Domino is a game of strategy that can be played by two or more players. The goal is to play all of your dominoes before the other player. Each domino is marked with a number of spots (called “pips”) on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. The number of pips on each domino determines its value in the game. Each player takes turns laying down dominoes, moving clockwise around the table, until all of his or her pieces have been played. When a player cannot play any more dominoes because they do not have matching numbers, the players draw from the boneyard until someone plays a domino with a matching number.
During the game, points are scored when a player knocks over all of his or her opponent’s dominoes. The first player to score a total of five or more points wins. Players or teams may add additional points for every multiple of five in their opponents’ hands, as well as extra points if they have dominoes with different values from those already used by the other players.
The best known domino games are blocking and scoring, but a wide variety of other games can also be played with this versatile set of interlocking rectangular blocks. Some of these games, such as Concentration and solitaire variants, are adaptations of card games. Others are based on other games such as dice or chess.
Domino is most often made of ceramic tile or wood, although a few sets are constructed from other natural materials such as stone (e.g., marble, granite or soapstone); other types of wood (e.g., oak or redwood); metals (e.g., brass or pewter); and even glass and crystal. These sets have a more exotic, high-end look and feel to them, but are generally less expensive than sets made from polymer materials.
Whether you compose your novel off the cuff or carefully follow an outline, it’s important to consider the Domino effect – the chain reaction of scenes that naturally lead to the next scene. Each scene domino is insignificant by itself, but when they’re all lined up together they create an intricate, compelling story.
Many domino shows feature builders who compete to build the most elaborate chains of dominoes before a live audience. These chain reactions can be awe inspiring, with hundreds or thousands of dominoes set up in careful sequence, all toppling with the nudge of just one. Dominos have a similar inertia, requiring a significant push to overcome their resistance to motion. But once that force is applied, the potential energy stored in each domino becomes available to push on and knock over the next domino – just like in a novel.