Dominoes - Domino Pool

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.

DOMINO POOL

This is a very good game for three or more players. With three, each takes six pieces ; with four, five pieces; with five, four; with six, three pieces. Each player makes an agreed contribution to the pool. The right to lead is decided by one or other of the methods already described, and the leader poses accordingly. The player to his left follows suit. If unable to do so, he passes, and the next player has the right to play. The game continues in this fashion till some player makes domino, or all are blocked. In such cases, the player making domino, or holding the smallest number of pips, clears the pool; if two players are equal, they divide.

The above is the simplest method of scoring, but sometimes the game is played a given number�say, one hundred up. A record is kept at the close of each hand of the number of pips in the hand of each player, and as each player's total reaches one hundred he passes out, and has no further interest in the game, the player last in being the winner. The player first out is sometimes permitted to "star "; i.e., on making a fresh payment to the pool, to have his score put back to the same number as the player next in order. With four playing, the two first out are permitted to "star", as above.

The "drawing" principle is sometimes admitted at Domino Pool, a player who cannot follow suit being entitled to draw one piece from the stock, subject to the usual qualification that the last two pieces must not be drawn.