Dominoes are a type of tile that is used for playing games. They are typically arranged in long lines with one end facing another. When a domino is tipped over, it causes the next domino to tip over, and so on, creating a chain reaction until all of the dominoes have fallen over. This type of game can be very addictive, and people of all ages enjoy it. There are many different ways to play with domino, but the most popular fall into two categories: blocking and scoring.
A set of dominoes consists of twenty-seven tiles, with an arrangement of dots, or “pips,” on each. A single domino has a specific number of pips on each side, and it is marked with an identity-bearing side (like a card) and a blank or identically patterned side. The pips are used to determine the value of a domino, the winning player being awarded points according to the number of pips on his or her remaining tiles.
Each player begins a domino game with seven tiles in his or her hand. The winner of a game is the first person to reach 21 points. Depending on the rules of a particular game, points can be scored in several different ways, such as adding up all of the remaining pips in a losing player’s hand at the end of a round or game, counting only one end of a double (i.e., 4-4 counts as only four points), or counting all of the matching sides on a domino.
Some domino games require that the first play be made by the player holding the highest double in his or her hand. Other games specify that the first play be made by the player with the highest tile, either a double or a single. In the latter case, the rules may state that if there is a tie, it must be broken by drawing new hands.
The rules for each game also determine whether a domino is considered a spinner or not. A spinner is a domino that can be played on all four sides, while a non-spinner can only be played on two of the four sides. Most of the time, the number of pips on the end of a domino determines which way it must be played – doubles are always placed cross-ways across a line of play, while singles are generally played lengthwise.
Most dominoes are white, but there are other colors as well. In addition, there are different sizes of dominoes, from the very small ones that children use as toys to the large sets that can be used for a variety of different games. In fact, there are even sets of large dominoes that can be used to create impressive works of art! These can include straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they are laid out, and even 3D structures like towers and pyramids. These domino art projects can be quite elaborate, and they are certainly not for the faint of heart.