HE game of dominoes is frequently looked upon as a trivial amusement, but those who are well acquainted with it agree that it affords room for much curious calculation. It is by no means a mere game of chance. Let any ordinary player enter the lists against an old and experienced hand, and he will soon discover that it requires something besides good weapons to come off victorious in this as in most other contests. In fact, it is as much a game of skill as any of the card games. A moderately good player can generally tell what his adversary has in his hand, by his style of play; and by calculating two or three moves in advance, he may either block the game or leave it open, just as he finds it will suit his purpose.
The ordinary game—technically termed "double sixes"—is played with twenty-eight dominoes. In some parts of England—chiefly in the North—they use "double nines" and "double twelves." But it signifies little how many dominoes are used, the rules and principles of the game, as here laid down, will, in most cases, equally apply.
HOW TO COMMENCE THE GAME.
In the English game it is usual to play a rubber of three games; but this, of course, is subject to-arrangement.
After the dominoes have been well shuffled, each player draws one, and he who draws the domino containing the smallest number of pips wins "the down;" in plainer English, he wins the privilege of playing first. Sometimes a different method of deciding who shall have "the down" is adopted. One of the players draws a domino, and without showing it, asks if it is odd or even. If the adversary guesses right he wins "the down;" if, on the contrary, he guesses wrong, he loses it. The latter method is the more common of the two, A third method is in use on the Continent. The person holding the highest double has the "fose," or "down," and he commences by playing that domino. If there should be no doubles, then the person holding the highest domino has the Pose. However, it is quite immaterial which of plans is adopted. The dominoes having been shuffled, each player takes six or seven, as may be agreed upon.
If it is found that one of the players has drawn more than the number agreed upon, his adversary withdraws the extra number, and puts them back on the heap, keeping the face downwards, of course. Each player then takes up his dominoes, and the first player commences by putting down a his dominoes, after which his adversary joins one to it, containing on one of its sections the same number of pips as are marked upon adjoining of the domino first played. They thus play alternately till the game may become so "blocked" that one of the players cannot "go," His adversary will then continue to play as long as there is an end open. If he should succeed in getting rid of all his men he wins the game; but if the game should be blocked at both ends before either player has played out, they compare the aggregate number of pips on all the dominoes in each hand, and whoever has the smallest number wins the game.
GENERAL MAXIMS.
- Endeavor to play so as to keep both ends open, so that you may be sure of being able to "go" next time.
- Play out your heavy dominoes first, because, if the game becomes blocked, you will then have fewer pips to count.
- Contrive to play so that the numbers at both ends shall be those of which you hold the most. By this means you may often block your adversary till you are played out.
- If you have made both ends alike, and your adversary plays, follow him at that end, as the chances are that he cannot go at the other, which you may keep Span for yourself until you are able to play at his end.
- It is sometimes an advantage to hold heavy dominoes as they not unfrequently enable you to obtain what is called good "follow;" and if your adversary should hold none but low dominoes, he would not be able to go, thus enabling you to play five or six times consecutively, or even to play out.
- When you have sole command over both ends you are generally in a position to "block" the game or not, as think most expedient for your own game. In such a case you must be guided by the number of dominoes you hold compared with those in your adversary's hands; and another element for your consideration would be whether yours are light or heavy. If they are light, and fewer in number than your adversary’s, of course your best policy is to close the game once and count, But in this you must learn to calculate from your adversary’s style of play whether his hand is light or heavy.
- At the commencement of the game it is better to have a variety in hand.
- If you hold a "double," with two of the same number, it is better to play the double before either of the others. Sometimes you will be obliged to play one, in which case you must endeavor to force the double.
- If you hold a double, and one other of the same number, play both consecutively; but if you are unable to do that, endeavor at any rate to let the double go first.
