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Step 1
Dominoes is not a single game, but a whole genre of games that are played with domino tiles. Just as there is no one way to "play cards," there is no single way to "play dominoes." Each domino game has its own rules and its own objectives. In some domino games, the goal is simply to get rid of all your tiles before your opponent does, by matching domino ends to the tiles already on the table. Other games resemble card games, using bidding, trump suits and trick-taking to score points.
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Step 2
If you are truly a novice, it's perfectly acceptable, and even recommended, that you go online and play. It's a good way to suss out the competition and familiarize yourself with the most popular games. Do your research: find which online games have the most players, which of the competitions and/or variations have the most community members. There are free and pay-for games. See Resouces.
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Step 3
Know the rules. For example, I've played Mah Jong my whole life, but it was the basic game. It was only when I ventured into online gaming that I discovered that there were many different ways to play -- and all considerably more challenging than the "standard" way I was accustomed to playing.
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Step 4
Like any other gaming community (think Bunco and Bingo), domino players are close-knit, but warm to new players. Once you join an online or an actual domino gaming group, you'll have your pick of competitions.
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Step 5
Dominoes, A Brief History:Dominoes evolved from dice. In fact, the numbers in a standard double-six domino set represent all the rolls of two six-sided dice. A set of Chinese dominoes contains all the possible combinations (including duplicates). European dominoes use only the unique rolls (and add in the blanks). Dominoes are believed to have originated in China in the 12th century, though Egyptian or Arabian origins are also theorized. Dominoes appeared in Italy in the early eighteenth century, and spread to the rest of Europe throughout the remainder of the 1700's, becoming one of the most popular games in both family parlors and pubs alike. The word "domino" appears to have derived from the traditional appearance of the tiles--black dots on a white background--which is reminiscent of a "domino" (a kind of hood) worn by Christian priests.
