Dominoes are a fun and challenging game for the entire family. They are available in many different varieties, with various rules for scoring. The most common rule is that the last tile played must match its matching end to form a domino chain. Generally, doubles and other special tiles are played crosswise over the matching ends of the first two tiles. When the chain reaches its end, the domino count is made and play passes to the other player.

A domino chain can be played in many ways, including straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, and 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Some of these structures can be quite large, requiring thousands of dominoes to build. As a result, some of these structures may take several nail-biting minutes to fall. In addition to their aesthetic appeal, these structures also serve to teach kids about the laws of physics.

When children learn the basic concepts of physics, they will have a better understanding of how a dominoes falls and how it can be controlled to achieve specific goals. When kids understand the concepts behind a domino, they can create their own games with their parents and other children.

The word “domino” is derived from the Latin term for a small piece of wood or ivory used as a counterweight on top of another piece to balance it. The word itself first appeared in English around 1750. Earlier, it denoted the long hooded cape worn by a priest over his surplice during carnival season or at a masquerade ball.

After the dominoes are shuffled and arranged in a stock or boneyard, players draw seven tiles from this collection, and then begin placing them on the table. The player who draws the heaviest domino is the first to play. Some games also have rules requiring that the first play must be to an open end.

As the dominoes are placed on the table, a line is formed that is known as the layout, string, or line of play. Depending on the rules of a particular game, this line can be joined in one of two ways: with the dominoes playing lengthwise, end to end, or across the matching number. Doubles, which are special tiles, must be played crosswise when joining the line of play, and the rest of the dominoes must be lengthwise.

Some domino games have a rule that all the pips on the tiles left in the losing player’s hand at the end of the game must be added to the winner’s score. This is known as the total score method.

As children grow older, they can use the skills and principles learned from domino games to apply to their life and career. For example, they can learn to be flexible in the face of change by learning how to “chip out” (play their final domino) when necessary, and they can develop leadership and communication skills by embracing the value of listening to others. These skills can be applied to a business environment by learning to listen to customers and other employees to gain insight into how to best serve them.