Dominoes are a type of tile that have an arrangement of spots, or pips, on their two surfaces. Dominoes have been used since the 18th century to play a variety of games. These games include bidding, blocking, and scoring. There are many different kinds of dominoes, and the rules of each game vary from place to place. However, most domino games are based on the same basic principles.

Most domino sets have 28 tiles, and they are shuffled together to form a pile, called the stock or boneyard. Each player draws the number of tiles permitted by the rules of the game. Players may also buy tiles from the stock. The players may then begin playing the game.

The first player to play a tile makes the first move in a game of domino. There are several ways to determine who will make the first move, such as drawing lots or beginning the game by setting the heaviest domino. After the first play, play continues in a clockwise direction (unless the game’s rules specify otherwise).

If a player cannot add a new domino to his hand, he must pass. A player who cannot continue his turn must draw a new domino from the stock, or purchase a previously played domino from another player. The player who purchased the tile pays the price of that domino to his opponent and then plays it.

Some games allow the use of a single domino, called a spinner, to replace one or more other dominoes. This is especially common in double-eight, where a double can replace any one of the other seven pieces. The player who plays the spinner is awarded additional points if the other dominoes in the line of play have the same value as the one played by the spinner.

Lily Hevesh, 20, is a professional domino artist who creates spectacular lines of dominoes to be toppled by her clients. She has worked on projects for TV shows, movies, and events—including the release of a Katy Perry album. She has an enormous domino collection and an active YouTube channel with more than 2 million subscribers.

When she builds a project, Hevesh uses fractions to help her plan how many dominoes she will need. Using fractions allows her to calculate the exact placement of each piece so that she can prevent small accidental topples that might cause the entire installation to fall down.

In addition to standard plastic- and clay-based dominoes, there are sets made from natural materials such as bone, ivory, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), or a dark hardwood like ebony with contrasting black or white pips. These sets tend to have a more elegant look and feel than their polymer counterparts, and they often have a heavier weight. Alternatively, some sets are made out of metal or marble. These sets are generally more expensive than the polymer ones. However, they are more durable than clay or plastic.