

Then, with the dominoes that are left from each team, they are counted together and whoever has the lowest amount between both teams wins, and that number from both teams is the accumulative score won.Īfter the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic, these regular outside gatherings were put on a hold. For example, if six tiles are sets of 5 on the table, a player with the last set plays that tile with that 5 exposed, while it is exposed on the other side, the game is frozen. The last term is “trancao,” a shorter way of saying “trancado.” This is when a player freezes the game by placing the last set of dots on the table, leaving no turns left. For example, on the table, if there is a 2 facing one side and 5 on the other, if the player that goes last domino is a set of 2/5, that is a “capicua”, giving 25 extra points to the total score. “¡CAPICUA!” is what players shout before playing their last domino when the two numbers on it can be won on either side. Here are some terms to remember when playing dominoes. Washington Heights’ population is predominantly Dominican, and the game of dominoes has had a huge impact on the community. “Dominoes is very healthy for the mind because it is a thinking game,” said Borrell. He said dominoes have helped his mental health. Borrell has been playing in the Rauol Wallenberg Playground in Highbridge Park in Washington Heights. Victor Borrell is a Dominican who has been playing dominoes for more than 15 years. Games usually go up to 200 and the losing team gets up and another team plays. The person who plays their last domino wins along with his or her teammate. If they don’t have any dots to match, they skip. As the upcoming players play, the dominoes they place on the table must match the dots that are available to them. Every player picks up seven tiles and whoever has the double six domino begins the match. Usually, it is two teams consisting of two players.īefore the beginning of the match, the dominoes are set on the table face down, and shuffled around. With the coronavirus pandemic being slowly tamed and summer right around the corner, the streets of predominantly Latino neighborhoods are occupied once again with domino games.ĭominoes is a strategic board game, consisting of 28 tiles that have a line of division in the middle and have numbers ranging between 0-6, known as dots. It’s time to bring out the table and dominoes and play till sundown.ĭominoes have been an essential activity in the Latino community in New York City for decades, whether it is in a park, in a barbershop, or on the street. The weekend has arrived, and it is a hot, sunny day.
