Domino is a tile-based game where players place dominoes edge to edge against each other, either on the table or in their hands. The pips on the front of each domino indicate its number, from 1 to 8, with blanks representing zero. The dominoes are typically painted and can come in any color, although white with black pips is most common. The player with the lowest total pips wins. There are many different games that can be played with dominoes, but they usually fall into one of two categories: blocking and scoring. Blocking games aim to empty the opponent’s hand while preventing them from making a play, and score is awarded when a chain of dominoes is made that results in a number that is useful or distasteful for the opponents.
There are also positional games where each player places a domino in a manner that allows it to touch other dominoes with the same numbers, creating chains. These chains can be used to form the basis for a number of different games, some of which are variations of card or trick-taking games that were popular in some areas because they allowed people to play cards and still satisfy religious prohibitions against them.
The most basic game is simply a blocking game using a double-six set of dominoes. Each player draws seven tiles from the stock, a number of which they must keep in their hand at all times during the game. The other tiles are stacked face-down in the boneyard until the players decide to draw again. Each domino played must touch the end of another domino on the line, or the player is “chipped out” and loses the game.
Some games are more complicated, where a series of dominoes is set up in a line, and the builder attempts to create a picture with them when they fall over. The domino art can be as simple or elaborate as the builder wants, with straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures, and 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. Domino builders often compete in domino shows, with each builder trying to construct the most impressive and elaborate domino setup possible.
In a dramatic demonstration, University of British Columbia physicist Lorne Whitehead once set up 13 dominoes and filmed them as they fell, producing a chain reaction that was over three feet tall and weighed 100 pounds. The physics of this effect has been studied extensively, and scientists have learned a great deal about the potential energy of a domino.
Whether you’re a panster who writes by the seat of your pants or a meticulous planner that uses an outline program like Scrivener, a strong plot is essential to a successful novel. Having a clear sense of what happens in each scene will help you weed out scenes that don’t work, or don’t advance the plot enough. The domino effect is a great metaphor for this process, and understanding it will help you write a more compelling story.
