOMINOES

• Before you start a game, the dominoes must be shuffled to make a boneyard.

• You need to shuffle the tiles all face down moving them in random motion.

• Make sure that no one knows the location of any given tile.
DECIDE WHO WILL MAKE THE FIRST MOVE

You can do it in two ways:

• Each of the players choose a domino at random, with first move going to the player
holding the "heavier" domino (these dominoes are returned to the boneyard and
reshuffled).

• The players draw their allotted number of tiles (which varies according to the game
being played), and the holder of the "heaviest" domino goes first.

DRAWING TILES

• Once you begin drawing tiles, they are typically placed on-edge so that you and your
opponent can see your own tiles, but none can see the value of other players’ tiles.

• Every player can thus see how many tiles remain in the other players hands at all
times during the game.

PLACING THE FIRST TILE

• After you and your opponent have drawn dominoes, the first player places the first
tile, usually a double-six, on the table.

• If no one holds the double-six, then the double-five is played, and so on.

PLAYING SUBSEQUENT TILES

• You can only put domino tiles to “open ends”, i.e., no other tile is connected to it.

• A double tile is usually placed cross-ways in the layout, straddling the end of the tile
that it is connected to.

• All four sides of a double are open allowing dominoes to be connected in all four
directions.

As you take turns placing tiles with your opponent, if someone cannot make a move,
you can do either two things.

• In block games (or if there are no tiles left in the boneyard), you must "pass" if you
cannot make a move.
 DRAWING A TILE FROM THE BONEYARD ("DRAW" GAMES) OR YOU MUST "PASS" IF
YOU CANNOT MAKE A MOVE ("BLOCK" GAMES)

• In a draw game, you can draw a tile from the boneyard.

• Depending on the game, you can then either play it (if it fits, and if the rules allow),
pass (if he cannot play the drawn tile), or continue drawing until you can make a move
or the boneyard is empty.

ENDING A GAME

• The game ends when you have played all your tiles, or when a game is blocked. •
When you play your last tile, tradition requires you to say “DOMINO!” (when this
happens, the other players are said to have been dominoed.)

• A game is blocked when no player is able to add another tile to the layout.

• When playing a multi-round game, domino games are typically scored by awarding the
number of pips on opposing player's tiles to the winner.

• Doubles may be counted as one or two (if one, a 6-6 counts as 6; if two, a 6-6 counts
as 12), and double-blank may either count as 0 or 14. (These rule variations must be
agreed upon before the game begins!) The player who reaches the target score (100,
200, or whatever is agreed on among the players), or the player who amasses the most
points in a given number of rounds wins the game.

DOMINO GAME TIPS

SET DOWN YOUR HEAVIER TILES EARLY

• Play your heavier tiles early in the game so you won't be caught with a high score of
points for your opponent.

HOLD ON TO A VARIETY OF SUITS

• Try to keep as many different suits as you can in your hand as long as you can. This will
give you a range of options when it comes to the tiles you can set down and prevent you
from being unable to make a play at all and having to pass on your play.
NOTE YOUR OPPONENTS WEAK SUITS

• Take note of the tiles your opponent doesn’t have. This will allow you to block them
later in the game.

WORK OUT YOUR OPPONENT'S HAND

• Study the layout of already played tiles and the tiles in your own hand to guess what
your opponents are holding in their hands. You'll soon learn which tiles in your own
hand to play to block your opponents.

ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THE BOARD COUNT

• This is the total of all open ends on the layout. In games like Fives, players score
points when the board count is a multiple of five.

EVALUATE THE TILES IN YOUR HAND AND HOW THEY CAN CHANGE THE BOARD
COUNT

• Determine the difference between suit values on either end of a tile so you quickly
know how they will change the board count. For example, 5 and 3 on each end will
change the board count by 2. Connecting the lower end to the open ends of the layout
will raise the board count, while connecting the higher suit will lower the board count.

USE BLOCKING STRATEGIES NEAR THE END OF A POINT GAME

• when the opportunities for scoring points diminish

CONTROL AND MANIPULATE THE BOARD COUNT

• Push the board count up when you can set down scoring tiles, and down when you
can't. Knowing the suits your opponent does and doesn't hold will help you alter the
board count accordingly, allowing you to prevent opponents from setting down scoring
tiles.
Terms

Ace The end of a domino marked with one spot.

