Originally a masquerade mask, the name domino has also been used for the family of tile-based games. The traditional domino set has a unique piece for each of the 21 results of throwing two six-sided dice. The two square ends of the domino tile are labeled with the number of spots. The highest-value piece has six spots on each end, while the least-value piece has no spots.

Traditionally, domino sets are made of dark hardwood such as ebony or ivory. The tiles themselves have ivory or contrasting colors on their faces. During the 17th century, Chinese dominoes became known. In the late 18th century, the game spread to England and France. The game is now played in many different countries, including China, Germany, England, Italy, and the United States.

Most games are adaptations of card games. There are two main types of domino games: scoring games and trick-taking games. The most popular type of domino game is the scoring game, which is played by drawing seven tiles from a deck of stock, and then trying to match your opponent’s tiles. Alternatively, you can play a trick-taking game, in which you use your own tiles to create a set of numbers that matches your opponent’s set.

A common set is the double six, with 28 tiles. The double-six set is similar to the traditional domino set. But the European domino set lacks the Chinese suit distinctions. Each tile is labeled with a number, and the suit of that number is determined by the number of dots. Typically, the suit of a single tile is a single number, while the suit of two tiles is a two-number set.

Some domino sets have blank faces, meaning that there is no one specific suit. This version is called the concentration version. It is played with a double-six set, and the total number of pip counts is 12. In addition to being used as spinners, the double-six set is also used for branching. The most common domino set, the double nine, has 55 tiles.

Several amateur domino clubs organize international competitions. There are also traditional Chinese games of domino, including Pai Gow, Che Deng, and Tien Gow. Some children like to play domino games, too.

One of the most popular domino games in Texas is 42. In this game, four players are paired into teams, and they try to score the most points by matching a set of six tiles to a set of five tiles. In a typical game, one tile counts as one point, two tiles count as two points, and so on. The game uses multicolored tiles, and each player draws seven tiles from the deck of stock. The team with the most points wins the game.

Another popular domino game is 5s-and-3s. The game is played by drawing seven tiles from a stock, and then trying to pair five or three of them into two tiles. Each trick counts as one point.