Dominoes - Domino Euchre

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 EUCHRE

This game is usually played by four persons. The pieces rank as follows : The Double of the trump suit is the Right Bower, and the next lower Double is the Left Bower. There is, however, an exception to this rule, for when Blank is the trump, it being impossible to have a lower Double than the Double-Blank, the Double-Six is adopted instead, and becomes the Left Bower. In this instance the lowest Double is Right Bower, and the highest Double is Left Bower. After the Right and Left Bower the value of the dominoes is governed by the number of spots following the trump. For instance, if Six is trump, the Double-Six is Right Bower, and the Double-Five is Left Bower, followed by Six-Five, Six-Four, Six- Three, and so on down to Six-Blank. If Ace be the trump, the Double-Ace is Right Bower, and the Double-Blank is Left Bower, the Ace-Six is next in value, the Ace-Five is next, and so on down

to the Ace-Blank. But when Blank is trump, the Double-Blank is Right Bower, and the Double-Six becomes Left Bower, the next trump in importance being Blank-Six, the next, Blank-Five, and so on down to Blank-Ace, which is the lowest trump. When a suit is not trump, the value of the pieces take rank from the Double of the suit in regular order, downwards.

At the beginning of the game the players usually draw to decide who shall turn up trumps ; he who draws the lowest piece is entitled to the privilege, and is termed the dealer. When the dominoes have again been shuffled, each player draws five pieces, beginning with the eldest hand, and the dealer then turns up one of the remaining pieces for trump. That portion of the domino which has the highest number of spots upon it determines the suit of the trump. Thus, if Six-Ace be the piece turned, then Six is trump suit. After the first hand the privilege of turning trump passes to each player in succession. The eldest hand does not have the lead unless he exercises the privilege of ordering up, or making the trump. Only the player who takes the responsibility of the trump�that is, the player who takes up, orders up, assists, or makes the trump�has the right to lead; with this exception, Domino Euchre is like the card game of the same name, and the laws of the latter may be consulted to settle any dispute which may arise while playing the former.

DOMINO POKER.