How Dominoes Are Played
A domino is a small, flat rectangular block used as a gaming object. Dominoes (also known as bones, cards, men, or pieces) are marked with an arrangement of spots, or pips, like those on a die, except that some squares are blank. They are normally twice as long as they are wide and may be square, rectangular or octagonal in shape.
They are played on a table or other surface and are arranged in a line, known as the line of play. The player in turn plays a tile on to this line, positioning it so that its other end touches one of the open ends of an adjacent piece. This begins a chain that is gradually extended in length.
Each player draws tiles from the stock, which is a collection of the number specified in the rules for the game being played. Usually each domino has two matching ends, and the value of a tile is determined by the number of spots or pips on its outer surfaces. Generally, the more pips a domino has, the greater its value; this is why higher-valued dominoes are more desirable.
The first tile played must be a double unless it is a blank or has no pips at all. When a double is placed, it must be positioned so that its other end touches the left or right of the existing chain, depending on the particular type of domino being played. In some games, the player drawing the heaviest double starts the next game, and in others the winner of the last game does so.
A player may draw more tiles for his hand than the number permitted by the rules of the game, adding them to the ones he already holds in his hand. This is called overdrawing and must be corrected before the next player draws his hand. In many games, players must recall any tile that was incorrectly played, even if it has not yet come to the end of the line, so that they do not have any overlapping hands.
The ability to set up complex and imaginative domino displays is a popular pastime for some, and there are even domino shows in which builders compete for the most impressive creations. But the largest domino arrangements can take several nail-biting minutes to fall—not because they are unruly, but because of their inertia, the tendency for a piece of a domino to resist motion until some force comes along and pushes it past its tipping point.
Dominoes also represent a metaphor for the way that events can have a domino effect on us. As we see the impact of each event, we can learn to be more careful and thoughtful in our actions, knowing that our choices can have far-reaching consequences. And as we make good decisions, our lives will be much more satisfying. That’s why domino is such a great game—and a powerful metaphor for life.
A domino is a small, flat rectangular block used as a gaming object. Dominoes (also known as bones, cards, men, or pieces) are marked with an arrangement of spots, or pips, like those on a die, except that some squares are blank. They are normally twice as long as they are wide and may be square, rectangular or octagonal in shape. They are played on a table or other surface and are arranged in a line, known as the line of play. The player in turn plays a tile on to this line, positioning it so that its other end touches one of the open ends of an adjacent piece. This begins a chain that is gradually extended in length. Each player draws tiles from the stock, which is a collection of the number specified in the rules for the game being played. Usually each domino has two matching ends, and the value of a tile is determined by the number of spots or pips on its outer surfaces. Generally, the more pips a domino has, the greater its value; this is why higher-valued dominoes are more desirable. The first tile played must be a double unless it is a blank or has no pips at all. When a double is placed, it must be positioned so that its other end touches the left or right of the existing chain, depending on the particular type of domino being played. In some games, the player drawing the heaviest double starts the next game, and in others the winner of the last game does so. A player may draw more tiles for his hand than the number permitted by the rules of the game, adding them to the ones he already holds in his hand. This is called overdrawing and must be corrected before the next player draws his hand. In many games, players must recall any tile that was incorrectly played, even if it has not yet come to the end of the line, so that they do not have any overlapping hands. The ability to set up complex and imaginative domino displays is a popular pastime for some, and there are even domino shows in which builders compete for the most impressive creations. But the largest domino arrangements can take several nail-biting minutes to fall—not because they are unruly, but because of their inertia, the tendency for a piece of a domino to resist motion until some force comes along and pushes it past its tipping point. Dominoes also represent a metaphor for the way that events can have a domino effect on us. As we see the impact of each event, we can learn to be more careful and thoughtful in our actions, knowing that our choices can have far-reaching consequences. And as we make good decisions, our lives will be much more satisfying. That’s why domino is such a great game—and a powerful metaphor for life.