There are a number of different versions of the game of domino, each with its own character. Depending on the style, there are solitaire versions and trick-taking variants. Most of these games are adaptations of card games. For example, the game of domino was once widely used in some areas to get around religious proscriptions against playing cards. Among the many variations of domino are the Concentration variant, which is played with a double-six set and a total pip count of twelve.
Xuan He Pai Pu is the earliest known manual written about dominoes
The game of dominoes has a long history, dating back to ancient China. A fourteenth century Chinese manual, Xuan He Pai Pu, mentions that the game was invented in 1112, so the earliest known written reference to dominoes is likely from the early fifteenth century. This manual provides many examples of the game, as well as its history and rules.
Chinese dominoes have no blank faces
Dominoes, which are a variation of the popular card game, are made up of two squares, each with an identifying mark on one side. They are blank on the other. Originally, each domino represented 21 outcomes of a throw of two six-sided dice. Nowadays, Chinese dominoes have blank faces, which make them more difficult to play than their European cousins.
European dominoes contain no class distinctions or duplicates
First played in the early eighteenth century in Italy, European style dominoes are a version of the Chinese game. Unlike their Chinese cousins, European dominoes contain no class distinctions or duplicates. In addition to the 14 dominoes in the set, Europeans have seven additional dominoes to represent the six values of one die and the blank-blank (0-0) combination.
Rules
Domino is a popular game that involves stacking identically numbered tiles in rows. The objective is to remove as many tiles from your opponent’s hand as possible. During a game of domino, the first player must start by placing a base of three or four dominoes, and each player after them must place a tile on the open end of a domino. If any player makes a mistake, the game is over and the next player must start again. The game is ideal for socializing and can be played with friends or as a team.
Variations of domino
There are many variations of the game. The original domino game is played between two players. Each player takes seven tiles from a double-six set (a total of 28). The players continue to extend the line of play by picking up dominoes. The player with the highest score wins the hand, unless a double is drawn. In this variation, the player with the most tiles wins, and the player with fewer tiles draws from the remaining tiles.