Domino is a game played with a set of rectangular tiles with a unique scoring system that allows players to win by completing the entire chain. This scoring system is used in many different games that range from simple two-player games to complex multi-player competitions.
In addition to being fun, domino has educational value for children. The pips on each domino are color-coded to represent different values and quantities. Using this information, children can learn to make addition and subtraction calculations while playing domino. In fact, domino is a popular activity among students.
While the origins of domino are obscure, it is known that the word itself appeared in France shortly after 1750. The word is derived from the French verb “dominer” which means to dominate, or take control. The game itself may have evolved from an earlier sense of the word, which denoted a long, hooded cloak worn together with a mask at a carnival or masquerade.
There are numerous types of domino games, but the basic game is for two players and requires a double-six set. The 28 tiles are shuffled and placed face down, forming the stock or boneyard. Each player draws seven tiles; the remainder are not used. The first player plays a tile and the other player follows suit until either the first player has completed a domino line or both players have passed.
When playing domino, it is important to keep track of the number of remaining tiles in your opponent’s hand, or “pile.” During the course of the game, a player will need to replenish his or her pile by picking a new tile from the boneyard. Players must also be careful not to pick a domino with an exposed end that will touch the ends of another domino, as this will create a domino chain.
Some players like to use their dominoes for art, such as creating a grid that forms a picture when the pieces fall. Others enjoy creating curved lines, or building structures such as towers and pyramids. One such artist is Hevesh, who has a YouTube channel that features videos of her impressive domino creations. Some of her larger installations require several nail-biting minutes to complete.
Dominoes can be a useful tool for writers, too. If you’re a pantser, that is, you don’t prepare detailed outlines of your novel ahead of time, you may find yourself with scenes that don’t have enough logical impact on the scene before it or that are occurring too early in the story. Using a domino image as a writing prompt can help you weed out these scenes and focus on the ones that will really work.
Dominos have been manufactured from a variety of materials, including bone or ivory; dark hardwoods such as ebony; and metals such as brass or pewter. More recently, sets have been made from polymer materials. These sets are often less expensive than those made from more traditional materials. In addition, some sets of dominoes are still produced from natural materials. This gives the product a more luxurious feel, and it can be less expensive than polymer sets of dominoes.