Domino is a set of rectangular playing pieces, normally made from ivory or bone and colored black or white, with one side bearing an arrangement of dots (or “pips”) similar to those on a die. The other sides of the dominoes are blank or identically patterned. The pips are used to identify each domino and mark its position in the chain or line of play.
A domino chain or line of play is built up as each player in turn places a tile on the table positioning it so that it touches one end of an existing chain. A new end is then added to the chain with each subsequent tile played. The chain may be extended with tiles showing matching numbers on their open ends, or by placing a domino with a number showing on both of its two ends.
The game is usually won by the first player to reach an ending point in the line of play. This is achieved when the last tile in a player’s hand matches an adjacent domino with its own pips on both its open ends, or when the line of play is blocked and no more plays are possible. A player who cannot make a match passes his or her turn to the next player.
Some games of domino involve a fixed sequence of moves, while others allow players to select the sequence of plays that they wish to follow. The rules of the particular game dictate the number and value of tiles that must be drawn from the stock or boneyard for each player’s hand. If a player draws more tiles for his or her hand than he or she is entitled to, the additional tiles are returned to the stock and reshuffled before the next player draws.
In addition to being used as the basis for many different games of domino, a domino set can also be arranged into works of art including straight lines, curved lines that form pictures when they fall, grids that are shaped like buildings and pyramids, or 3D structures such as towers and pillars. Some artists create designs for domino art that are intended to be a representation of a particular place or subject, while others prefer to use the pieces in a more abstract way.
The word “domino” is derived from the Latin dominium, meaning “throne” or “seat.” An earlier sense of the word, in both English and French, was a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. The term is also associated with the black and white contrasting coloring of domino pieces, which was inspired by the coloration of a priest’s cape worn over his or her surplice. The basic Block game for two players requires a double-six set, from which each player draws seven tiles. This is the standard starting point for most games of domino, but variations can be based on other basic sets.