Dominos are small rectangular wooden or plastic blocks, double-sided and marked on both sides with an arrangement of dots resembling those on dice. One side of the domino is blank or identically patterned; the other, called the “end,” bears an indication of its value, usually represented by a number of dots or “pips” arranged in a circle (the term “pips” also denotes a single domino’s “rank” or weight). The size and arrangement of the pips distinguish different kinds of dominoes.
There are a variety of games played with dominoes, but most involve placing the tiles in a line and playing them by matching their pips. The tiles then fall, forming a chain reaction that continues until the last domino is flipped over, ending the game.
The most basic set of dominoes consists of 28 tiles; these are shuffled and become the stock, or boneyard, from which players draw to begin the game. The heaviest tile, sometimes called the lead, is placed on the first space available, and each player then draws a number of tiles from the stock equal to the value of the leading domino. The player who has the highest total value of their drawn tiles begins play.
Besides being fun to play, dominoes can also be used to create beautiful works of art. They are ideal for creating straight lines and curved lines, grids that form pictures when the dominoes fall, and even 3D structures like towers and pyramids.
A domino is also a symbol of business success, and it’s not just about the way they look; it’s about how they work. Business leaders must know that every element of their organization needs to fit together, just as dominoes must be carefully positioned and stacked in order to create the greatest effect.
For example, it’s important to listen to the voices of your employees and customers to find out what they’re saying. In fact, Domino’s CEO recently said that one of the company’s core values is to “Championate Our Customers.” This means that the company takes complaints seriously and strives to make changes in a timely manner.
As a writer, you can learn to write faster and more confidently by thinking of each scene as a domino. If you know how to place each scene in the right position, it can create a chain reaction that leads readers through the story.
Dominos also help with plot development. By using a domino track, you can plan out how the scenes will fall, and then test them with actual dominoes to see how they work. You can even use a computer program to design your track and calculate how many dominoes you’ll need for your project.
The most basic domino game requires a double-six set of 28 tiles, which is shuffled and becomes the stock or boneyard from which each player draws a certain number of dominoes for the first turn of play. Once a player has a hand of dominoes, he or she may play a domino onto any open double, regardless of its rank. If the resulting line of dominoes matches the pips on the tiles in the losing player’s hands, the winning player receives the points for the matched numbers.