Domino, also known as dominoes, are rectangular blocks of wood, clay or plastic with a number of dots or “pips” on each side. The number of pips determines the value of a domino, which may be described as its rank or weight. A domino with more pips is considered to be heavier than a smaller one with fewer pips. Traditionally, dominoes were made of bone or ivory with contrasting black and white pips inlaid or painted. However, modern dominoes are produced in a variety of materials including polymer and ceramic clay.
There are many different games that can be played with dominoes, and the rules of each game vary slightly. In general, though, players begin a game by drawing a number of tiles from the stock (also called the boneyard) that they are permitted to take according to the rules of that particular game. The player who draws the tile with the highest rank then makes the first play. The next player adds a tile to an open end of the previously set domino, and so on around the table until each domino has been added to its appropriate pips.
The dominoes are then used to make arrangements that form pictures when they fall. Dominoes can be arranged in straight lines, curved lines, grids that create pictures, stacked walls or 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Domino art can be as simple or elaborate as a single domino laid on the table, or it could consist of hundreds or thousands of dominoes carefully arranged in precise sequence, destined to topple with a nudge from only one. A popular variation on the traditional game is to compete in a domino rally, in which builders construct complex and imaginative domino reactions for judges and an audience of fans.
Throughout history, a variety of cultural and social factors have contributed to the popularity of dominoes. The term has come to be associated with gambling, and it has been referred to as the “game of kings.” Dominoes are also used in scientific research, education and therapy.
For example, dominoes are often used to teach children the principles of geometry and physics by allowing them to construct structures with their hands that would be impossible for them to build with only their minds. They are also used to help students understand the fundamental concepts of arithmetic and measurement.
In fiction, dominoes can serve as a metaphor for plotting a novel. Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or take your time with a careful outline, plotting your story ultimately comes down to one question: What happens next? A well-constructed domino effect can help you answer this question in a way that captivates your readers.