Domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block that bears one to six pips (or dots): 28 such pieces make up a set. They are normally arranged in lines and angular patterns, though they may be spread across the floor to form an abstract or figurative design. A domino is a small part of a larger whole; it has little influence on its surroundings but can have dramatic impact when used in a chain reaction to cause other pieces to topple over.

Dominos have been around for centuries and are still in play today in many forms. They are used for playing games like slapjack and monopoly, as well as to build structures of all shapes and sizes.

A domino is a small rectangular tile with one to six pips or dots, usually in a circle, and sometimes a square. It can be made from 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 it. More recently, domino sets have been made from plastic or polymer materials. However, natural materials are generally preferred for their beauty and the feel of solidity in the hand.

The number of pips on a domino is used for scoring purposes, as well as to distinguish it from other pieces in the set. A domino with a single pips on one end belongs to the suit of one; a double is in either the one or three-suit set; and a triple has all three suits.

Normally, players take turns placing a domino onto the table, positioning it so that its exposed ends match up with the adjacent ends of other dominos on the table. As more tiles are placed, the resulting chain gradually builds up in length, and can form interesting shapes. If a player cannot place a domino, they “knock” and the turn passes to the next player.

Some domino games are played with one player while others are played in teams. When a game is in progress, a scorekeeper keeps track of the points won by each team, and at the end of the round, the team whose total of all spots on their remaining dominos is the lowest wins.

There are many ways to play domino, and each game has its own rules. For example, in Muggins, a player scores when the open ends of their dominos add up to a multiple of five. To determine this, all the dominos are counted on both sides and the open ends of the first two doubles, i.e., the one’s touch the two’s, and so on. Then the total is divided by 5. For every multiple of five scored, a point is awarded to the winner. This information can then be added to a running score on a scoreboard or cribbage board.