How to Play Domino

Domino is a type of game that can be played against either one or three opponents. Each player has a set of dominoes in his or her hand. The aim of the game is to make a tower that is stable enough to survive being knocked over by the next player. You may play against family or friends, and you can even use the Domino computer program.

Playing domino is fairly easy. To start, you should determine your target score for the game. Some games offer a point limit, while others are designed for team play. Depending on the rules, the game can be played for as few as four rounds or as many as a dozen. After all the rounds are complete, you are the winner. In the United States, some versions have a time limit per turn.

The game is divided into two parts: the first, which consists of a single platform containing a number of tiles, and the second, which involves placing and playing dominoes. When a tile is placed on the platform, the first player must position the tile so that it touches one of the ends of the chain of dominoes.

Once the player is ready, he or she draws the appropriate number of bones. This is often referred to as setting the first bone of a hand. Other names include smacking down the bone, leading the first bone, and putting the first bone down. If the hand contains the most pips, the player is able to score the most points.

The first tile is generally the most important. The next two are also good to know. The fourth and fifth tiles are good to know. These are the open ends of a 4 and a 5. Generally, a pair of 2s is not a good idea. A high double is a good tile to begin with. However, if a bloated hand is involved, a basic match with a pair of 2s may not be the best strategy.

Doubles are always cross-ways across the end of the chain. Occasionally, players may place them on one or more of the four sides of the layout. For the most part, however, the two sides of a double are considered open. It is possible to place additional tiles against the long side of a double.

In the Western style of domino, there are two sets that are most commonly used. They are the double-nine and the double-twelve sets. Both of these are 91 and 55 tiles respectively. The sets vary in size, allowing for the player count to be higher.

The best way to play a domino game is to try to match a double with a number that is a double. Normally, this is done by placing a numbered double onto a numbered tile. Alternatively, you can play the domino with the corresponding number on both ends. Doing this makes it easier to assemble the chain and is a neat trick in a game like All Fives.