Dominoes are a set of twenty-six double-sided tiles that are marked with an arrangement of spots, or pips, similar to those on a die. Each domino has two ends, which are referred to as squares; one of the ends may be blank, while the other end is designated for play. The value of each end, or square, is determined by its position in the line of play. Most domino games are played by positioning dominoes in the line of play so that the adjacent pips match.
Most domino sets contain 28 tiles, which are referred to as double-sixes. Occasionally, larger sets of dominoes are produced for more elaborate layout games. These sets may be made from natural materials (e.g., stone, marble, granite, soapstone) or from synthetic polymers such as plastics. Sets made from natural materials are generally more expensive than those of synthetic polymers.
When playing a game with a large number of dominoes, the tiles are arranged in a rectangular form, called a boneyard or stock. Each player draws a number of dominoes from the stock, or takes them from another player’s hand in accordance with the rules of the game. The player who holds the heaviest tile begins the first turn of play. If a tie exists, it is broken by drawing additional dominoes from the stock.
Once players have drawn their dominoes, they are positioned on the table to begin the game. The first player sets his domino, and then the players add a tile to each open end of the line of play in a clockwise fashion. The next player in turn may add a tile to any free end of the line of play that matches the pips on his tile. This is known as a placement, and there are several rules that govern the positioning of dominoes in the line of play.
Most dominoes have an odd number of pips, but some have even numbers, and still others are blank. Each domino is also numbered, and this number is a part of its suit. There are four suits of dominoes: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs.
Layout games are the most popular type of domino play. These games fall into two categories, blocking and scoring games. The simplest of these games involve a single player, while more complex and strategic variants require the use of more than one player.
Domino art is a creative way to display dominoes, using lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when the dominoes fall, and 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. While most domino art is done by professionals, there are many projects that can be completed with a few simple tools and some imagination.
When Lily Hevesh is installing a large-scale domino installation, she uses fractions to determine how many tiles are needed for the project and how they will be arranged. This helps her to avoid any accidental topples of the entire layout.