Dominoes are small rectangular blocks marked with groups of two or more dots on one side. They are used for playing a variety of games. The word domino is derived from the Latin for “fall together.” Dominoes can be played by any number of players and can be laid on a flat surface or on a domino board that has a pattern that allows the tiles to stand up. Some examples of domino boards include grids that form pictures when they fall and stacked walls.
In most domino games, a line of play is formed as each player plays a tile and matches its end to part of an earlier tile. This line of play is usually, but not always, a straight line across the table. Often, the ends of the dominoes are counted as they are played, and the total is used to determine the score.
Most domino sets have twenty-six tiles with matching pips on both ends. This is a relatively small number of dominoes for many games, so more pips are added to some sets to increase the unique combinations of ends and thus the number of pieces in the set. These larger sets are called extended sets, and the most common ones have double-nine or double-twelve (91 or 136 tiles) in each set.
The first tile to be played is often referred to as the “set,” the “down,” or the “lead.” This tile may be a double or a regular piece. A double may be played on all four sides of the tile, or it may be played on only two of its sides. A domino that can be played on all four sides is called a spinner. Depending on the rules of the game, a domino played as the lead must be a spinner or every double in the game must be a spinner.
While some games involve a great deal of strategy, others are much simpler and can be enjoyed by anyone, including children. Most of these games fall into four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games.
Hevesh, a domino artist from California, has created some amazing domino setups. She has worked on projects involving more than 300,000 dominoes and helped to set a Guinness World Record for the most dominoes in a circular arrangement. Creating these intricate displays requires an understanding of the principles of physics.
According to Hevesh, gravity is the key to her designs. When a domino is set upright, it is lifted against the force of gravity. This energy is converted into kinetic energy as the domino falls, which creates a chain reaction causing domino after domino to topple.
Dominoes are a popular family activity and can be enjoyed in many different ways. They can be played on a table or on a domino board that has been decorated with an attractive pattern. Some families enjoy creating domino art, in which the dominoes are arranged to form a picture when they fall. This activity can be used to encourage creativity and problem-solving skills, as well as social interaction.
