Dominos are a type of playing card. There are a number of different games that involve dominoes, but all of them share the same objective: make a tower of dominoes stable enough to fall for the next player. Players take turns drawing from a supply of dominoes and adding tiles to the platform. If the tower falls, the game ends.

In some variants of the game, players use both hands. For instance, the Block game is played with a double-six set. A team of four players is paired and a target score is set. The team wins the game if the number of matches reaches a specified score. This means that each trick counts as one point.

Some versions of the game have a limit on the total number of tiles that can be used. For example, a straight domino version only allows scores divisible by three. Other versions do not restrict scoring. Generally, a winning team is one that has the least amount of spots on their dominoes.

Each domino has a specific number on each side. They are usually marked with a identifying mark on the edge. Once the tiles have been mixed and the hand shuffled, each player draws seven dominoes. The first player chooses one tile and places it in the middle of the table.

The next player then takes a tile and places it perpendicular to the first tile. If the number on the second tile is the same as the number on the first, then the second player plays the second. Similarly, the third tile is played vertically. Another tile is then played to the right of the second tile. When the last domino is played, the player scores the remaining pips on all of the remaining tiles in the hand.

The earliest records of the game date back to the Song dynasty. These records indicate that the pieces were made from ivory and blacks. However, the game did not develop into a modern form until the 18th century. During the 18th century, a domino game was introduced to France, which then spread to England.

Although the exact origin of dominoes is unknown, it is believed that they originated in China. In China, dominoes are referred to as “dotted cards,” which are played for trick-taking. Unlike western dominoes, Chinese dominoes have no blank faces. Instead, the tiles are lined up in a chain that is perpendicular to the line.

Before the game starts, each player must decide on a goal. Typically, the game begins with a platform of three or four dominoes. One of the goals of the game is to find two dominoes that add up to 12. An additional goal of the game is to create a tower that is precarious enough to fall for the next player.

The game may also be played in pairs, where each player attempts to add a domino to a line. This is called skillful dominoes.