The Basics of Domino

Domino is a popular game that involves placing small wooden blocks with numbers or letters on their faces in a line. They are then knocked down in a sequence. Some people make elaborate layouts of domino pieces that are curved or arranged in a circle. These are often used for special events, such as weddings or parties. Other people take a more abstract approach to the art of domino, using the tiles to create patterns or pictures. A renowned artist is Lily Hevesh, who has amassed more than 2 million subscribers to her YouTube channel, Hevesh5.

Dominoes are usually made of a composite material such as clay or plastic, but they can also be made of marble or other hard materials. The most common domino sets contain 28 tiles, but larger sets are available for games involving several players. Each tile features a number, either on one side or both sides. A domino may also have dots resembling those on dice.

When a player begins a domino chain, he places a tile on the edge of the table or other surface that is touching it. Then he adds the rest of the tiles in order, adding more and more until the entire chain is complete. The resulting lines of dominoes, sometimes called snake-line, develop their own shapes depending on the whims of the players and the limitations of the playing surface.

The first domino played is usually a double. The next tile played to this must be a double or, if it is not, a single that matches the color or number of the previous domino. In some games, the first play must be crosswise to the previous domino; in others, the direction must be lengthwise. Often a single played to a spinner is played square to that piece, but other rules can vary.

Normally, play continues until one player can no longer lay a domino. When this occurs, the player “chips out,” or plays his last domino. During this time, the opposing player may look over the remaining tiles of his partner to determine if he has a scoring opportunity. If this is the case, the winner is the partner whose score, determined by counting all the pips on his remaining dominoes, is lowest.

Most domino games require a set of tiles that are called a stock. After the shuffle, a player draws as many tiles from the stock as allowed by the rules of the game being played. These are then added to the tiles he already has in his hand. Some games allow players to buy tiles from the stock, but this is based on the rules of the individual game.