Dominoes is a family of tile-based games that is incredibly popular in the United States and worldwide. Whether you’re looking for an online domino game to play with friends or want to take on a computer opponent, there are many different options available.
There are also a variety of rules and variations for dominoes, so it is important to know how the game is played before playing. The main goal of any domino game is to remove as many tiles from your hand as possible before your opponents do.
The game is played with a set of 28 domino tiles, which have 2 ends that can contain up to 6 pips. The most common sets are double-nine (55 tiles), double-12 (91 tiles) and double-18 (190 tiles).
To start the game, a player shuffles the tiles face down on the playing surface, thoroughly mixing them by moving his hands around. After shuffling, the player draws the first hand and begins to play.
When the player draws his first domino, he plays it in a clockwise rotation to the left of the original domino. Or, the domino can be moved counter-clockwise as long as all players agree to it before the game begins.
Once the first player has made his first play, the rest of the players in turn draw and play their tiles. When all the players have drawn their dominos, the game is over.
Most domino games are scored by counting the number of pips on the exposed ends of each tile chain and adding that number to the winning party’s score. This method is most commonly used when playing with four or more people, but there are other ways to calculate points in certain domino games.
Another scoring option is to count the pips on all of the tiles in each player’s hand at the end of the game and add that total to the winner’s score. This method is used in some European and Asian games, but it is a less common scoring method when played with American players.
Some domino sets have extended ends that allow more pips on each end than standard sets, resulting in larger combinations of end numbers. Larger sets can be a challenge to play, especially when playing with more than four people, but they are usually a necessity for tournaments and other games that involve multiple players.
A few domino websites are dedicated to online domino play, including VIP Games, Net Domino’ and Yahoo Games. These sites have a variety of features that make it easier to enjoy the games you love without having to leave home or pay for a subscription.
VIP Games has a variety of classic domino games to choose from and offers a free 7-day trial. The site also features a how-to and rules section as well as an area for practice.
Net Domino’ is an online multiplayer platform that allows you to play against others and chat with them while you’re playing. It has great graphics, a 7-day free trial and offers a variety of games to choose from.