Domino is a game of skill and timing that requires careful planning and precise execution. The concept of domino also has a lot to do with how we use energy in our everyday lives. Putting all your energy into one thing can help “knock over” other interests and projects that you might not have time or resources to work on. The key is to find the right domino—a task that contributes to a larger goal and will have a positive impact on your future.

Dominos (also called bones, cards or men) are rectangular pieces with a line down the middle that separates each end into two squares. Each end features a number of spots, or pips, that range from six to zero. Each domino is part of a suit that is associated with a particular number, such as 1, 3, 5, or 12. A domino is considered to be in the highest suit if it has all six pips on its end. When a domino has only two pips on one end and a blank on the other, it is in the lowest suit.

When a domino falls, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy—the energy of motion. This energy travels to the next domino, providing the push it needs to fall over. Energy continues traveling from domino to domino until all the pieces are knocked over.

The first player to place all of their dominoes wins the game. Each subsequent player must pick a domino from the boneyard and continue placing it until they cannot do so any longer. Dominoes with matching values are played to form chains of dominoes that extend across the entire board.

There are many different types of domino games. Some are positional, in which players place dominoes edge to edge against each other so that adjacent faces match in number and value. Other games are block or scoring games, where players move their dominoes around to score points. There are even games that can be played on the computer, such as online dominoes and monopoly.

Dominoes are commonly made from materials such as silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or dark hardwoods like ebony. They can be inlaid or painted with contrasting black or white pips, though most modern sets are molded from synthetic materials such as plastics or resins.

The name of the game originates from the Latin word domino, which meant a cape worn by a priest over his surplice. The hooded cloak may have reminded people of the shape of a domino piece, which was traditionally ebony with ivory faces. The term was later adopted in English and French as a shorthand for the game. In English, it also came to refer to a large hooded cloak that is sometimes worn at carnivals and masquerades. The word also has roots in Arabic and Greek. The earliest recorded use of the word in both languages was in the mid-18th century.