Arm A single straight line of dominoes forming a section of the
layout of a domino game.
Back The reverse side of the numbered spotted face of a
domino tile. The backs may be plain or may bear an
identical design, logo, or other pattern marked on them,
so they cannot be distinguished from each other.
Bar The centrally marked line separating the two ends of a
domino tile. Also known as the "divider" or "centre".
Blank One end of a domino tile that bears no spots. Also known
as a "white", "zero", or "pale".
Block A situation in a domino game when no player is able to
make a move, either to place a tile on the layout or to
draw one from the boneyard. Typically ends a game. Also
known as a "jam".
Block Games Domino games in which tiles are played onto a sequential
layout but where players score points at the end of a
round and not as a game is in progress like Point games.
The idea of these games is for players to "block" other
players so they can't play a tile onto the layout.
Board The domino tiles that have been played and set out on
the playing area. Also known as the "layout", "table",
"tableau", or "line-of-play".
Board Count The total number of pips on the open, playable ends of
the layout. Useful in point games.
Bone An individual domino piece. Known as "bones" because
they were originally made from animal bone or ivory. Also
known as "stones", "tiles", "men", or a "domino".
Boneyard The collection of domino tiles (or bones) turned face-
down and shuffled for the players to draw from. Also
known as the "reserve".
Deuce One end of a domino tile marked with two spots.

Divider The centrally marked line separating the two ends of a

domino tile. Also known as the "bar" or "centre".
Domino An individual domino piece. Also known as "stones",
"bones", "men", or a "tile".
To "domino" or "go domino" is also the act of a player
playing their last tile which will typically end a round or
game.
Dominoes The term "dominoes" can be used to refer to both a game
of dominoes and the actual domino tiles.
Double A domino tile with the same spotted suit marked on both
ends. For example, two sixes is a "double-six", and two
blanks is a "double-blank". Also known as a "doublet".
Dot One of the circular marks on a domino tile used to
denominate the suit of one end. Also known as a "pip" or
a "spot".
Down Playing the first initial tile to start the layout of a round or
game of dominoes. Also known as "posing", to "pose",
"setting", or a "set",
Draw Taking a domino from the boneyard and into your hand.

Draw Games Domino games in which players play tiles onto a

sequential layout of tiles but score points at the end of a
round not as the game as in progress like Point games.
Daw games may be distinguished from Block games by
the difference that players draw tiles from any in the
boneyard during play.
End One of the two sides of a domino tile, divided by the
central dividing line, that is marked with a suit.
Hand The set of domino tiles belonging to each individual
player. They are not usually held in players' actual hands,
but set in front of them so only they can see the suit
values.
Also refers to an individual round in a game consisting of
a number of rounds.
Hub A device often used for the layout of the domino games
Mexican Train and Chickenfoot that holds an initially set
double tile with a number of spaces around it for playing
subsequent tiles that radiate out.
Jam A situation in a domino game when no players are able to
make a move, either to place a tile on the layout or to
draw one from the boneyard. Typically ends a game. Also
known as a "block".
Layout The domino tiles that have been played and set out on
the playing area. Also known as the "table", "tableau",
"line-of-play" or "board".
Line-of-play The domino tiles that have been played and sequentially
set out on the playing area. Also known as the "layout",
"table", "tableau" or "board".
Men The individual domino pieces. Also known as ""tiles",
stones", "bones", or a "domino".
Pegs Small markers used with a cribbage board that are moved
sequentially around the board's series of holes to indicate
players' scores/progress in a game. Also known as
"spilikins".
Pips The circular dots marked on a domino tile denominating
the suit of either end. Also known as "spots" or "dots".
Pivot Another name for the metal pin or "spinner" that
protrudes through the middle of the central dividing bar
that may be found on some domino sets.
Point Games Domino games played with a sequential layout of tiles
and where players score points as the game is in progress
and not just at the end of a round as in Block and Draw
domino games.
Pose Playing the first domino to start the layout in a round of
dominoes. Also known as "posing", "setting", or to "set".
Reserve The collection of domino tiles turned face-down and
shuffled for the players to draw from. Also known as the
"boneyard".
Set Placing a domino tile onto the playing area.

