How to play dominoes: basic rules and recommendations

"Domino" is a French word for the winter clothing of a clergyman. It was black on the outside and white on the inside. China is considered the birthplace of entertainment. It arose around the 2nd century BC. e. The prototype of dominoes was the game of dice, which came to China from India at an earlier period. This game is suitable for all age groups. It develops memory, attention and logic of thinking. How to play dominoes?

Domino dice

A domino tile looks like a rectangle whose length is equal to its width times two. The figure is divided in the middle by a vertical line. Each half has a different number of dots. The game set includes 28 dice. You can also find sets of 32 elements on sale.

Initially, chips were made of stone or ivory. Over the centuries, dominoes began to be made from wood, plastic and other materials. This made it more accessible to ordinary people.

In children's sets, illustrations depicting cartoon characters or animals are applied to the knuckles. During the Soviet era, dominoes with images of vegetables, fruits and berries were popular. During the game, children memorized the names of different fruits and crops and learned to think logically.

Rules for playing classic dominoes

Classic dominoes are the most common type of game. It is based on the simplest principle: arranging the dominoes in such a way that the number of points matches. As a result, a sequential chain is built.

Number of participants

Classic dominoes are designed for doubles play. A small company of three or four people can also participate in the entertainment. In the first case, each player is dealt 7 chips, and in the second - 5 dominoes (or stones). The rest are placed on the table with the wrong side out. This remainder is called the bazaar. During the game, dice are taken from it to continue the round.

How to walk

The first move is given to the one who gets double six or another double in the descending order (if 6:6 hits the market). If during the distribution the players do not get a single double, they start with the chip that has the maximum sum of points (for example, 6:5).

How to fight back

The next player needs to place a stone that has six dots on it. For example, dice 6:2. If there is no suitable chip, you will have to pull one from the bazaar. This continues until the necessary one appears.

Summarizing

The game ends in two cases. The first is if one of the participants lays out the last stone. The winner is awarded the total number of points of the remaining players. Usually the game is played to 200, 300 or 500 points by prior agreement. If the opponent has a double 0:0, then this is regarded as 25 points. If there is any other stone on hand, then empty-empty is not taken into account.

The second case is when the move is closed with a duplicate chip, which is proportional to the points of the previous stone. This combination is called “cross” or “fish”. The layout is blocked, but the players still have chips. The one with the minimum number of points in his hands wins. He wins the difference between the points of his competitors.

"Goat"

In eastern countries there are about 40 types of dominoes. They differ in the dominoes, the method of scoring, and the number of players. “Kozel” is one of the most popular entertainments in Russia. Two people are required to participate. It can be four people: two by two (diagonally) or each for himself. The following rules and recommendations will help you understand how to play Goat dominoes:

• Each participant receives 7 stones. The player with the 1:1 double goes first. The last chip from the reserve is not taken.
• The next round begins with the player who announced the “fish”, or the winner of the previous round.
• The total number of points on the remaining stones is recorded on the account of each loser.
• To start recording, you must score at least 13 points.
• With “fish”, if the players have the same number of points, “eggs” are announced. The points are awarded to the loser of the next round.
• The player with the maximum points at the end of the round mixes the stones for the next deal. In the case of "eggs", both players interfere with the dominoes. If there are four players in the game, the chips are shuffled by the one who has more points than “eggs”.
• The first one to score 101 points is declared the “goat”.

"Sea Goat"

This version of the domino game is a little more complicated than the previous one. The game involves 2–4 people. The main differences from the usual “Goat” are as follows:

• The game continues until 125 points are reached.
• Points are recorded for the loser only if he scores at least 25 points. The remaining players do not record their loss.
• Sometimes you come across duplicates that fit at different ends of the placed chips. According to the rules, they can be substituted in one move.
• If your hands are empty-empty, 25 points are counted. If 6:6, then 50 points. If it is 0:0 and 6:6 at the same time, 75 points are credited.
• If one of the participants has 5 or more doubles, then the stones are mixed and retaken again.

Secrets of playing dominoes

The game of dominoes does not involve complex combinations. However, there are some nuances that lead to victory:

• If you come across two dominoes with doubles, then do not rush to throw them on the table. Use them after several enemy moves.
• If the dice come up with a wide variety of points, structure the game in such a way as to ensure your next move. You will avoid having to go to the bazaar.
• Carefully monitor your competitors' moves and identify their weaknesses. If you play two on two, use signals about your playing position hidden for the second pair.
• Make up your game tactics depending on the enemy's intentions. If your opponent is not in the best situation, then start moving with strong knuckles - and vice versa.

Dominoes are quite an exciting game for any age. The simplest and most common is the classic style. Depending on your skills and level, you can try other options. For example, “Donkey”, “Telephone”, “Checheve”, “Sausage”, “General”, etc. Before you start playing dominoes, you should clearly discuss the rules or even write them down in writing.