Dominoes are a popular game with many different rules. Players take turns laying down dominoes on the table so that the ends of one piece touch those of another. This creates a line of dominoes that continues until the last domino has no more matching ends, or the player cannot lay down any more pieces. Each end of a domino has a number on it, called a value. The number tells how many points are earned if the domino is matched to other pieces of the same type. In the case of a double, this is two points. If a player cannot play any more tiles that match, he or she loses the game.

In addition to the obvious ways that dominoes are used for games, people also use them for artistic purposes. Artists can create complex lines, grids that form pictures, stacked walls, and 3D structures like towers and pyramids using dominoes. The tracks can be straight, curved, or made out of different shapes. This art is often done by hand, but there are also domino track kits available to make the process easier.

When a domino is knocked over, it causes a chain reaction that continues in the direction of the nudge that tripped it. The same principle is applied in real life when a single event can have major consequences for many people. This is known as the domino effect.

A domino is a small rectangular block with a surface that has a pattern of black or white dots resembling those on dice. Each domino is normally twice as long as it is wide. The pips are often inlaid or painted and may also be engraved with a design. Most domino sets contain 28 pieces. People also call these blocks bones, cards, chips, or tiles. Some people like to arrange the dominoes in long rows and then knock them over. Others like to arrange them in patterns or create artistic designs with them.

Dominoes have been made of a variety of materials, including bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother-of-pearl), ivory, and ebony. They can also be made of plastic, resin, and other modern materials. Some sets are decorated with a design, while others have a plain, unfinished look. Many people collect dominoes and have them arranged in their homes.

Some people enjoy domino as a hobby, playing with them with friends or alone. Some people use them as a way to relax or to teach their children counting and motor skills. The popularity of this game has spread all over the world.

There are many games that can be played with dominoes, and the most popular is probably the game of double-blind. In this game, a person plays one domino and then the opponent must try to play a tile that matches it in every way possible. The player who matches the most tiles wins the game. Other popular domino games include the race to 21 and the spider web.