Triangular Dominoes is a variant of dominoes using equilateral triangle tiles, patented by Franklin H. Richards in 1885. Two versions were made: a starter set of 35 unique tiles, with each side numbered from zero to four pips, and an advanced set of 56 unique tiles, with each side numbered from zero to five pips. In both versions, a wild card "boss" tile was included, making 36 and 57 tiles in each complete set, respectively.

Equipment

In his patent, Richards used a three-digit notation, referring to the pips in clockwise order from the side(s) with the lowest value. Richards illustrated the tiles as two unique sets, with pip values subject to the following restrictions:[1]

  • Pip counts may be repeated
  • Starting from the side with the lowest value and proceeding clockwise, the number of pips on a side is equal to or greater than the prior side

In addition to this marking scheme, Richards added the sum of all pips to the center of the tile.[1]

Richards Triangular Domino sets
TriplesDoublesSingles
000 001002003004005
   
111 011112113114115 012013014015
222 022122223224225 023024025 123124125
333 033133233334335 034035 134135 234235
   
444 044144244344445 045 145 245 345
555 055155255355455

Percy Alexander MacMahon showed there were 24 possible combinations when each of the three edges of an equilateral triangle are assigned one of four values, and showed the number of unique pieces that can be made in this way is for unique values.[2]: 2  For , there are 45 unique combinations possible, and for , there are 76 unique combinations; the reduced set of 35 and 56 in Triangular Dominoes, for 0–4 and 0–5 pips, respectively, result from the additional restriction for increasing values around each side of the tiles when counting clockwise. This can be demonstrated by examination of the "singles" tiles: where 012 is a valid sequence in Triangular Dominoes, 021 is not, and so the mirror image of each "singles" pattern is excluded; there are ten excluded patterns for the set of 0–4 pips and twenty for the set of 0–5 pips. By examination, mirror images of the triples and doubles are identical to the original tiles and so these patterns already adhere to the counting-up restriction.

These restrictions and resulting tile set of Triangular Dominoes were retained, with markings moved to the corners using Arabic numerals for Triominoes, which was published in 1965.

Gameplay

"Boss" wild card tile

Richards proposed several games that could be played in the patent.[1]

Points

For this variant, the "boss" tile may be included or left out. The tiles are distributed evenly between the players. Play is led by the player holding the highest triple tile. Each player takes a turn, placing one tile on the table; each tile must be added next to the tile that was placed in the preceding turn, matching the number of pips on adjacent sides. Once one player exhausts their hand, the game is over and the winner's score is determined by the sum of the pips on the tiles remaining in their opponents' hands.[1]

Muggins

This variant is similar to "points", except the matching criterion is the sum of pips on adjacent sides must be a multiple of five.[1]

Star

This variant allows players to lay tiles side-to-side or corner-to-corner. Corner-to-corner plays are allowed when the player is able to match the number on both sides of the corner. If a corner-to-corner match is created, that player can take another turn. Scoring in this variant is accomplished when the sum of all the pips on both dominoes (whether matched side-to-side or corner-to-corner) is a multiple of five;[1] for example, if the 233 and 334 tiles are laid next to each other, the total sum is (2+3+3)+(3+3+4)=18, not divisible by five and hence no score is awarded. Alternatively, if the 233 and 133 tiles are laid next to each other, the total sum is 15, divisible by five, and the player is awarded 15 points.

When the "boss" tile is played, the tile is assumed to have enough pips to bring the sum of it and adjacent tile(s) to a multiple of five. Subsequent tiles played next to the "boss" tile assume the value is zero.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 US 331652A, Franklin H. Richards, "Domino", published December 1, 1885
  2. ↑ MacMahon, P. A. (1921). New Mathematical Pastimes. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
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