Dominoes
The domino is a small, flat rectangular tile used as a gaming object. It is also referred to as a bone, tile, piece, man, or card and can be made from a variety of materials.
The tiles vary in size, with each end containing a number of dots (also known as pips) or spots. In a typical set of dominoes, the numbers range from 0 (or blank) to 6 and are usually printed in a single color (usually black).
There are many variations on the use of dominoes, including playing games with them or arranging them as part of an artistic or decorative installation. For example, the artist Lily Hevesh often creates installations that are arranged in long lines of dominoes and then knocked over one at a time to make an artistic pattern.
A domino game is typically played by a group of two to eight players. The first player draws a domino from the deck, placing it on the table edge to edge. If the player’s domino has a number showing at both ends, they are said to have “stitched up” the ends and the game begins again with a different domino being drawn.
Dominoes are normally made of wood, but may be manufactured from various other types of rigid material such as bone or plastic. They are about twice as long as wide and can be stacked up or folded after play to save space.
They are usually symmetrical in shape and feature a line down the center to divide the tile into two squares, called ends. Each end contains a number of pips or spots, and the total of the pips on both ends is referred to as the value of the tile.
The most common type of domino is the double-six, which has 28 unique tiles with a number ranging from 0 to 6. Larger sets are commonly available, and some can be as big as 21. In general, larger sets are more difficult to draw, so they are not commonly seen in play.
In addition, some sets feature a variety of other colors or textures. These may add a touch of sophistication to the set, and can be more expensive than the more conventional polymer or wooden sets.
Some sets, such as those made by the European company Amati, are made of silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell or mother of pearl. Other sets, such as those by the Japanese company Yamato, are made of darker hardwoods such as ebony.
Other domino sets are made of a mixture of natural materials, such as marble, granite or soapstone. Some are even made of frosted glass or crystal.
A lot of people love to topple dominoes, or set them up in long lines and watch them fall one at a time. When done well, this can be a beautiful artistic display that looks impressive even if the dominoes aren’t all piled up high.
Toppling dominoes is a very popular activity, especially for children. It’s an excellent way to exercise your imagination and creativity while having fun.