What Is Domino?

A domino is a small rectangular block of wood or plastic marked with dots that resemble those on dice. It is a component of a game played by one or more players, using a set of 28 tiles (or more). Dominoes are usually arranged into lines, and the first toppled tile triggers a chain reaction that continues until all the remaining ones have fallen. The game is often called a “brick breaker,” or “the king of the board.” The term Domino comes from an Italian word, domino, meaning fate or fortune.

A Domino effect is a sequence of events in a story that appear to be out of control or random, but are actually well planned and executed. The sequence of domino effects in a story can move the hero closer to or farther from his goal, and should be carefully spaced so that the reader wants to see the next scene.

The number of dominoes used in a game is up to the players, but the most common set has 28 tiles, each with an equal value of either 1 or 2. In addition to the standard set, there are many variations of rules and play. In most games, the player who draws the heaviest double makes the first play. A tie is broken by drawing new tiles from the stock or boneyard, and the player who makes the first play can make a second play on top of his own double.

Once a domino is toppled, the other end must be touched by a domino of equal or higher value. The dominoes can be placed edge to edge on the same line, but they are also used to form positional games, in which each tile is positioned so that the open ends match each other, or so that the tiles fit together in some way that forms a specific total.

When artist Heather Hevesh creates domino displays for movies and events, she starts by brainstorming images or words that will be used in the display. She then plans out how the dominoes will be arranged, which might involve grids that form pictures or walls, or 3-D structures like towers or pyramids. She also takes into consideration the time it will take each domino to fall, because some of her largest displays require several nail-biting minutes to complete. In addition, Hevesh considers her audience when planning each display; she tries to include a message or an image that will appeal to her viewers. Then, she tests her creations to make sure that they will work.