A domino is a small rectangular block made of wood or plastic with a center line and either ends bearing numbers, which form an attractive set. Most popular dominoes sets contain 28 pieces. When one domino is turned over and its ends line up with numbers on another piece in the set, flipping over will cause all other matching ends of that piece to drop into place, setting off an ever-spiraling chain reaction until all pieces have fallen down.
Dominoes are widely used for games involving blocking and scoring points, or simply as decorative pieces. There are also numerous games involving laying dominoes out in lines or patterns – both horizontally and angularly.
Players take turns placing one or more domino tiles in a line on a table or other flat surface, with the first player covering any spaces in the row with matching numbers before his opponent does so; thereafter, the second player can add his tile; once covered by one domino tile, any subsequent ones that replace it must either have matching color and number combinations or be larger than what existed previously.
Once a row is filled, its game is concluded. A domino is considered “out” when its last remaining tile contains no matching numbers on either end; it may still be played to form another row in its place.
Writing writers often refer to the domino effect as a writing tool that can help build suspense and engage readers. The concept behind it is straightforward; any action which initiates an unanticipated chain reaction in characters or readers acts like falling dominoes that create ripples which develop unexpectedly into new developments and directions.
Many writers write their novels without using an outline, and instead use the domino effect to craft narratives that capture and retain readers. From simple games of dominoes to complex political intrigue, using this strategy can help craft stories that engage and hold on to audiences’ interest.
The term domino can have several different interpretations:
1. Long hooded cloak worn at a masquerade. 2. An individual lacking social grace, sensitivity or tact. 3. Domino game where two opponents compete against one another by arranging dominoes so their ends touch each other (ones touch twos etc). 4. An event expected to trigger other events – such as communism’s collapse in Indochina.