Dominoes
Domino tiles have a long history in China. The familiar Western game emerged in eighteenth-century Europe, especially Italy; the precise connection between the two traditions remains debated. Today, dominoes are a familiar part of Caribbean social play, with rules and scoring customs that differ from table to table.
Play Dominoes ↗Further reading: Pagat: history of dominoesLudo
Ludo is a simplified descendant of Pachisi, a cross-and-circle game from India. The British Museum dates the English adaptation to 1896. Its colourful board and simple race-to-home goal helped make it a family favourite in many parts of the world.
Play Ludo ↗Further reading: British Museum: historical board gamesWarri
Warri, also known as Oware, belongs to the wider family of mancala games built around sowing and capturing seeds. Barbados tourism resources trace its origins to West Africa and describe its place in Barbadian culture. Names and rules vary by region; this version follows Barbados rules.
Play Warri ↗Further reading: Barbados.org: traditions and cultureCheckers
Checkers is also called draughts. Its modern forms have a long documented history in Europe, including a book on the game published in Valencia in 1547. Different countries developed their own board sizes and rules, so a familiar-looking board can still offer a different game.
Play Checkers ↗Further reading: Encyclopaedia Britannica (1911): draughtsAll Fours
All Fours was described in Charles Cotton’s Compleat Gamester in 1674. The old English card game found an enduring home in Trinidad, where its partnership form became a national favourite. Its name refers to the four scoring categories: High, Low, Jack and Game.
Play All Fours ↗Further reading: Pagat: All Fours history and rulesHouse rules differ between islands, families and clubs. These short histories describe the wider traditions; the instructions inside each game explain the version you can play here.