Domino is a family of tile-based games played with gaming pieces, usually called dominoes. The tiles are rectangular and divided by a line into two square ends, each marked with a number of spots (called pips or dots) or blank. The backs of the tiles are indistinguishable, and some sets may be printed with a common design.

The traditional European domino set consists of 28 tiles, sometimes referred to as pieces, bones, rocks, stones, men, cards or just dominoes. Each tile is a member of its suit, ranging from zero to six spots. The tiles are arranged in pairs, with the first of each pair being the highest-value piece, and the second being the lowest-value.

During play, players try to match tiles edge to edge. The goal is to create a sequence of identical tiles or a specified total, such as five tiles in a row. The tiles are sometimes stacked on end and toppled with a simple nudge, or they may be pushed together in a line and then toppled.

Dominoes are also used in some traditional Chinese games, such as Tien Gow and Pai Gow. These games are different from the Western ones, because they don’t have any military-civilian suit distinctions, and they don’t use duplicates. In addition, the game is asymmetric, with each player’s set containing one more military tile than his opponent’s.

There are many ways to play dominoes, but the most popular is layout. In a typical game, players lay out a set of dominoes on the table, each edge facing another, so that the lines of matching tiles meet on one side. The player who is closest to the final row wins.

The traditional Chinese domino set contains 32 tiles, and the pieces are arranged so that each of the possible combinations of pips from zero to six has a face, but there are no blank faces. These traditional Chinese dominoes have a long history and are still being made today, and some people say that they’re easier to play than the Western ones.

Some of these traditional Chinese dominoes are patterned, or painted, so that each one has the same color. This makes it easier to tell which tiles are which.

A modern domino set, on the other hand, may not have a pattern at all. It may be a plain white or yellow tile. It may also be shaped like a circle or hexagon, with the same numbers of spots on each side.

Several different styles of dominoes are known, including the modern, American style, which has four sides instead of two. It can be played with a single or multiple players, and it is used to play games such as Chicken Foot, Matador and Bendomino.

Dominoes are a fascinating and fun way to learn about the physical world, with their emphasis on energy. They are fun for children and adults alike, and they can be found in all kinds of stores and restaurants, from fast food to fine dining.