Dominoes are rectangular clay, plastic, or composite tile dominoes that have a line on one face to divide it visually into two square ends, each with an arrangement of dots, called pips. The other faces are either blank or identically patterned, like the sides of a die. The value of a domino is the sum of the number of pips on both its left and right sides. In the simplest domino set, each double-six domino has twelve pips. Some sets have a higher number of pips on one end than the other, allowing the sets to be played in different ways.
Most domino games involve laying down a domino edge to edge with another so that the numbers (or blanks) on adjacent dominoes match each other. This configuration is sometimes called a layout, string, or line of play. As each player matches and plays a domino, the line of play grows. If the line becomes too long to be played, players may place it at a 90 degree angle on the table.
The number of tiles required for each game varies, but for the most basic of all, a double-six set is sufficient for two players. These 28 tiles are shuffled and placed face down in a pile or a stack, often called the boneyard, and each player draws seven from this stock. Depending on the rules of the game, these dominoes may be passed or byed later in the hand according to the rules of that particular game.
Once the line of play is completed, the winning player receives a score equal to the total count of all remaining unplayed dominoes in his opponents’ hands. If the dominoes in his opponent’s hands are all multiples of five, the winner also earns a bonus point for playing off the ends of the first double that was played.
Some of the most popular domino games feature a skill component in which players must use their minds to determine how to arrange their tiles in order to achieve a goal, such as forming a row or building a tower. Dominoes are also used as an educational tool for learning and teaching, especially in ot therapy with children. For example, a child with autism can match pictures on dominoes to help him learn to recognize images.
Professional domino artists create spectacular domino setups for movies, TV shows, and events, such as the Katy Perry album launch. These elaborate domino structures are often built out of hundreds of thousands of pieces, and can take several nail-biting minutes to fall due to the laws of physics. Hevesh5, a domino artist who has millions of YouTube subscribers, builds incredible layouts using dominoes that can reach up to 300,000 pieces. She uses an array of tools and techniques to assemble these intricate displays, which often take hours or even days to complete. The videos of her work inspire many people around the world to become domino artists themselves.