This is another game that is played with dominoes, and is one of
the most popular. It is excellent practice for counting, and to be
successful at it depends, in a very great measure, upon skill in doing
this. Two, three or four players may take part in this game. After the
dominoes have been shuffled, face downward, each player takes an equal
number of stones, leaving always three, at least, upon the table; no
player, however, may take more than seven, and it is perhaps better to
limit the number to five.
In playing dominoes, it should always be borne in mind that one end
of the domino to be played must always agree in number with the end of
the domino it is to be placed against.
The object of the game is to make as many "fives" and "threes" as are
possible; for instance, a player should always make the domino show
fifteen if he can, as three divides into fifteen five times, and five
divides into fifteen three times, and he would thus score 8 (three
and five). The way to count is to add the two extreme ends together,
always, of course, trying to make the number as high as possible, and
to make it one into which either three or five will divide, as if a
number be formed into which these numbers will not divide, no score
will result.
Suppose there are two players, A and B. A starts the game by playing
the double-six, for which he scores 4 (three dividing into twelve four
times). B then plays the six-three, making fifteen, and thus scores
8 (the highest score possible, as explained above). A next plays the
double-three, which makes eighteen, and scores 6 (three dividing into
eighteen six times). B then plays six-blank onto the double-six on the
left-hand side and scores 2 (three dividing into six twice). A holding
the blank-three, places it onto the blank end, making the number nine,
and scores 3. B next plays the three-four, which makes ten, and 2
is added to his score (five dividing into ten twice). Thus the game
proceeds, each player trying to make as many fives and threes as
possible.
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