Dominoes are a popular tile game that is played across the world. The rules vary depending on the player. It is played with a set of tiles, each with a different pattern and number of pips. Players can play against one or more opponents or against a CPU.

Before a domino game starts, the players must agree on the target score they are aiming for. Once the target is set, each player takes turns selecting a domino from the stock. If a player does not have the required number of dominoes in their hand, they must draw from unused tiles.

Traditionally, dominos are made of bone or ivory. They are also available in plastic or wood. Some domino sets are marked on one side with a unique arrangement of pips.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, dominos were imported from Italy and France. This led to the development of a fad in both countries. After a few decades, it spread to England. French prisoners of war brought dominoes to the country, and the game spread throughout Britain. In 1889, the domino set was distributed worldwide.

Although the exact origins of dominoes are still debated, it is generally believed that the domino first appeared in China in the Song Dynasty (around 1120 CE). There is evidence of Chinese dominos being imported to Europe in the 14th century, but they did not become a popular game until much later.

When playing, the player must play a tile so that it either touches the edge of the chain or the other end. They can play to the left or to the right of a particular tile, but they cannot see the value of the other players’ tiles. Usually, the player with the heaviest hand must choose the first domino. A second tile is then played to the right of the 6-6.

To play skillful dominoes, players must pair up with a partner. Each player has a hand of eight tiles. The goal is to add as many pips as possible to the total to earn points. One point is scored for each tile that is divisible by five or three. Depending on the variation, the player with the lowest total will win the round.

Domino games can be played by one or three people, and they can be played anywhere. However, the most common version is played with a team. A team is chosen by the winning players. Typically, a double six or double twelve domino set is used for the game. Double nines are available, as are sixes and nines pips sets.

Dominoes are generally scored by awarding pips on the opponent’s tiles. A winning team can play any domino in their hand. Since there are a number of variations of the game, the rules must be agreed on before the game begins.

The first tile to be played is usually a double six. Counting from left to right, the next tile is 5-5, and the fourth is 4-6.