A small rectangular wood or plastic block, the face of which is blank or marked by dots resembling those on dice. A domino set consists of 28 pieces.
A person who creates and displays domino structures, such as chains, arches, or other shapes involving dominoes. Hevesh is a prolific YouTuber who has created domino setups for movies, TV shows, and events (including an album launch for Katy Perry). Hevesh has also built her own impressive displays in the form of giant circles and a ring of dominoes that takes several nail-biting minutes to fall.
The most common form of domino features a line in the middle that divides it visually into two squares, called ends. Each end may be numbered with an arrangement of spots, known as pips, from six pips up to none or blank. The sum of the pips on either end is used to identify the piece’s rank or weight, and its value may determine its role in a game.
Dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide, which makes them easier to re-stack after use. This size also helps in determining the order of play in a game, as the largest domino is placed at one end of the line, with smaller pieces (or “pips”) being placed to its left and right.
There are many different games that can be played with domino, and the number of pieces in a game is usually specified by the rules of the specific game. For example, a game may call for all players to draw 12 tiles each at the beginning of the session, or it might allow each player to choose from a double-nine set (91 tiles) or a double-twelve set (55 tiles).
After all hands have been drawn, the player with the heaviest domino, as determined by the rules of a particular game, will make the first play. This person is sometimes referred to as the “setter,” the “downer,” or the “lead.”
Once a domino has been placed, the matching end of another tile must be connected to it. This can be done either with the line of play, lengthwise, or crosswise, with the pieces played side by side. The way in which the chain of dominoes develops provides a good deal of the fun and challenge of a game.
The number of dominoes in a chain is called its count, and the winner of a game is whichever player has the lowest count at the end of the play. The final domino is often placed to form a cross shape on the table, adding to the spectacle and excitement of the game. When a domino reaches this point, it is called “stopping.” Unless there are further rules that determine the winners of a game, it is customary for play to stop when one player has no more tiles to play and chips out. This is a courtesy to the other players, who can then make their own choice of game to play.