A domino is a rectangular piece of wood, bone, ivory or other material with printed dots on one side and either blank or identically patterned dots on the opposite. Like dice, dominoes also contain specific numbers of spots which identify and allow players to determine their value.
There are various kinds of domino games, and each has its own rules and scoring mechanisms. Some require skill while others rely solely on chance; most involve both strategies and luck. Players generally begin by placing domino pieces at the center of a line on the table before playing one tile so that its end touches another with matching numbers on either end, creating an increasing chain of dominoes over time.
First to cover all their tiles wins the game; therefore it is essential to understand its rules and scoring before starting to play. There are various books containing all major domino games’ rules; “The Great Book of Domino Games” by Jennifer A. Kelley contains an exhaustive collection.
Although dominoes is traditionally played with 28 tiles, some variants utilize half or even fewer sets for double-six dominoes – these smaller sets are commonly known as double-six dominoes – for easier playing experience. Once set is shuffled and arranged face down into a stock or boneyard from which players select seven tiles at a time for play; any remaining tiles do not factor into gameplay.
A typical domino set typically contains one or more pairs of tiles with contrasting colors – commonly referred to as doubles – which feature black or white pips on them, although others might feature different hues. Furthermore, most sets contain special dominoes known as aces and nines marked with special colours to distinguish them from regular doubles within the set.
Dominos are typically constructed of hardwood such as mahogany or ebony with dark finishes and contrasting numbers or colors on their pips; in some countries they may still be made using ivory carving techniques.
Dominoes first entered Europe during the early 18th century. Western dominoes were first recorded in Italy and France before likely being brought over to England via French prisoners. Dominos were most frequently used as a tool for settling disputes over traditional grazing boundaries known as “tussles in the shires”.
Students can explore math concepts such as order and counting by using dominoes with their teacher. Furthermore, each student may receive two distinct dots on either end of a domino that requires them to create two related equations; for instance if two dots on either end are equal in number (2 on left end and 4 on right end), students might create the equation of 2 + 4 = 6. This task supports Mathematical Practice Standard 8 which emphasizes regularity in repeated reasoning.