Dominoes are similar to playing cards and have identifying marks on one side. The other side is blank. Dominoes are arranged in squares and some of them have pips and spots. These marks represent different qualities of a domino. The aim of domino play is to match as many pairs of tiles as possible.

The rules of dominoes differ depending on the number of players. Players start by placing a domino next to another domino and try to match their numbers or blanks. The dominoes are placed in a line of play, but they can be placed at different angles. Sometimes, players place the dominoes at 90 degrees angles to create more room.

The game originated in France in the late 18th century. It is believed that French prisoners of war may have brought dominoes to Britain. The name domino is derived from a black and white hood worn by a Christian priest during the winter. Today, dominoes are most popular in Latin America. In the Arctic, the Inuits play a similar game with bones. It is thought that these games were imitations of the European versions.

The game is played with two or four players. Individual players may take turns going first. Each player starts the game by placing a domino. The first domino played is known as a “set”. Once a set of dominoes is placed, the game moves clockwise around the table. A player must play the single or double dominoes in their turn; they cannot hold back a domino.

Western dominoes were first recorded in the 18th century in France and Italy. French prisoners introduced the game to England. Its most common form is positional, in which players place dominoes edge-to-edge against each other. The aim is to form a specified total. When this is achieved, the winning player is the one holding the lowest count.

Players often team up to calculate the score in a game of dominoes. In this type of game, the winning team will always have a lower score than the losing team. In some variations of the game, there is a time limit per turn. If a player exceeds the time limit, they will be penalized.

The most common domino sets include the double-six and the double-nine sets. The double-six set contains twenty-eight tiles. Each player picks seven tiles from the double-six set. They then alternate extending the line of play. The winner’s score equals the remaining pip count in the losing player’s hand.

The main objective of dominoes is to collect as many pairs as possible. The larger the numbers, the more important it is to play fast.