The Basics of Domino

A domino is a small rectangular block of wood or plastic marked with dots resembling those on dice. It is used to play a game in which the players try to arrange adjacent dominoes so that they match in number of pip faces, and then form combinations to score points. The game of domino was once played in the West with a set that contained 28 tiles, but modern sets have many more. Regardless of their number, most dominoes have the same basic characteristics.

There are countless variations of domino games, although nearly all fall into four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games and round games. In most cases, the rules for each of these types are very similar, but some may differ slightly from one place to another.

The simplest dominoes are the double-six type, which have six pips on each face. These are most often used to make a line of matching dominoes. Players take turns placing one of their dominoes edge to edge against a neighbor, and the next player matches and plays a tile onto that match. This arrangement is called the layout, string or line of play. When a player has made his turn, the remaining tiles are called the stock. A player is permitted to draw new hands of dominoes from the stock, if allowed by the rules of the game being played, and then add them to his hand as needed.

When a person draws more dominoes for his hand than he is permitted to, it is known as an overdraw. In this situation, the player must immediately expose his hand and then return the extra tiles to the stock. The player to his right must then draw from the stock, and so on. If the player makes a mistake when playing his tile, or plays a tile out of order, it is known as a misplay and must stand.

Dominos are a favorite pastime of many people and can be found in arcades, on coffee tables and in the homes of people of all ages. They can be bought in sets and come in a variety of colors and styles, including curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall and 3D structures such as towers and pyramids.

Domino is also a popular method of artistic expression. Artists use the tiles to create works of art that can be displayed on walls and in other locations. Some of these pieces are extremely elaborate, with curved lines, 3D arrangements and stacked walls. Others are more simple, with straight lines or even a picture drawn on a single domino. Domino art is a great way to express creativity and to show off a sense of design and color. Many artists use dominoes to build complex patterns that demonstrate their skill and ingenuity. Other artists simply use the tiles to create a design that captures their imagination. Many people choose to display their domino artwork in their homes or offices as a reminder of an enjoyable hobby or activity.