Dominoes are small rectangular blocks, typically twice as long as they are wide, with either a blank or marked surface. They are used in games to form lines of play and to score points. A domino may have one or more dots or pips, depending on its type. Dominoes can be made of paper, cardboard, wood or plastic. They are also known as bones, cards, men or pieces.

Lily Hevesh, 20, was introduced to dominoes by her grandparents at age 9. She enjoyed setting up a straight or curved line of dominoes and flicking it to watch them fall, one after the other. Her interest grew and she began posting videos on her YouTube channel, Hevesh5.

In addition to playing dominoes, Hevesh uses her skills to create impressive setups for film, TV shows and events, including the album launch for pop star Katy Perry. She works out of her grandmother’s garage, where a drill press, radial arm saw, scroll saw and belt sander occupy the limited space.

She prefers to use wood for her sets and primarily works with hardwoods such as maple, oak or mahogany. She says these are “more traditional, and you can feel the quality of the wood,” compared to polymer sets that are mainly available in bright colors. A wood set also requires more care, since it can scratch or chip if it is not handled properly.

Hevesh has been a professional domino artist for more than 10 years, and she has over 2 million YouTube subscribers who watch her work. She creates complex domino setups for film, TV shows and events. Those creations require precise placement of each piece, and her process includes making test versions to make sure they will work. Once she has the setups filmed in slow motion, Hevesh can make fine adjustments.

The earliest use of the word domino is in English and dates to about 1750. The meaning is probably linked to the earlier sense of a long, hooded cloak worn with a mask at a carnival or masquerade. It is suggested that the contrasting black and white color of the domino piece reminded people of this garment.

In a game of domino, the players draw a domino from the stock and then place it face up on the table, indicating which player will make the first play. This decision is based on the rules of the specific game being played and, in some cases, is determined by the rank or weight of the domino in the player’s hand.

If a player cannot lay a tile, he or she must pass the turn. The player who passed receives new tiles from the stock and makes a play if possible, following the rules of the particular game being played.

There are many different types of domino games, and each one has its own rules of play. The basic rules, however, are that each player begins with the same number of tiles and the winner is the first person to play all of his or her pieces.