Domino is a game in which players set down tiles on the table in order to score points. Depending on the rules, the tiles can be laid edge to edge (known as “blocking”) or in a row (called “scoring”).
In blocking games, each tile must be placed so that its two matching ends are adjacent. This is usually done by placing the pips of one tile on top of the pips of another, if they are arranged in a square. The player who has the highest point total for his chain wins.
The name domino comes from the Latin word dominus, meaning master of a house. The first recorded usage of the word in English was in 1750, but the word did not appear in French until after that date.
Early European domino sets were made from a variety of materials including bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (MOP), ivory and dark hardwoods such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on the rim. Alternatively, sets were made from frosted glass or crystal, metals and ceramic clay.
There are several different types of dominoes: Chinese, French, Italian and American dominoes. Chinese dominoes are often called pupai and represent each possible face of a pair of six-sided dice, with no blank faces.
Western dominoes are made from a wide range of natural and synthetic materials, and are often used for positional games. They are most commonly found in European countries, where they have been popular since the mid-18th century.
In some countries, dominoes are also played in conjunction with other traditional games. In China, for example, they are part of the traditional game Tien Gow, and in some parts of Asia they form a significant part of the game Che Deng.
Inuits in the Arctic region of Canada and Alaska play a game similar to Western dominoes but made from bones. This game is probably an imitation of Western dominoes and was invented in the 1800s.
The earliest forms of the game were played in ancient China, and they were later introduced to Europe. The Chinese had an extensive range of games that required the use of dominoes.
As these dominoes became more popular, they were made from a wider variety of materials and were more intricate. They were sometimes made with carved details.
They were also sometimes made from a variety of woods, including oak, redwood and cedar. They were also frequently decorated with motifs such as flowers or animals.
Various variations of the game can be played with single, double or triple sets and are usually played on a table with a grid layout. Some versions, such as Concentration, have a limited number of pairs of tiles.
The concentration version of the game requires a double-six set and involves collecting tiles that have both of their pips sum to twelve. These pairs are then arranged in a simple rectangular grid.
When it comes to the story of domino, the story is not about how each domino falls but what happens next. The fall of a domino can create a cascade that changes your beliefs about yourself and builds identity-based habits.