Dominoes are small black and white rectangles that people use to play a variety of games. Many people line them up in long rows and then knock them down. They’re also sometimes used to create artistic creations. Some kids have been known to make dominoes out of cookies or other foods.
Most domino sets contain 28 tiles: 7 doubles (one side has a number and the other is blank) and 21 singles (one side has a number and one side is blank). But some sets have more or less than this amount of tiles. The number of dominoes per player can vary, too. Some players choose to have all players draw equal amounts from the stock, while others allow each player to draw a certain number of tiles for their hand according to the rules of the game being played.
In some games, the first player must make a domino play that has all of its ends touching another domino in a line of play. This is called a domino “spinner.” The term spinner may be used to refer to the specific type of double that is being played as the lead, or it may simply be a general term to describe any double that can be played on all four sides.
The word domino comes from the Latin word for “flint.” Its early meaning was more akin to a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask at a carnival or masquerade, or perhaps a cape worn over a priest’s surplice. It also might be connected to the ebony black domino pieces, which contrasted with the white ones. The first recorded use of the word as a playing piece was in France shortly after 1750.
Thousands of dominoes can stand up straight and unmoving for hours or even days, until the slightest nudge brings them down. This is due to the fact that dominoes have inertia, a tendency to resist motion unless an outside force pushes or pulls on them. Once the first domino has fallen, though, it unleashes a torrent of potential energy that can be applied to any other piece in the row.
Some domino players, especially those who play in tournaments, are able to build amazing displays of dominoes before an audience. These displays are called “domino shows.” Domino builders compete to see who can create the most complex and imaginative domino effect or reaction in front of an audience. Some of these shows are even broadcast in the form of television shows.
A great way to learn about the structure and components of a domino set is to examine the individual pieces. Each domino has a rounded surface, with an arrangement of dots, or “pips,” that resembles those on a die, except that some of the squares are blank (indicated by a zero). In most cases, a domino is marked on both sides with its identity, but only one side is visible to other players.