Domino is a small tile that has one or more numbers on each end. The most common domino is a double-six, with a total of 28 unique tiles (called ends). A domino is usually twice as long as it is wide. Each end of the tile displays a number from zero (or blank) to six. This value is called the rank or weight of the domino. A heavier domino will be more difficult to knock over than a lighter one.

Dominoes can be used to create very complex patterns and designs. The most popular use of domino is in games. These games are played by individuals or groups of people, and they can be very challenging to master. The most basic game involves simply laying dominoes down in long lines. When the first domino is tipped over, it sets off a chain reaction that causes the rest of the dominoes to fall over as well. In the most advanced domino setups, players may be able to connect multiple chains together to form a large pattern.

When playing a domino game, players take turns placing a domino on the table. The resulting chains grow in length as each new domino is placed adjacent to the previous one. A domino must touch both ends of the line it is being played on to be considered part of that chain. Each player has a set of rules about how to play the game. Generally, a player may only play a tile if it matches the other end of a previous domino, but sometimes other rules apply as well.

In a game of domino, the objective is to score points by arranging the tiles in a line with all four open ends facing up. Each player begins by selecting a tile and placing it on the table so that its open end is touching the open end of another tile. Usually, the matching ends are either a 0 or a 6. If the matching ends show the same number, the player is awarded that number of points.

A more sophisticated version of domino is played with a special domino board made from materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or dark hardwoods like ebony. These natural materials have a unique look, and the set often feels more substantial in the hand. They are also much more expensive than polymer-based sets.

Physicist Stephen Morris, of the University of Toronto, has demonstrated that a domino is actually more powerful than we might think. When a domino is standing upright, it has potential energy, which is its stored energy based on its position. When the domino falls, however, much of that potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion. Some of this energy is transferred to the next domino, giving it the push it needs to knock it over as well. This process continues on through the whole chain of dominoes, until all of them have fallen.