Domino is a game of skill, logic, and chance. The game can be played in a wide variety of ways, and the rules vary from place to place. There are a few basic rules that apply to most domino games. Each domino has upon it a number showing at one end or the other, and when a player plays a tile positioning it so that it touches the end of the existing chain, that end becomes the starting point of a new chain which gradually increases in length. Each new chain may be positioned so that one of its ends shows the same number as the preceding end, a process which is known as “stitching up” the ends.

The game has also become a popular form of entertainment in casinos, private homes, and public schools. It has even been used to help students learn about probability and statistics. A domino is a small rectangular block of wood or molded clay, bearing from one to six pips (dots) on its face. There are 28 such pieces in a complete set of dominoes.

Although the domino is usually played by two or more people, it can be enjoyed by solo players as well. The individual dominoes are arranged on a table, which is usually square or rectangular in shape, and each player takes turns playing one of the dominoes, normally by placing it on top of another domino with its matching pips. The player who plays the last domino on a line of play is declared the winner of the game. The winner scores points, or a certain amount of money depending on the game, by counting the number of matching pips on the ends of the dominoes in the line of play, and by the total number of tiles left in the stock, which are then added to the winner’s score.

In addition to being fun and educational, domino can be used as a tool for creative expression. For example, a man named Nick Perko developed a method for creating domino art using the tools in his grandmother’s garage. He used a drill press, radial arm saw, scroll saw, belt sander, and welder to create his works of art. He has since sold his creations for thousands of dollars.

One of the most interesting aspects of domino is its physicality. When a domino is standing upright, it has potential energy, or stored energy based on its position. When a domino falls, much of this energy is converted to kinetic energy and causes a chain reaction of one domino after the other.

A similar phenomenon is seen in the world of business and politics, where a few individuals can tip over large numbers of other individuals or organizations. This is sometimes referred to as the Domino Effect, and it can be seen in events such as terrorist attacks, coups, or other political or economic events. The theory of the Domino Effect has also been applied to human relationships and organizational behavior.