Domino is a game of skill and luck that can be played by one to eight players. It features a set of rectangular, double-sided tiles that are normally twice as long as wide. They are marked with an arrangement of spots or pips, like those on a die, except that some of the squares are blank (indicated by a zero). The number of pips on each end of a domino determines its value, ranging from six to none. A domino that has more pips on one end is considered “heavier” than a domino that has more pips on the other end.
Each player draws the number of tiles he is permitted to draw, according to the rules of the particular game being played. He then places the tile, face up, in the middle of the table. This domino is sometimes called the “set,” the “down,” or the “lead.” A player may then make his first play by putting a domino onto the lead, as explained in the section below on Order of Play.
Once the first domino is toppled, much of its potential energy changes to kinetic energy, the energy of motion (see Converting Energy). This energy passes to the next domino, which gets the push it needs to fall over, and so on. Eventually, the entire line of dominoes comes crashing down.
Hevesh is a professional domino artist who creates mind-blowing setups for events and movies, including the album launch of pop star Katy Perry. She has a YouTube channel that has more than 2 million subscribers, and her creations have been featured on CNN, CBS News, and ABC News.
In addition to block and scoring games, domino can also be used for a variety of strategy and skill-based games, such as concentration and trick-taking. Some of these games are adaptations of card games and were once popular in some regions to circumvent religious proscriptions against playing cards.
Although there are many different variations of domino, the basic principles of all are similar. The simplest set has twenty-six tiles, with two sets of seven alternating colors of pips. More advanced sets include additional colors and more pips, as well as a jumbo tile with ten pips on each of its four sides. Some players consider a jumbo to be the ultimate in domino, as it is capable of standing up to nearly any domino that can be played on it. However, the most impressive dominoes are seen at domino shows, where builders construct complex and imaginative domino effects or reactions before an audience of fans. These builders are often referred to as domino pros. They are able to produce these displays in less than 30 seconds and are often awarded cash prizes for their work. Those who want to try their hand at creating a domino masterpiece can purchase a set of domino tiles online. These can be purchased in a variety of colors and are available from a wide range of retailers, including Amazon.