A domino is a stacked pair of identical patterned tiles with markings on one side. A player uses the identity-bearing side to form a line, or ridge, of spots (pips) against other tiles, in order to score points. Pips range from six on the most common double-six set to none or blank, and a single end may have more pips than another.
The game of dominoes originated in France shortly after 1750, and it is believed to have been brought to England by French prisoners-of-war. The word domino is derived from the hooded cloaks worn by a priest at masquerade balls, and it was also thought to reflect the black-and-white design of the pieces, which were formerly made with ebony.
There are many different types of domino sets, and they can be used to play a variety of games. The two most commonly played domino games are the Block game and the Draw game. The rules for these games are similar but vary slightly.
In the Block game, players begin the line of play by placing a tile on the table. They then alternately extend the tile with a matching piece at one of its ends, until a match is made or the game is blocked due to a dead tile. The winner is the player with the most points when the game is finished.
Similarly, in the Draw game, players start the line of play by placing a tile in the center of the table. They then alternately extend the first double with a matching tile at one of its two ends, until a match is made or a dead tile is played. The game ends when a dead tile is played or the player runs out of pieces.
A domino set typically includes a total of 28 tiles. These tiles come in various shapes and sizes, and can be purchased as singles or doubles. In the United States, there are two standard domino sets: double-six, which contains seven tiles; and double-nine, which consists of nine tiles.
The most popular variants of dominoes are the Block and Draw games, which can be played with a variety of sets. The Block game uses a double-six set, and the Draw game is played with a double-nine or double-12 set.
In both games, a player’s score is determined by the number of matching tiles they play at one end of the line. This can be a direct match, as in the Draw game, or a symmetrical match, as in the Block game.
Some people believe that a domino’s pips are a metaphor for the “domino effect” of a chain reaction in which one event causes a series of related events to occur. This is a useful concept for describing how a single behavior leads to the development of a habit or new behavior.
For example, when a person starts to develop a new habit, it is important to keep it simple and manageable. As the habit is formed, it is necessary to maintain momentum so that the new behavior continues to build and gain traction.