I always read until the end, but when I got to the board games topic, I knew three things:
1- It would be the most popular choice by far, who doesn't have unforgettable memories of board game nights?
2- We could keep breaking participation records.
3- I'd also jump on the board game fever.
So: Post about a board game you like playing
Okay, listen up, in my next post I'm gonna talk about the board game that's been my all-time fave since forever: dominoes (I can't believe nobody's brought it up yet, maybe I missed that post)
Before I put this article together, I took a spin around the other members' posts, dropping some comments and getting into the mix, and it seems like Ludo and cards are the top dogs around here. I even discovered some new games I'd never heard of before. Long story short: ...I had a good time!
A few years back, I looked into the origins of dominoes, being a history buff and all, and there were multiple theories floating around. We'll leave that part out of the article.
If you've never heard of dominoes before, it's basically a board game played with tiles numbered from 0-9 (sometimes up to 6), and the goal is to connect your tiles to the ones already on the board, number to number, on your turn. Sounds simple, right? But this game is no joke, it requires some serious military strategist skills. Anyway, let's not get too deep into that right now, let's talk about why this game is so fun.
I gotta tell you, my love for this game didn't just happen by chance. It was passed down to me, first by my dad who's also a huge fan and he's the one who taught me how to play (I still struggle to beat him, he's just too good). And secondly, I inherited it from my neighborhood in my country where this game was played on every corner. Everywhere you went, you could see groups of people gathered and without even thinking twice, you knew they were playing dominoes. It's a game that's as well-known as baseball or soccer, and sometimes even more enjoyed than those two. That's how important this game is.
When I was in elementary school, I had a teacher who would make us play dominoes once a week. She used to say that if you don't play dominoes, you don't know what life is all about (that line always cracked me up). You can imagine the heated discussions we had as classmates. So, according to my teacher, do you know what life is all about or not?
The original domino game is limited to four players, but of course, even those on the sidelines have a role to play: interfering, commenting, and giving their opinion whether they're experts or not. The goal is to support whoever you're rooting for, and as they say, all's fair in love and war, as long as you don't interfere with the actual game.
In my family, there's never a celebration without dominoes. When we haven't played for a while, we look for any excuse to get the table and tiles out, especially when the weather is bad or the power goes out. That's when our passion for dominoes really shines through. In fact, many Cubans ring in the new year playing dominoes (and I've been one of them more than once), that's how addictive the game can be.
Let me set the scene for you: the game is progressing and you've been doing well. You're down to just one tile left to win. You can't believe it after all those plays. You see that the only tile left in your hand matches one of the ends of the tiles on the board. Your heart starts racing, luck and strategy are on your side, and your opponents don't have the tile they need. Your turn is coming up, and you're about to win. But then, the opponent before you puts down a tile in the exact spot you were waiting for, and you lose your chance to win. Or, in the best-case scenario, you have to wait for another round to see if someone puts down a tile that matches yours, hoping the game won't end before that happens. In this game, you can go from excitement to anger or frustration in a second, all in one play. Winning isn't just about knowing the game, strategizing, and thinking ahead. Luck also has to be on your side, and that's a lot of factors to consider.
I like to draw a conclusion: in dominoes, it's impossible not to lose. There's always something that goes against your play, but you have the option to adapt with what you have and keep playing, keep having fun, and possibly aim for a victory. If we're a little imaginative, life is the same way. Don't enjoy the victory or the illusion of winning too much because it might not come. Instead, enjoy every play, every challenge, every opportunity to keep going - in other words, enjoy the journey. This applies to everything in life...
Going back to the game: if there was a Cuban version of Romeo and Juliet, I'm sure the disputes and differences would be based on this game. I'm not kidding, I know people who get heated when they lose or when their partner makes a mistake (yes, the game can also be played in pairs, which makes it even more intense). I've argued with my dad over plays he could have made better, and he's argued with me over the same thing. According to him, it makes us a better team. As I mentioned before, in my family, dominoes is like a member of the family. It travels with us on vacation, it's present at every celebration - it's just one of us. We've had the same set of tiles and case for as long as I can remember. It's pretty beat up, with patches all over the case, but the tiles are as good as new. So, it'll continue to be our dominoes, until it decides to retire.
When I was a little kid, my dad used to get together with his friends to play dominoes for hours on end. I had to stand on a stool to see what they were doing, and I was fascinated by how excited the game made them. Later on, I didn't need the stool anymore, but they still wouldn't let me play (I got to play with the leftover tiles outside the game). I watched from my corner, but I couldn't understand the excitement behind putting some tiles in order. That changed the moment I started playing. Nowadays, a lot of those old-timers get angry when I beat them. Of course, I try my best to not let them win (they deserve it for not letting me play when I was a kid), and I can tell you that I've become addicted to the emotions that this game brings out. It's got everything: strategy, laughter, intrigue, disappointment... It's a rollercoaster of emotions.
Perhaps if you come to Cuba and see a game of dominoes being played on the street, it might seem a bit rude and vulgar, but nothing could be further from the truth. For us, dominoes is tradition, it's culture. So, if you can, sit down at the table. Sure, if you haven't played before, you'll probably lose, but when it's all said and done, I can guarantee you'll have had a blast and even made some new friends along the way.
I will continue playing dominoes and plan to teach it to my children, and if I have time, my grandchildren. If you ever find yourself in the Caribbean, don't forget to contact me and we'll play some games of dominoes. But before that, I want to ask you: What's your favorite board game? What's the most representative game from your country, region, or area? Do people play dominoes in your country? Have you ever played it before, or is this the first time you've heard of it? Do you have any anecdotes worth sharing about this game? Any questions? Feel free to leave me a comment, and I'll gladly respond. And always remember, Cuba is waiting for you to play dominoes.
All the photos are my property.
