The game of domino is a simple strategy game that involves matching tiles. The first player places a chosen tile face-up in the center of the table, followed by the next player, who must match one of the ends of the tile with the first player’s tile. Some versions of the game allow tiles to be joined on all four sides, while others only allow players to match a single end of the tile. Players may also add tiles on any line if they wish. If the player is out of dominoes, they must draw from unused tiles.

The game originated in Italy and spread to Southern Germany and Austria before reaching France in the mid-18th century. By the end of the century, the game had become a worldwide craze. In 1771, the French dictionary Dictionnaire de Trevoux recorded the game as domino, and it was soon a popular game throughout Europe. European dominoes differ from Chinese ones in that the European version lacks the arithmetic properties of the pips, and the game does not require a set pattern to win.

Traditionally, the domino was made of two materials, ivory and ebony, and two spinners were attached to the faces. These spinners protected the face of the domino when shuffled, and also made it easier to rotate the domino in place. Spinners are typically metal, and they are rounded to avoid scratching the table top.

The game starts with a platform of three or four dominoes, and then players take turns building the tower. Their aim is to build the tower until it becomes stable, but still precarious enough to fall for the next player. If the tower falls, the game is over. Lots of shouting and giggling take place during the game.

The game originated in China and has been played in Asia for centuries. It is believed that the first known manual about dominoes was written in China in the 13th century. It was translated into European culture in the early 18th century. This translated version of the game did not include class distinctions and duplicates, but added seven additional dominoes to represent the values of one die throw, six values of two dice throws, and blank-blank (0-0) combination.

The game of dominoes has several variations. It can be played by two players or as a team of four. It is played face-down or face-up. Before playing, the dominoes are mixed. The players take turns drawing five dominoes. If they do not draw the same number, the game ends and the loser wins.

The game is over when the last player places their last domino. After placing their last domino, players turn up their dominoes and count how many dots they have. The winning player is the player with the lowest number of dots on the unplayed dominoes.