Domino is a game of skill, strategy and luck that has been played for centuries. Players set up a line of dominoes in straight or curved rows and then flick the first one to start a chain reaction that causes every other domino in the line to fall. The result is a spectacular display that can take several nail-biting minutes to unfold. Lily Hevesh has been fascinated by domino since she was a child. Now a professional domino artist, she creates elaborate setups for movies, TV shows and events—including an album launch for Katy Perry. Watch this video to learn more about her amazing works of art.

Physicist Stephen Morris says that when a domino is standing upright, it has potential energy—energy based on its position. But when you knock it over, much of that energy is converted to kinetic energy, or the energy of motion. This energy makes the domino fall into and smash into the next one, which triggers a chain reaction.

A chain of dominoes can be a fun way to entertain children or a good challenge for adults. However, the best way to enjoy a game of domino is by following a few rules. The most important rule is to make sure that all of the pieces in your hand have a value that matches with another piece. If a domino has blank sides, it can only be matched with another blank domino or a piece with a number on both ends. Similarly, a double cannot be placed next to a single domino unless all of its touching sides are the same color.

Dominoes are also used to teach young children numbers and counting. Some games, like bergen and muggins, involve scoring points by counting the pips (spots) on a domino. Other games, such as matador and Mexican train, are blocking games where each player tries to prevent their opponents from playing certain types of pieces.

Many of the best domino sets are available online. They contain both classic and contemporary domino games. The four most popular sets are the double-6, double-9, double-12 and double-15 sets. All of these sets are compatible with most domino games.

Dominoes have a long history as toys, but they are also commonly used for business and marketing. For example, in 1967, Domino’s Pizza founder David Monaghan opened the first franchise location near Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company’s initial success was due to its focus on quick delivery—an idea that proved to be very successful. Today, Domino’s is a leading fast-food delivery and restaurant brand with more than 200 stores in the United States alone. Domino’s also sells online and through a mobile app. Domino’s has an impressive social media presence, with more than 2.5 million followers on Facebook. The company has also partnered with celebrities such as Katy Perry and Justin Bieber to promote its products.