Domino is a tile-based game that has been played for centuries. It is easy for new players to pick up but takes skill and strategy to master. It can be played by one or many players, and it can be adapted for all ages and abilities. It can also be played on a variety of platforms, including computers and smartphones.
The most popular domino games fall into four categories: bidding or trump games; blocking or scoring games; round games; and layout games. These last group of games involve placing tiles in a pattern on the table to form chains of one or more sides. This may involve the use of a grid or board or simply a set of dominoes laid out on the table in front of the players. The earliest records of the game come from Italy and France, and were brought to England by prisoners toward the end of the 18th century.
Most modern sets of dominoes are made from polymer materials such as plastic or ceramic, though they can be found in wood and other natural materials. Some are carved from bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl or MOP), ivory, or dark hardwoods such as ebony, and have contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted. Some are manufactured from composite materials such as marble or granite.
Once a domino has been placed, other players can add to it by playing tiles that match the number of pips shown on the two open ends of the domino. This will form a chain that gradually grows in length. In some games, part of the score is obtained by counting the number of pips at the ends of the chain, which is called the line of play.
After the line of play has been formed, the players’ hands are compared. The player who has the highest double in his or her hand makes the first play. If the hands are tied, a tiebreaker is determined by drawing additional dominoes from the stock. If the resulting hand is not capable of making another play, the hand is blocked and the game ends.
If a player draws more tiles for his or her hand than he or she is entitled to, the extra tiles are taken without looking at them and returned to the stock. This is called an overdraw and must be corrected before the next player plays his or her hand.
Several different rules govern the order in which the players must make their plays and the way in which the line of play is counted. For example, the 5-5 domino is an end of the line of play only if it is not a spinner; otherwise, the number would be 10. The same holds for other types of doubles. These rules are not universal and the particular rules for a given game should be understood by its players before the game is played.