A Game of Tricolor Dominoes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1890-Accepted, 24th May, 1890
CUMI DID DI BUITIATION.
A Game of Tricolor Dominoes.
I AUGUST MEILI of Wald in the County of Zurich, Switzerland, School Master do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a game to be played with a certain number of dominos
each being in the form of an equilateral triangle. The face of each domino is divided
into three equal triangles by three lines drawn from the centre of the domino to its
three corners. ⚫
Each of the three contained triangles thus formed is differently coloured (as for
example the three national colours may be adopted) and is marked in addition with 1,
2 or 3 dots.
The three colours follow in the same order upon all the dominos and the first
domino being the one having 3 dots upon each of its three triangles has a distinctive
central mark which may conveniently be representative of the coat of arms attaching
to the country represented by the three colours adopted for the subdivision of the face
of the dominos.
The lowest domino is marked with 3 dots one in each of its triangles and counts 3 ;
the highest has three times 3 dots and counts 9. Each of the numbers 1, 2 and 3 is
to be found upon each of the three colours nine times thus making twenty seven
possible combinations in the complete set of twenty seven dominos.
In the game above referred to the number 3 is consequently employed in a con-
secutive manner.
If desired the game may be similarly played introducing a blank domino (onu
without dots) in which case there will be sixty four possible combinations and a
complete set will consist of sixty four dominos.
These dominos are of sufficient thickness to be stood on end in the same way as the
ordinary rectangular dominos and they may be made of any suitable material or
combination of materials.
The game thus constituted may be played either upon a table in the same way as
the usual game of dominos, care being taken to make not only the dots by numbers
but the colours also agree; or upon special boards marked off with triangular spaces
corresponding with the dominos and forming an interior outline for the game, beyond
which the dominos are not to be placed.
If
In order to play this game the dominos are mixed or shuffled in the usual way.
two or five persons are to play the 9 (three times 3) is placed beforehand and in the
case of five players the 3 (three times 1) is withdrawn from the game. If there be
three or four players he who possesses the 9 (three times 3) plays first. Then each
player plays by turns taking care to make both numbers of dots and color agree.
This is always possible but the player should endeavour to place a domino so as to
make an angle of 60° in which one of his remaining dominos may be placed in either
of two ways while those in the possession of other players may not be placed therein
at all.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a game begun in which the
angle A B C has been formed to which the domino A' B' C¹ corresponds both as to
colours and numbers of dots. The player who can place this domino acquires the
right of placing a second one. If he be able to place à second he acquires the right
of placing a third and so on by which means he gains upon the other players. He
who is the first to have disposed of all his dominos wins the gam:, he who has
dominos left when the last player but one has disposed of all his, loses. It may be
agreed beforehand to take account of the number of dots upon the remaining dominos
of the loser or not.

page_text: +1
The game when played upon a special board-proceeds in the same manner
excepting that it is forbidden to place dominos outside the triangular spaces marked
out.
The plan to be adopted when a special-board is employed may advantageously be to
mark out the spaces thereon, forming a symmetrical figure, of twenty six triangles in
order that there will always be a remainder of one domino thus increasing the
interest in the game.
Figure 2 shows a game, begun upon a special board. Player number I has only
two remaining dominos B and C and appears to have the best chance of winning
Player number II has five remaining dominos D. E. F. G. H.; player number III
having last played has three remaining dominos J. K. and L.
Player number I whose turn it is to play having no 2 cannot play; player
number II places the domino G; player number III places J, then player number
still cannot play number 1 places ; number III places K in the angle made by J
and G and follows it up with L winning the game.
;
If the game is to continue player number I still cannot play ; number II places
the domino F between G and E, follows it up with D having only the domino H
remaining counting 4 dots, whereas player number I still has two dominos B and C
remaining counting 8 dots wherefore it follows that player number I has lost the game.
The spaces M and N remain uncovered.
The total number of dots upon remaining dominos may be counted and if several
players are engaged they may pay in counters losses corresponding thereto.
If for example the players are A. B. C. and D that A has been the first to play
out and that at that moment there remained with B, 8, with C, 11, and with D,
15 dots each of these players should pay to A counters to the number of the total
number of dots on his remaining dominos. If during the continuation of the game
B plays out and that there then remains with C 4 dots and with D 9 dots, B should
receive 13 counters then C playing out, receives from D) 5 counters corresponding with
5 dots upon the domino remaining with him...
Tricolor dominos may also be used for making up tasteful mosaic designs taking
into account the pattern to be made with the various numbers of dots or not.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. A game made up of a variable number of equilateral triangular dominos each
divided into three equal triangles by three lines diverging from the centre to the
corners of the domino.
2. In the game of dominos specified in the above claiming clause 1 the combination
of three colours substantially as, described.
3. In the game of dominos specified in the above claiming clause 1 the combination
of 1.2 and.3 dots, substantially as described.
4. The combination of a set of dominós as described with a board marked out
with a variable number of triangles corresponding with the shape of the dominos.
Dated this 21st day of April 1890.
AYRTON & THOMAS,
Agents for the Applicant.