The Basics of Dominoes

Dominoes are small oblong pieces of clay, wood, or plastic that have numbers or blanks (or both) on one side and are arranged in a line on the other. In most domino games, players make plays on the dominoes so that the numbers on adjacent dominoes match each other. Normally, the dominoes are placed in a line of play, although you can use a 90 degree angle to give yourself more space.

When a domino falls, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, or the energy of motion, which is transferred from the falling domino to the next one. That energy then transmits to the next domino and so on until all of the dominoes have fallen.

While the basic rules of domino apply to all games, there are many variations in how a game is played. This is because the rules of a particular game depend on what kind of strategy and tactics the players employ to win.

Some of the most popular domino games are blocking or scoring games, where players try to get rid of their own dominoes before the other player does. Other games involve the player trying to block the other player so that he cannot make a play. Still others are a combination of blocking and scoring, or are based on trick-taking principles similar to those used in playing cards.

The name domino comes from the Latin word dominus, which means “lord” or “master.” The word itself may have derived from an earlier sense of the term, denoting a long hooded cloak worn with a mask at carnival season or other masquerades.

In addition to the different strategies that can be employed in various domino games, there are also some rules that must be followed in order to guarantee fair play and avoid cheating. For example, it is against the rules to reveal the number of dominoes you have in your hand before making a play. Also, it is improper to pass or bye a tile when your turn comes up, unless the game calls for it.

When starting a new game of domino, it is important to prepare the tiles. A good way to do this is by turning all of the dominoes upside down on the table and mixing them up. Then, each player draws a domino and sets it up so that the other players can’t see it. The player who draws the highest domino (based on the total number of dots) makes the first play of the game. When his turn comes up, the player should lay down a domino according to the rules of the game. If he can’t play a domino, or if he makes a mistake while playing a domino, he must draw a new domino and make a different play.