History of Dominoes: From China to the Bars of Spain

Dominoes originated in China at least as far back as the Middle Ages, but the familiar European version appeared in Italy in the mid-18th century. From there, it spread through France, Spain and the Americas.

The Chinese relatives

In China, the game was played with tiles resembling elongated dice, with dots representing every possible combination of two dice. Those games were more similar to card games than to our modern dominoes; they were used for trick-taking and combinations. Some texts place them around the 12th and 13th centuries, though the exact date of their origin is difficult to pin down.

Arrival in Europe

European dominoes appeared in Venice and Naples in the 18th century, featuring bone or ivory tiles with black dots, and quickly spread to France. It is unclear whether the game arrived directly from China or was reinvented based on the concept. Interestingly, the European game changed the rules: here, the goal was to match numbers in a connecting line.

Why is it called domino?

The most popular theory links it to the domino, a black hooded cloak worn during carnival, due to the contrast between the black and white of the tiles. While it is a charming explanation, it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Dominoes in Spain

In Spain, the game became a staple in bars, social clubs, and retirement homes, much like the traditional deck of cards. The sharp "clack" of the tile hitting a marble table is a quintessentially Spanish sound. It is a social cousin to the pub card deck: affordable, quick to learn, and perfect for four players.

Cards and tiles: two sides of the same coin

Dominoes and cards share a lot in common: reading what your opponent holds, counting what has already been played, and playing in pairs without speaking. If you enjoy those aspects of dominoes, you would likely enjoy a game of Guiñote (a popular trick-taking game) or Mus (a famous bluffing game).