Things you might not know about dominó (dominoes)

A double-six domino set has 28 tiles, and each number appears seven times. Its European name may come from a type of hood or cloak, although its origin is unclear. The familiar ‘domino effect’ takes its name from upright tiles falling one after another in a chain.

Why is it called dominoes?

There are several theories. One of the most frequently cited links the name to a black hooded cloak called a dominó (domino cloak), because of the contrast between black tiles and white spots. None has been fully proven.

Dominoes in numbers

• Double-six: 28 tiles.
• Double-nine: 55 tiles.
• Double-twelve: 91 tiles.
• All the spots in a double-six set add up to 168.

The domino effect

Standing tiles upright and toppling them in a chain is almost a sport, with records involving hundreds of thousands of tiles. The expression ‘domino effect’ is used for any chain reaction.

Tiles and cards: close relatives

In China, domino tiles and playing cards were closely related, and some historians see them as belonging to the same family of games. We explore this in our history of dominoes. To improve your game, brush up on the basic strategies.