Can also refer to the first domino placed onto the playing
area to start a layout - "to set". Also known as "posing",
"a pose".
In bidding games, when a player is unable to make their
bid they are said to have been "set".
Shuffle The act of turning domino tiles face down and then
moving them around at random so no player knows
which tile is which.
"Smacking Slang used for the first initial set of a tile to start the
the bone layout in a round or game of dominoes. Derived from the
down" tradition of Caribbean and South American domino
players who will physically "smack" a tile down onto the
playing area.
Solitaire A game played by a single individual player who must
Game complete it by themselves.
Spilikins Small markers used with a cribbage board that are moved
sequentially around the boards series of holes to indicate
players' scores/progress in a game. Also known as "pegs".
Spinner The first double played in a game is often called the
"spinner". Many games allow domino tiles to be played
off all four edges of the spinner - ends and sides.
Sometimes all doubles played onto the layout, in a game
that allows play to branch four ways from any double, are
called "spinners"
A spinner is also a metal pin found in some dominoes
protruding through the middle of the central dividing
bar. Also known as a "pivot"
Spots The circular dots marked on a domino tile denominating
the suit of one end. Also known as "pips" or "dots".
Stones An individual domino piece. Also known as "tiles",
"bones", "men", or a "domino".
Streets Rows of sets of 30 holes drilled into a cribbage board
scoring device commonly used for keeping score in some
domino games.
Suit The spotted denomination of a tile or the collection of
tiles all bearing the same spotted value on at least one
end.
Table The domino tiles that have been played and set out on
the playing area. Also known as the "layout", "tableau",
"line-of-play" or "board".
Tableau The domino tiles that have been played and set out on
the playing area. Also known as the "layout", "table",
"line-of-play" or "board".
Tile An individual domino piece. Also known as "stones",
"bones", "men", or a "domino".
Trey One end of a domino tile marked with three spots.
Ace
The end of a domino with one dot.
Back
The "back" of a domino is the side opposite the numbers. The back is often free of any
adornment, but may also contain a design, logo, or other pattern. All dominoes must
have identical backs, so that players cannot tell what dominoes they are drawing.
Bar
The "bar" is the line seperating the two ends of a domino. Also called the "center" or
"divider".
Blank
A "blank" is an end of a domino that contains no dots. If both ends are blank, then it's
called a "double blank" or a "blank doublet". A blank is also sometimes called a "zero",
"white", or "pale".
Block
A "block" or "blocked game" is a game in which no player is able to make a move, either
to place a domino on the table or to draw a domino from the boneyard. This typically
signals the end of a game. Also called a "jam".
Bone
Domino pieces are sometimes called "bones", because they were originally made of
animal bones or ivory. Today they are commonly made of plastic, ceramic, or wood. In
addition to bones, dominoes are also sometimes referred to as "stones", "tiles", "men",
or simply a "domino".
Boneyard
At the beginning of a game, when all the dominoes have been turned face-down and
shuffled, the collection of ramdomized tiles if referred to as the "boneyard". Players
draw tiles from the boneyard to form their hands. The remaining tiles are also called the
boneyard. Also known as the "reserve".
Deuce
The end of a domino with two dots.
Domino
A bone or tile used in a game of dominoes is commonly called a "domino". To "domino"
also means to play the last tile in your hand, which typically ends a game or hand.
Dominoes
The word "dominoes" can refer to both the game of dominoes, and the domino tiles
that are used to play the game.
Dominos
A common misspelling of "dominoes".

Dot
Each domino contains some number of "dots", usually from 0 to 6, but up to 18 in some
sets. A dot is also called a "pip" or a "spot".
Double
A domino with both ends having the same value. For example, two sixes is called
"double-six", and two ones is called "double-one". Also referred to as a "doublet".
Doublet
A domino with both ends having the same value. For example, two sixes is called
"doublet six" or "six doublet". Also referred to as a "double".
Draw
When you transfer a domino from the boneyard into your hand, this is called a "draw".
End
A domino has two ends with a center dividing line. Each end has a number. A domino is
referred to by its numbers, so a domino with a 2 on one end and a 5 on the other is
called a "2-5" (or a "5-2"). A domino with both ends having the same value is called a
"double" or "doublet".
Hand
A "hand" is the set of dominoes that belong to each player. Contrary to the name, the
dominoe are usually not held in the hands, but are placed edge-wise on the table in
front of the player, so that the player can see their values, but his opponent(s) cannot.
When playing a game that consists of multiple rounds, a "hand" also refers to each
individual round in the game.
Layout
The dominoes that have been played. Also called the "table", "tableau", or "board".
Open End
 An "open end" is an end that is not connected to any other tile. Subsequent dominoes
may only be played on an open end.
Pip
Each domino contains some number of "pips", usually from 0 to 6, but u to 18 in some
sets. A pip is also called a "dot" or a "spot".
Set
"To set" is to place a tile on the table. It is also used to specifically denote the first tile
played. In bidding games, if a player does not make his bid, he has been "set".
Shuffle
At the beginning of a game, all the dominoes are turned face-down and "shuffled" in
order to randomize the tiles so that no player knows where to find any particular
domino.
Spinner
The first double that is played during a game is called the "spinner". In many games,
dominoes can be played off all four edges of the spinner - both ends and both sides.
Spot
Each domino contains some number of "spots", usually from 0 to 6, but u to 18 in some
sets. A spot is also called a "dot" or a "pip".
Suit
A "suit" is the collection of tiles all having the same number of dots on at least one end.
Each suit has seven tiles. For example, the "sixes" suit consists of 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4,
6-5, and 6-6.
Tile
Another name for a domino or a "bone".
Trey
The end of a domino with three dots.