The game of domino is played with a set of rectangular blocks, each bearing from one to six pips or dots. It is also known as bones, cards, men, or tiles, and it can be played by two to eight players, in a number of different ways. Depending on the game and its rules, it is possible for one person to win the whole game, or the winner to be determined by counting the pips left in the losing player’s hands at the end of a hand or a game.

There are many games that can be played with a set of domino, and the exact rules for each will vary slightly from place to place. In general, the most important thing to know is that each domino must touch either one end of a chain or two adjacent ends of the same domino. If the domino is not touching either of these ends, it cannot be used and will not be scored.

Depending on the game, there are different ways of joining the chains together. For example, doubles can be played crosswise, lengthwise, or both, and this may affect the scoring system. If a player has a double that can be played on all four sides, it is called a spinner and is used differently from non-spinners.

Dominoes can be made of any material, but most sets are constructed of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on them. A small number of dominoes are manufactured from other natural materials such as marble, granite, soapstone, or other woods; metals; ceramic clay; and glass or crystal. These are usually more expensive than polymer dominoes, but they can be more attractive and feel substantial in the hand.

When playing a domino game, the first tile is called the set, down, or lead. The player who makes this play is sometimes referred to as the setter, the downer, or the leader. The player who makes the first play should set his tile in the center of the table.

After a person plays his first tile, the remaining tiles are drawn from the stock according to the rules of the particular game. The players may also be allowed to “bye,” or take, tiles from the stock, and this will vary between games. Generally, the higher the rank or value of a domino, the more points it can earn.

Most domino games are won by accumulating the most points. Typically, each player will draw as many tiles from the stock as is permitted for that game, and then he will add them to the ones in his hand. Depending on the rules of the game, these added tiles may be able to be played as part of a chain, or they may be placed in front of the player.

Professional domino artist Lily Hevesh is famous for her intricate domino installations and has worked on projects involving hundreds of thousands of dominoes. To make her installations as accurate as possible, Hevesh uses fractions to help calculate how many dominoes she will need and how they will be arranged. She also tests each section of her designs, and videotapes the results in slow motion, to make sure that they will work. This allows her to make adjustments before putting the larger sections together.