Dominoes are a fun toy that can be used for many games. They can be lined up in a straight or curved line to make an interesting shape, or they can be placed to form a puzzle or game board. Dominoes have been around for a long time, and they are still one of the most popular toys today. They are also used for various projects, including building homes and bridges. Dominoes are also being used in hi-tech applications, such as pizza delivery and drone technology.

The first domino to fall starts a chain reaction that travels down the line, much like a nerve impulse in your body. The chain reaction of a domino is an all or nothing event, just as the firing of a neuron is. This is what makes domino such an exciting toy.

There are a number of different types of domino games, but they all have the same basic elements: a set of domino tiles with matching pips, a line of play with a first and last domino and all of the connecting dots, and rules for scoring and passing. Some of the most common games include bidding games, blocking games, and scoring games. There are also a few domino games of a more unique character, such as solitaire or trick-taking games.

To begin a domino game, the dominoes are shuffled and then each player draws a number of tiles from the stock. The player who draws the heaviest domino begins play. If there is a tie, the player with the highest double begins play. If no player holds a double, the winner of the previous game begins play. After the first player plays a tile, he puts it face up on the table. Any excess tiles left in his hand must remain face down and, depending on the game rules, may be bought (see “Passing and Byeing” below) later in the game.

As each player matches and plays his domino, a line is formed, or a string. This line is called the layout, string, or line of play. Some players prefer to play their dominoes with the lines of play crossed; others play them lengthwise. In some games, the open ends of a domino are considered part of the line of play, and the other two sides are part of the count (see “The Count” below).

Some dominoes have additional special features, such as spinners or splitters. A spinner is a double that can be played on all four sides, while a splitter has two open ends that match each other and one that doesn’t. The special features of a domino help the player to keep track of the count as the game continues.