Domino is a game that involves placing tiles edge to edge on a flat surface, with each subsequent tile affecting the adjacent tiles. The tiles can be arranged in straight or curved lines, or they may form grids that create pictures when they fall. The game can be played by two or more people. There are many different games that can be played, with variations on the rules and scoring. The first player to lay all his or her dominoes wins.
A domino set consists of a base set, usually double-sixes, plus a number of additional tiles called “extended sets” that increase the maximum number of spots on each end. The most common extended sets are double-nine (55 tiles) and double-twelve (91).
Each player must have a complete set of dominoes in order to make a play. Each player begins the game by drawing a domino from the stock, which is then placed face up on the table in front of him or her. This tile is known as the lead. The player who draws the heaviest domino makes the first play. If there is a tie for the initial turn, the players draw new tiles from the stock until one player has seven dominoes, or the game ends.
Once a player has seven dominoes, the next step is to determine who will play in his or her turn. Typically, this is determined by the player with the highest double in his or her hand. However, some games allow the player to pass if he or she cannot make a play.
In some games, a player’s score is based on the total number of points that can be made by the end of the line of play, or count. Normally, the ends of each domino must be touched by the end of another domino in order to count. If a domino is played to a double, the two matching sides must be touching fully and the domino counted as a whole.
Dominoes that are stacked to form a pyramid or tower are called a build. These structures provide a challenge to many players, and some of them take several hours or days to complete.
When a domino is knocked over, it sends the rest of the chain falling down. The resulting chain reaction is similar to the firing of a neuron in the brain, although it is much faster.
A person who attempts to cheat at a domino game is called a cheater or a sandbagger. If a cheater is discovered, the game is stopped and the offending player is penalized. A cheater is also considered a dishonest player and may be disqualified from the competition.
A person who creates a domino art is known as a domino artist. These artists can design curved lines, grids that form pictures when the dominoes fall, or 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Some artists have a specialty, such as creating designs for movies, TV shows or events, such as an album launch for Katy Perry.