Dominoes are a family of tile-based games. The tiles are rectangular in shape with two square ends, each with a number of spots. Whether you want to play for fun or to win money, dominoes are a great choice for parties, home games, and more. Read on to learn more about the game and how to play the Five-and-threes, Double-nine, and Chinese variants.
Five-and-threes
The Five-and-threes domino game is a popular pub game in the United Kingdom. Players lay dominoes so that the number of open ends is equal to or higher than the value of the banker’s set. In case of a tie, no money is exchanged. The game is played with a set of seven tiles and two other tiles. It is possible to play this game with computer opponents as well.
The five-and-threes domino game is similar to its cousin, All-Fives. Players take turns attaching their domino to a pair of “ends”. The player scores points if their combination of dominoes is divisible by five or three. The winner of the game gets a point for each pair. The game has a competitive league in the British Isles. It is often played with a spinner.
Double-nine
A classic game of logic and strategy, double-nine is a great way to foster critical thinking and logic. Double-nine is a classic game that kids and adults can enjoy together. Its timeless design and classic black and white colors will surely appeal to children and adults alike. This complete set of nine double-nines includes everything a player needs to begin playing double nine. The following are some benefits to double nine:
Unlike the traditional nine-sided domino, the Double-nine is larger, so two players can play it with more people. Double-nine dominoes can be used for playing more difficult games, such as Cyprus or Fortress, and can accommodate more players. The Double-nine domino set has 55 tiles, double the number of the double-six set. This means that the Double-nine domino is the biggest domino.
Chinese dominoes
The origins of Chinese dominoes are largely unknown. It is believed that a Romantic Hero named Hung Ming invented the game in 1120 to keep soldiers entertained during night watch. Other sources say that a statesman named Keung T’ai Kung or Fan Lai created the game. Regardless of who invented them, the game was later brought to Europe. The Europeans, however, did not discover it until the early 18th century.
It’s possible that dominoes originated as a game with two dice. Two dice can produce 21 different combinations. Therefore, the Chinese domino set originally had 21 tiles. However, some tiles were duplicated for different sets. Modern dominoes usually have 28 pieces, including one tile with no dots on either side and six tiles with zero dots on one side. There are several varieties of Chinese dominoes, including elaborately designed versions.