Dominoes are square ceramic tiles, normally double-sided, with a line in the center to divide them visually into two squares, called ends. Each end has a value indicated by the number of spots or pips on it, which may range from six pips down to none or blank. When stacked together in long lines, dominoes can be used to make geometrical patterns, curved lines, grids that form pictures, and 3D structures like towers and pyramids. A domino’s value is also known as its rank or weight, and a heavier tile has more pips than a lighter one.
When a domino is tipped over, it causes the other dominoes in its line to tip as well, creating a chain reaction that continues until all the tiles have fallen over. This is the origin of the expression “domino effect,” meaning that a small initial action leads to much larger consequences. In fiction, the domino effect is often employed when writers describe a character’s motivation or reason for doing something that goes against societal norms.
In most games, when all players have all their tiles drawn, the player with the highest-valued domino takes the first turn. This is sometimes referred to as the set, the down, or the lead. The winner of the hand then receives a score equal to the total number of dots on all the opponents’ unplayed dominoes. If the winning player has a double, then he is given the option of byeing one of his opponents’ dominoes from the stock and adding it to his own hand.
The term domino originally denoted the piece of a larger cloth worn by a priest over his surplice, a garment that was later associated with the game. The word was also derived from the Latin dominus, meaning master. In English, the word domino has also denoted a type of dance music, a card game, and a musical instrument.
After the stock is shuffled, each player draws a domino from his hand and places it face down on the table. If a player has more than one domino, then the order of play is determined by the rules of the particular game being played. The heaviest domino is then made the first to be played, with ties broken by drawing new dominoes from the stock and allowing them to be bought (see “Passing and Byeing” below) until someone plays a domino that cannot be passed.
The remaining dominoes in the stock are known as the jumble. Depending on the rules of the particular game being played, they may be bought by any player who can use them to make a play. Alternatively, the jumble may be used as a draw.
When a domino is tipped, the opening of its end must match with the open end of the last domino played. If the domino has more than one side with an open end, the left-most end is preferred for matching purposes. This is sometimes referred to as the dominant or leading edge. The domino that matches this edge is then placed next to the other domino, forming a line of play called the layout, string, or line of play.
