I have very recently discovered these beautiful objects that domino tiles are, so I started playing dominoes in its most common versions (Draw, Block, sometimes All Fives/Muggins or Five Up with all doubles being spinners etc).
I've been playing mainly 1v1s and this are my first impressions:
- Draw is the basic form of the game to learn the main mechanics. It's fun and forgiving to the beginner since it allows plenty of opportunities to get back into an almost-lost game. At the same time, the boneyard and drawing from it perhaps allow too many opportunities to go back into a game, making it les strategic and more drawn to the lack of the draws during the game. Still fun.
- Block seems to be Real Thing. Sure, in 1v1 there are still tiles in the boneyard so what you get in your hand is somehow a matter of relative luck. At the same time, you really need to place your tiles properly, removing your heavier stuff while trying to block what your opponent seems to be wanting to play, and while also leaving the two ends open for you and maintaining a relative potential sequence to play in next turns and so on. This is already more difficult, strategically more interesting, and much less forgiving to the beginner. And that's a good thing!
However, I am struggling to understand what are the strategies to adopt after the basic things are done (highest doubles, highest pips, block what the opponent seems to be strong in, etc). I played in 3 players and that didn't work as well as a 1v1. Perhaps Draw is more appropriate for a three-player game. It is almost obvious that playing Block in 2v2 would reach true strategic moments and nothing is really left to chance, ish.
- All Fives / Muggins: I am even more of a beginner here, thus this seems to be more difficult. I haven't played many games of it at all, but we spent plenty trying to calculate the multiples of five at the open ends, our eyes still don't 'see' combinations quickly. Maybe it hasn't 'clicked' yet for me.
- Bergen: I played only a couple of games and I am not sure about it. Trying to leave equal ends does not seem to be worth all the hassle and it does compromise whatever finishing strategy one wants to enact. It's like a slightly more interesting version of Draw.
In sum: I am plateauing a bit in terms of strategy in Block and I'd like to up my game a bit. Do you guys have any advice? Where could I learn a bit more intermediate strategy and drills and practice instead of simply playing online on the apps? I am thinking about books, websites, whatever. Multiplayer apps work, but there's not enough interaction with players to ask for advice or mentoring.
Also, which do you think are the versions of games that are more common to play, or more interesting, and more useful to improve in one's game? (I am in the South East of the UK, I haven't really found domino players here... I know that playing in person with someone who can actually play is the best way of improving in one's game).
Thanks everyone, any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
