The Basics of Domino
Domino is a game that can be played on a flat surface with small blocks of wood or plastic. Each domino has a set number of dots, or “pips,” on one side that identify it, while the other sides are blank or identically patterned. The pips are arranged in rows and columns, like the numbers on dice. There are a variety of games that can be played with dominoes, and the rules of each game may vary slightly from place to place.
Dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide, and they are stacked on end in line. When a domino is tipped over it sets off a chain reaction that causes the other dominoes in the line to tip over as well, and more and more dominoes are added until the entire string forms an elaborate pattern. These chains are often used for artistic purposes, such as in the construction of large structures or for decoration at public events.
Most games played with dominoes are positional, in which each player in turn places a tile on the table, positioning it so that its matching ends are adjacent. A tile must always touch both of its matching ends, unless it is a double, in which case it may be placed perpendicular to the other end or diagonally to it. The end that is touching the other end of the chain is referred to as the pointer, and it is important to make sure that points are not stolen by another player.
A common scoring method in a domino game is to count the total number of pips in the losers’ hands at the end of a hand or the game, and then add that score to the winner’s score. This method of scoring is sometimes referred to as the domino theory.
Some players prefer to employ a different scoring method in which they count the total number of pips on all the tiles left in the losers’ hands at the end. This is called the blocker method.
When a player has more tiles in his or her hand than the number he is entitled to, it is said that he or she is overdrawing. The excess dominoes must be taken by the player to his or her right, without looking at them, and returned to the stock before the next player draws. This is important, because a player who accidentally takes an extra domino before the other players are ready to play could lose the game.
Lily Hevesh began playing with dominoes as a child, and she loved setting them up in straight or curved lines and flicking them to watch the line fall. Now, at 20, she is a professional domino artist who has created amazing domino installations for movies, TV shows, and even an album launch by pop singer Katy Perry. Hevesh carefully tests each section of a domino installation before filming, and she makes sure that all the pieces work together correctly before adding them to the final arrangement.
Domino is a game that can be played on a flat surface with small blocks of wood or plastic. Each domino has a set number of dots, or “pips,” on one side that identify it, while the other sides are blank or identically patterned. The pips are arranged in rows and columns, like the numbers on dice. There are a variety of games that can be played with dominoes, and the rules of each game may vary slightly from place to place. Dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide, and they are stacked on end in line. When a domino is tipped over it sets off a chain reaction that causes the other dominoes in the line to tip over as well, and more and more dominoes are added until the entire string forms an elaborate pattern. These chains are often used for artistic purposes, such as in the construction of large structures or for decoration at public events. Most games played with dominoes are positional, in which each player in turn places a tile on the table, positioning it so that its matching ends are adjacent. A tile must always touch both of its matching ends, unless it is a double, in which case it may be placed perpendicular to the other end or diagonally to it. The end that is touching the other end of the chain is referred to as the pointer, and it is important to make sure that points are not stolen by another player. A common scoring method in a domino game is to count the total number of pips in the losers’ hands at the end of a hand or the game, and then add that score to the winner’s score. This method of scoring is sometimes referred to as the domino theory. Some players prefer to employ a different scoring method in which they count the total number of pips on all the tiles left in the losers’ hands at the end. This is called the blocker method. When a player has more tiles in his or her hand than the number he is entitled to, it is said that he or she is overdrawing. The excess dominoes must be taken by the player to his or her right, without looking at them, and returned to the stock before the next player draws. This is important, because a player who accidentally takes an extra domino before the other players are ready to play could lose the game. Lily Hevesh began playing with dominoes as a child, and she loved setting them up in straight or curved lines and flicking them to watch the line fall. Now, at 20, she is a professional domino artist who has created amazing domino installations for movies, TV shows, and even an album launch by pop singer Katy Perry. Hevesh carefully tests each section of a domino installation before filming, and she makes sure that all the pieces work together correctly before adding them to the final arrangement.