A domino is a rectangular piece of wood or similar material, with an arrangement of spots or dots (inlaid or painted) on one side. The other side is blank or identically patterned to the first. Dominoes are used to play a variety of games. The most common are bidding games, blocking games, scoring games and round games. Most domino games require more than one person to play. They can be played with as few as two people and as many as eight players.
In the game of domino, a player must match his or her tile to one in a line of dominoes already set up on the table. This configuration is known as the layout, string or line of play. The player may be required to play a domino as soon as it is matched, or he or she may “bye” a tile from the stock by adding it to his or her hand before playing it.
The word domino is derived from the Italian domino, which in turn is a diminutive of domicilio, the Latin for “room.” Early dominoes were functionally identical to playing cards and were sometimes called decks of cards or a pack of cards. In the 16th century, the word was extended to describe a hooded cloak worn with a mask at carnival or at a masquerade. In French, the term also denoted a cape worn by a priest over a white surplice.
Although the most popular way to play domino is with polymer tiles, there are also many sets made from other materials. Traditionally, European-style dominoes have been made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (“mother of pearl” or MOP), ivory or dark hardwood such as ebony. The pips on these dominoes are inlaid or painted black or white. More recently, dominoes have been produced in a variety of other natural and man-made materials, including marble and granite; soapstone; stone, wood, glass and ceramic clay; metals such as brass and pewter; and plastic.
In some games, it is determined by drawing lots to determine who will make the first play. In others, the order of play is determined by seating arrangements or by the rules of the particular domino game. The first player makes a play by placing his or her domino, face up on the table, in the center of the row of other dominoes. Play then continues in a clockwise direction.
Dominoes can be used to create art in a variety of styles and media, from straight lines to curved lines to grids that form pictures when they fall. Artists can also use them to create 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. Some people even use them to design their homes. When creating domino art, a person should carefully consider the desired effect before starting. A domino can make a large, beautiful statement, or it can be just a small accent in a larger display. For this reason, it is important to choose a design that is proportional to the size of the domino.