Domino is a game of chance that has a number of variations, both competitive and non-competitive. The rules vary from region to region, but most of them involve a player placing one or more dominoes in such a way that they form a chain of numbers. Then, other players place matching tiles on the chain, with the goal of forming a specified total. The result is a series of cascades that can be very entertaining.

The resulting chains are referred to as a “line of play” and can be joined in two ways: lengthwise, with dominoes played end to end; or crosswise, with the lines of play touching at both ends. The direction of the line of play can also be determined by whether a double tile is played. If the double is a spinner, it must be played on all four sides; otherwise it must be played only on two sides.

Besides the usual blocking and scoring games, domino can be used to make decisions, develop strategies, and even learn leadership skills. One important lesson is the domino effect, which refers to the idea that if a small thing occurs in one area of your life, it can have a big impact in another area. For example, if you’re having trouble with your finances, it’s possible that this will have an impact on the rest of your life. In order to avoid this, it’s important to create good dominoes in your life. Good dominoes are tasks that have a positive ripple effect on your life. These tasks should be challenging and require a large chunk of your time and effort to complete. By creating a list of these tasks, you can then focus on the ones that will have the most impact in your life.

Another way to create a domino effect in your life is by developing a routine. For example, when Jennifer Dukes Lee began making her bed each day, she was essentially committing to the idea that she was the type of person who maintained a clean and organized home. This shift in her self-image was a domino that eventually led to her taking better care of other aspects of her life.

In addition to the traditional domino set made of clay, plastic, or other polymers, some sets are made of natural materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or ebony with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on them. These sets usually have a more elegant appearance and can be quite expensive.

If a player draws more than the number of tiles that he is allowed to have in his hand at the beginning of the game, this is known as an overdraw. When this happens, the player to his right takes any extra tiles without looking at them and returns them to the stock before anyone else draws their hand. If no other players are able to make a play, the game is blocked and the winner is the player who has the highest double.