Dominoes is an exciting board game that is very popular in different parts of the world. It can be played at home, in parks, cafes and even online. The game consists of rectangular chips divided into two parts, on each of which dots from 0 to 6 are drawn.
But there is one interesting moment in the game that may surprise newcomers: when players suddenly start shouting "fish!".
In this article, we will tell you what it is and why it happens.
What is a domino fish?
"Fish" in dominoes is a special situation when none of the players can make a move. This means that each player has chips in their hands, but none of them match those already on the table.
"Fish" happens quite often, especially when the game is nearing the end and players have few chips left in their hands. Then the opportunity to make a move becomes less and less, and the chances of getting into the "fish" increase.
Why do the dominoes shout the very word "fish"?
When a moment comes during the game when no one can make a move, everyone looks at their chips and at the table in confusion. And then someone loudly shouts: "Fish!" This is an in-game alarm that means no further play is possible and the game is over.
When the player notices that the game has reached a dead end, he informs everyone about it by shouting "fish". But this is not just a funny word - it has a special meaning. Such an exclamation tells everyone: "Friends, we are stuck! Let's finish this round."
Where did this strange word in dominoes come from? There are interesting guesses: for example, that a fish that has been pulled out of the water lies motionless and is silent. Likewise, the game of dominoes - it seems to "freeze" and cannot move forward. That's why players shout "fish" - the game is stuck, like that fish on the shore.
There is another interesting conjecture: it seems that when you catch a fish, it means the end of fishing. The same is true in dominoes - the cry "fish" means that this round is over, because no one can make a new move.
What to do when "fish" in dominoes?
When someone shouts "fish", all players immediately stop playing. It's like a stop signal in sports. And now it's time to count the points to determine the winner.
How do you determine who won? It's simple enough: you have to look at who has the fewest chips left in their hands. Or count who has the lowest number of dots on the chips, the players themselves will decide.
Dominoes is the most popular game around the world and is a veritable treasure trove of interesting terms and rules. One such special term is "fish", which may surprise newcomers. It actually means an important part of the game. When you hear someone yell "fish" during a game of dominoes, know that the game has reached a stalemate and the end of the round has occurred. This means that no player can make a move because there are no chips left in their hands.
Such a situation is not a defeat - on the contrary, it makes the game even more interesting and intense. Players must think ahead, carefully choosing each of their moves. You have to try to prevent the "fish", or deliberately create such a situation in order to win.
The Domino game forces players to be attentive, think strategically, and always be prepared for surprises. These are the rules that make dominoes a real art, where every move can decide the fate of the game.
And you can read about how to play dominoes here.