Domino is an entertaining board game played with small rectangular blocks resembling dice. Each domino features an open end whose value is determined by how it matches up with other dominoes in a line of play; its number of matches determines its count, which serves as the scoreboard. Domino rules vary greatly between games; some even consider domino an educational tool to develop math and reading skills!

Most domino games are designed to be played along a line, with one player “knocking” a tile that causes all other tiles to drop into their proper places. This arrangement of dominoes is known as the layout, string or line of play and may run in any direction with one end facing either direction; double dominoes present special challenges because their two open ends must match up exactly with any other type of domino in play.

Each domino is typically twice as long as it is wide, making re-stacking them after use easier. You can arrange dominoes in various patterns using them such as grids that form pictures when falling, walls stacked vertically, or three dimensional structures such as pyramids; any particular arrangement requires the number of dominoes called its “set size.”

Though domino games come in many varieties, most fall under four main categories: bidding, blocking, scoring and round play – with counting or scoring games being particularly popular among these categories.

A winning domino game is usually determined by who has the lowest total points remaining on their remaining tiles, usually counted from those played and/or from all pips collected as part of their score calculation.

Example: A player already holding two double 5-5s would count them as ends for counting purposes and their count would equal 4.

One reason dominoes can cause such an explosive chain reaction is their potential energy. While standing upright, each domino stores potential energy that it converts to kinetic energy when falling; thus leading to even more dominoes to topple over.

When we want to change our behavior or beliefs, the domino effect can also help. Step one is making a small commitment toward our new behavior or belief – such as when Jennifer Dukes Lee committed to making her bed every morning as part of an attempt at maintaining an organized home environment; over time this decision created a chain reaction of other healthy habits within herself.