Dominos is a game that is played by many people around the world. The game originated in China during the 12th or 13th centuries, but it only became popular in Europe and America around the 18th century. Today, dominos can be found in a variety of sizes and colors.

The goal of domino games is to get as close to a set number of points as possible. Some variants involve scoring games, but the basic premise remains the same. Players are given a hand of dominoes and a certain amount of time to complete a series of rounds. When all of the rounds have been completed, the winning player is the one who has the least number of spots on the dominoes.

The first rule to keep in mind when playing dominoes is to be smart. Often, a player will need to use math skills to figure out the score for a given game. Unlike traditional card games, which only require players to memorize certain combinations, there is a lot of information that you need to take into account when calculating a dominoes game.

A good rule of thumb is to use a double-nine or double-twelve set. Usually, these sets are used for games that have three or more players. Using these larger numbered sets will make the gameplay go faster.

Another useful tactic is to use a “block” strategy. In this tactic, a player is instructed to draw a tile and place it on the table in such a way that it is touching the open end of a domino chain. This allows the player to block other players from moving their tiles and thus making it harder for them to win the game.

Similarly, players must be smart when it comes to the pips. These are the small, round dots that can be awarded on opposing player’s tiles. Most commonly, a player will be awarded 5 points for each tile that is still in their opponent’s hand. It is also common to see a point limit of 150 or 200. If a player exceeds this limit, he or she will be penalized with a draw.

Aside from these basics, you can also play games that involve duplicating other card games. For example, a dominoes game called “Five-Up” is played with a series of multicolored tiles. Other dominoes games include the Mexican train, matador, and the chicken foot.

To start a domino game, the first player draws the tiles he or she wants from a stock of the same number. This may be done either by drawing lots or picking the tiles. Typically, the first tile drawn is a “double” – a two-sided tile that is either the same number on the both sides or an octagon. However, a “double” can also be the same number as a single or a triple.

Another game is called the “Double Six Draw,” which was invented by Thierry Denoual. This game involves using a double-nine set and drawing seven tiles each.