What is Domino?
Written by
A domino is a small tile marked with a line or ridge on one side and an arrangement of dots, called pips, on the other. Each domino has a number of identically patterned spots, usually from one to twelve, but a few tiles may be blank. Dominos can be stacked on end in long lines to form structures, with each tile being able to push the next one down. This is the basic principle behind domino games, which have a variety of rules and scoring systems. Some types of domino art, such as curved lines and grids that form pictures when the pieces fall, are also popular. Some players use a domino set to play card-like games that help develop numbers and other math skills.
In a novel, the concept of domino effects is a good way to think about how events in one scene can influence what happens in another scene. A single domino, such as a character’s emotional shift or a piece of information, may seem insignificant by itself, but when placed at the right spot in the sequence of scenes it can lead to a chain reaction that has far-reaching consequences.
Domino games are played in many cultures, including China and India, but they are particularly well known in Latin America and the United States. In the latter country, they have a long tradition and are used for educational purposes in public schools. They are also a common leisure activity in bars and taverns. There are also domino clubs, tournaments, and championships.
The first recorded domino game in the United States was a simple blocking game between two people that involved placing seven tiles in a row on the table and then drawing and playing them as the winner took all the tiles from his opponent. The rules and scoring system of this game varies, but the most popular version involves a double-six set.
Traditionally, domino sets are made of bone, silver lip oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on the surface of each tile. More recently, sets have been produced from other natural materials such as stone; marble, granite or soapstone; metals like brass or pewter; and even ceramic clay.
The most common game format for domino uses a double-six set of 28 tiles, which are shuffled and then arranged to form a stock or boneyard. Each player then draws seven tiles and places them on-edge in front of him. When he puts down his first tile, the others automatically begin to tip over. A player then scores points by counting the pips in his opponent’s losing tiles. Other play formats include scoring and blocking games, as well as a few games that duplicate card games. These domino games are popular with children and help teach them about the value of each tile, which is important in developing math skills.