Domino is a game of chance in which the player scores points by matching the pips on open ends of dominoes. A game may end when one player plays all of his or her tiles or the players reach a set number of points, usually 61. The most popular games include bidding, blocking, scoring, and layout games. A skillful player can make an enormous number of points in a short time by making long chains of dominoes that form straight lines, curves, or grids that form pictures.
The most common type of domino is made of a polymer such as acrylic or melamine. These are inexpensive, durable, and easy to clean. They are available in many colors and have a smooth, glossy surface that is attractive to the eye. There are also sets of dominoes that are made of natural materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or ebony and have a more elegant look. These are more expensive, but they are also durable and often have a heavier weight than polymer dominoes.
A typical domino set contains a double-six set, which has 28 tiles. Larger sets are sometimes available, such as the double-nine set, which has 55 tiles. These larger sets are often used for games with more than two players.
When a player draws a hand of dominoes, each tile must be positioned so that the two matching ends are adjacent. If a player cannot extend the line of play with one of his or her tiles, he or she passes. A player must also place a tile on a double touching its two ends squarely. In general, the shape of a domino chain develops a snake-line, although other shapes are possible as well.
Depending on the rules of the game, some of the players in a domino game might be allowed to bye (take extra) dominoes from the stock. The player who takes these additional dominoes does so without looking at them, and returns them to the stock before anyone else makes a play. This process is called “exposing” the hand and reshuffles the stock before anyone else draws their own.
The winner of the last hand or game will generally draw the first domino for the next. Some games, however, require that the winner draw the heaviest domino, whether a double or a single.
When a domino falls over, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy, or the energy of motion. Some of this energy is transmitted to the next domino, giving it the push it needs to fall over as well. The resulting chain of falling dominoes can be quite beautiful, and it is possible to create works of art with a set of these tiles. Some artists have created long, curved lines of dominoes that form pictures when they fall over, and others have built 3D structures such as towers and pyramids.