Jewel Levy [email protected]
Laughter erupts, punctuating the soothing clicking of the game and then the abrupt slam! “One eye people” sings out Ruth Williams as she leans back with a gleam in her eye.
Across the table, Kristin responds with her own comeback, “photograph,” at that time Marilyn playing on the opposing team locks eye with Cecile in wonderment, “are they cheating”? she wonders, the same time Ruth responds with a “Tracy from swamp”. An expat watching the game unfold looks quite confused at this point. Turning to a girl named Nicky he said, “is your name Tracy from swamp?” The whole table erupts into fits of laughter.
Most of us have probably heard about dominoes and likely have a box hidden away somewhere in a closet or drawer if the need to play arises. But if you think dominoes are only for children, you’re wrong. Some adults love this game so much it is a shame.
Avid players Ruth Williams and her daughter Kristin have even labelled the clinking ivories for their pleasure, a (2) is Lucky Dube, (4) photograph, take picture, (5) Fever Doctor Patient, (6) Sex in the City, Blank darkness, to cover the earth and so forth. Personally, she finds the game very relaxing while enjoying a soup dish. Her tactics for playing the game is remembering what her partner is playing.
But no one describes a domino game better than Jamaican singer Ernie Smith in his song “Key Card”. His lyrics hit on what goes on around a domino table to a tee.
When it comes to domino time, Don’t’ bother with the coconut water just look in your hand and free up the key card, bail your partner, remember the I man, don’t block the game sir, or you must get count out, look in your hand sir, don’t bother to run out your long mouth, drink up the hot beer and celebrate up your six love -it may sound confusing, but trust me, for those who love the sport, it fits right into the vibes of the Caribbean theme.
Like Jamaicans, Caymanians get very excited when playing this game. The game is so popular in Jamaica, at one time the Jamaican police used the pastime to reduce crime in usually violent communities. Locals gather whenever the feel arises to play, which is usually accompanied with chatter about life and politics, sharing a drink, sipping a beer, drinking soup and reconnecting with friends and family.
According to the World Records Academy, students in the Cayman Islands have set a new world record; 588 John Gray High School students played dominoes on the school campus – setting the new world record for most people playing dominoes simultaneously. East End Mystical Youth under the direction of team manager Billy McLaughlin ranks highest in the Cayman Island Domino Association national league as top team players on the Island.
At home, even the chickens like the sound of the clinking ivories, when playing outdoors the clinky clack sounds made from the dominoes seems like to magnet for them to scratch for food.
Need I say more, the locals like to play dominoes, Back in the day this game was a male macho thing, but today the ladies are finding just as much excitement from it as the males.
The game is hundreds of years old, prefect for family and friends to get together to bring added pleasure during a rainy or lazy Sunday afternoon. It’s simple enough for a grade school student to learn but complex enough so that adults love it too. Even expats find it thrilling after finding out that all the rising voices, laughter and the clatter of domino tiles is a fun game being played by locals with lots of delicious foods nearby.
Dominoes are believed to have originated in China in the 12th Century and made their way to Europe in sailor’s knap-sacks during the 18th Century. Today they are popular around the world and played by all ages, all races, and all nationalities.
Dominoes are very simple and basic gaming devices but the games you can play with them range from simple to complex to downright difficult. Ever tried playing Chinese domino?
Double six dominoes are the most popular and easiest type to play. The sets have 28 dominoes, with zero to six dots on each half.
The game
Caymanians like Jamaicans mainly play the four-player “Partner” game. Players are teamed with the person sitting opposite them. Another version, “Cut Throat,” can be played with two or four players, but in that version every player is out for himself. “Partner” is more popular because a game moves faster and involves more strategy. Both versions require 28 tiles.
To start, dominoes are placed face down on the table, shuffled, and each player draws seven dominoes; keep a sharp eye on your opponent when choosing cards if given the opportunity he will take a peek to give him or her an edge on the game.
Throughout the game, players do not reveal what dominoes they have, not even to their playing partner. Dominoes are revealed when turn up on the board for a play. The player with the double six starts the game.
The player to the right of the game starter goes next. He can join a domino to either end of the first player’s domino, but the touching ends must be of the same value. If the player does not have a domino that can be played, he must pass. Dominoes with two of the same value tiles are turned vertically in relation to the others.
In “Cut Throat” a round is won by the first player to get rid of all her dominoes. In “Partner” the team wins a round when either partner has played every domino. If all the players have to pass, the game is stuck. The winner is the player with the lowest value of dominoes, which is why playing high-numbered tiles early is good strategy. Most locals play “Six Love,” which means a player or team must win six consecutive rounds to win the game. It’s common practice for the round winner to stand up and “slam” the final domino on the table to signify the victory. A key win is when a player has a card that plays on both ends and no one else can make a play –this goes for two points to a team.
Strategy
Generally speaking, get rid of your doubles first as they are useful in fewer situations. Winning is all about blocking the player next to you. Watch what he has to pass on, and try to play that combination again. Dominoes can be played at either end of the run, so blocking an opponent at one end isn’t necessarily enough.
A favourite scoreboard is a poster tacked to the almond tree with an onlooker waiting his turn recording the score. Bottle caps, rocks, twigs or coins are also used to record scores. At one time I saw a group use an old clock to keep score.
Constructing a table
There’s no need to buy an expensive domino table. I made my own
Cut a piece of 1/2” plywood into a 2 foot by 2 foot square.
Cover with vinyl or Formica using contact cement glue
Use legs from old chair
Nail legs to plywood and get playing.
Local tips
An old sailor from Jamaica brought the game to these shores and it was picked up for fun and relaxation when there was nothing much to do with friends. If it is anything that players dislike when playing the game and that is cheating, which takes the fun out of the game they say. Others take the game very seriously because the hate to lose.
How to spot cheaters, how to cheat and why not to cheat: Look them in the eye, tap your partner’s foot.
Caymanians play and love the game because it brings friends together for a time of relaxation and concentration, while enjoying fry fish, fritters, and any kind of soup, rum and beer. The tactic is keeping your opponent guessing what to play. To win at cutthroat: Mind your own business
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