Dominoes - Domino Rounce

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 ROUNCE

The pieces rank from Six to Blank, and the Doubles are the best of each suit, trump being superior to any other suit. The game begins by "turning for trump ", and he who turns the highest domino is trump-holder for that hand. The dominoes are then shuffled, and each player takes five pieces, when the player at the right of the trump-holder turns the trump, and the end of the piece having the greatest number of spots upon it becomes trump for that round. The players to the left of the trump-holder then announce in regular succession whether they will stand, discard their hand and take a dumby, or pass. When two or three play, there are two dumbies, i.e., misses of six pieces each; but when four play, there is only one miss of seven pieces, and the eldest hand has the privilege of taking it. When all the players pass up to the trump-holder, the last player may elect to give the trump-holder a score of five points instead of standing or playing miss. The trump-holder may, if he chooses, discard a weak piece and take in the trump turned, or he may discard his hand and take a dumby, provided there is one left; in which case he must abandon the trump turned. The player who takes a miss must discard so as to leave only five pieces in his hand. After the first hand, the trump passes to the players at the left in succession. The game begins at fifteen, and is counted down until the score is "wiped out", each trick counting one. The player who fails to take a trick with his hand is "rounced", i.e., sent up five points. It is imperative that suit should be followed, and if in hand, trump led after trick as in Loo, but a player is not compelled to "head ", i.e., take a trick, when he cannot follow suit.