Dominos are a popular variant of the game of cards. Their origins are obscure. They are rectangles with a line down the middle. On one side, they bear a series of identifying marks. The other side is blank. Normally, dominoes are twice as long as they are wide.
Although pips are common on most dominoes, there are also variations that do not have pips. For example, Chinese dominoes do not have pips at all. Instead, they represent each possible face on two thrown dice. Some larger sets use Arabic numerals instead of pips. In other cases, a single tile can belong to both suits.
Generally speaking, there are three basic types of dominoes. These include the Western, European and Chinese. Each type is played on a different surface. Most Western dominoes are used for positional games, such as cribbage. A number of traditional Chinese games, such as Pai Gow and Che Deng, are also played using dominoes.
The most basic variation of dominoes is the double-six set. This set includes 136 tiles. It is typically made of dark hardwood such as ebony. However, some European-style sets are made from ivory.
Unlike the Chinese domino set, European-style dominoes are not marked with suit distinctions. Therefore, the player can see the value of each tile.
Aside from the standard double-six set, there are also variants with no pips. One of these is the concentration variant, which requires a total pip count of 12. Another is the 5s-and-3s game. During this game, players try to score points by playing a number of “ends” with a single tile. Once the player plays all of the ends, the game is over.
When playing with doubles, each tile must be placed perpendicular to the double. Doubles also serve as spinners. Both the player and the opponent must mentally note the numbers available. Players who play with the same number at both ends are called “stitched up”.
There are also other versions of the game, such as solitaire and trick-taking. Many people also like to create their own course. If you do not have a domino set, you can use other objects to create your own course.
Originally, dominoes were known in China during the 17th century. They were brought to England in the late 1700s by French prisoners of war. Despite their obscure origins, they are now played worldwide.
Most traditional domino sets are called “double six” sets. These are traditionally made of dark hardwood, but some are made of silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell. Compared to other sets, they do not usually have duplicates.
Although there are many domino games, the most common are the scoring games. In this type of game, a player’s goal is to score the most points by playing a number of “ends” that add up to seven. As a rule, the player who lays down the lowest domino is the winner.
Other versions of dominoes include the 5s-and-3s game and the solitaire variant. Other traditional Chinese games, such as Pai Gow, Che Deng and Tien Gow, are also played with dominoes.