Domino is a game of chance and skill played with rectangular blocks of wood or plastic, bearing an arrangement of dots on one side. The other side is either blank or patterned identically. The dots are called pips. The value of a domino, indicated by the number of pips on its open end, may vary from zero to as many as six, with most having between three and five.
In a domino rally, the first domino is tipped just so, and it triggers a cascade that travels at a steady speed without losing energy and can only travel in one direction. In fact, the pulse of a domino effect is just like that of a firing neuron.
The domino has captivated people for centuries and is still a popular pastime with millions of players worldwide. It is also a symbol of camaraderie and competition in many cultures. The art of playing domino is complex and requires a combination of strategy, calculation, skill and luck. The game is well known and is featured in movies, television shows and other media.
When playing a domino game, all tiles must be laid out on the table and positioned so that their open ends match up with one another to form a line of play. Then, each player plays a tile onto the line of play. The result of a successful play is that the entire domino chain, which gradually increases in length, is joined together.
This sequence of plays is referred to as a domino chain and each completed domino row is called a string. Occasionally, an end of a domino chain will show the same number on both sides; this is known as a stitched up end and can make it more difficult to continue the line.
The number of tiles in the domino set determines how many rows can be built and how fast a domino chain can be played. The most common set is a double-six set with 28 tiles. Larger sets exist, but they are seldom used for regular gaming. Most games that involve more than two players require a double-six set or a larger one.
A basic domino set includes 28 tiles that are shuffled and formed into a stock or boneyard, from which each player draws seven. The player who draws the heaviest domino, either a double or a single, will make the first play. If there is a tie, it is broken by drawing additional tiles from the stock.
While there are many different games that can be played with a domino set, most follow similar basic rules. The rules shown on this site apply to most of the games that use a double-six set, although some specific rules for other games are listed under Line of Play. Generally, these other rules are very similar to the ones shown here and sometimes even identical. These differences are the result of local customs and the unique way that the rules are taught and played in different parts of the world.