Dominoes - Sebastopol, or The Fortress

Dominoes are pieces of ivory or bone, usually with ebony backs. On the face of each piece there are two compartments, in each of which there is found either a blank, or black pips or spots from one to six.

The dominoes are thus named: Double-Six; Six-Five; Six-Four; Six-Three; Six-Two; Six-One; Six-Blank; Double-Five; Five- Four; Five-Three; Five-Two; Five-One; Five-Blank; Double- Four ; Four-Three; Four-Two; Four-One; Four-Blank; Double- Three; Three-Two; Three-One; Three-Blank; Double-Two; Two- One; Two-Blank; Double-One; One-Blank; Double-Blank.

To Shuffle And Determine The First Pose.

Shuffling the dominoes (also called making) is done by turning them face downwards on the table, and mixing them about with the fingers in such manner as to prevent the position of any given domino being known. Each player has a right to perform this operation.

The right to the first pose, or turn to play (also known as the "down"), has next to be decided, and this is usually done by each player drawing and turning up one domino, and the holder of the lowest number of points having the preference. The dominoes thus used are returned to the pack, and again shuffled with the rest. Each player then takes randomly from the dominoes nearest to him the number appropriate to the game to be played, and these constitute his "hand". The remaining dominoes are called the stock.

SEBASTOPOL, OR THE FORTRESS

This is a four-handed game, each combatant playing independently. The whole of the dominoes are divided, and the holder of the Double-Six leads, playing that piece. Each player in rotation must play a Six to this, or cry, "Go," in which case the opportunity passes to his neighbor, hut no other number can be played during the first round. The first and second Six played are placed above and below the Double, the other two at right angles to it, forming "a cross ", as shown in the diagram. After the first round, a player may play to any number which may chance to be open. In all other respects the Fortress resembles the Block game.