Dominoes are rectangular blocks of a material such as wood or plastic with a line down the center to divide them visually into two square ends. The numbers on either end (called pips) indicate their value, which may range from six to none. The more pips a domino has, the higher its rank or weight.

A domino is placed on the table so that its open end is touching one or more of the pips on an adjacent domino, which forms a chain that gradually increases in length as players place tiles on it. This configuration of the dominoes on the table is called the line of play.

The game is played in turns by the players. The first player sets his domino, then plays a tile to one of the free ends on the preceding domino. The player to his left adds a tile, and so on. Each player continues to place tiles until the line of play reaches its limit or the game ends.

In some games, scoring is determined by counting the number of pips on the losers’ tiles left in their hands at the end of the hand or game. The winner is the person who has the most pips in his hands at the end of the game. In the case of a double, both sides are counted.

Sometimes, no one is able to make another play on the dominoes, which is known as a blocked game. The blocked game must be unblocked by a player to continue the play, which is done by drawing extra tiles for the hand from the stock and adding them to the existing ones. The new tiles must then be exposed to the other players before anyone else draws them.

Some players may be permitted to draw more than the number of tiles they are allowed to according to the rules of the game. This is called overdrawing, and it is important to keep track of the total number of tiles a player is entitled to play in his hand. If a player draws more than he is permitted to, he must return the excess to the stock before anyone else draws their hands.

Dominoes are not just a fun game for kids to play; they can also be used as an interesting decoration in the home. Some people even use them as a form of art, creating impressive displays with them. Hevesh, a YouTube user who goes by the name “Hevesh5”, is an example of this; she creates impressive domino arrangements for movies and events, as well as for her own pleasure.

As with a domino arrangement, the key to an effective story is to ensure that each scene flows smoothly into the next. If a writer has scenes that don’t fit in, it will disrupt the flow of the story and cause confusion for readers. Using a tool such as Scrivener or an outline to help with plotting can help prevent this from happening.