Domino is a small rectangular block used as the basis for many games of chance and skill. It is often referred to as a bone, piece, men, or dominoes and is similar to playing cards and dice in that it can be used for a variety of games. A domino has a printed surface with an arrangement of dots, or pips, that identify it as one of several possible values. The opposite side is blank or identically patterned. Most domino sets have 28 pieces, but larger and smaller sets exist.
The word domino is also used to describe a series of events that cascade or build on each other, like the falling of one tile after another in a game of dominoes. The domino effect can be seen in the real world, where one event can trigger a chain reaction that affects many other people and places. In business, the domino effect can be seen in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), where one company takes over or merges with another, which then results in further M&A by other companies.
Writing a novel or short story is similar to arranging dominoes. Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or plan it carefully, you must decide how your character will react to each situation and what will happen next. This is the plotting process, and it can be tricky to get right. Fortunately, a few simple guidelines can help you create a domino effect that will keep your reader guessing what will happen next.
Traditionally, dominoes have been made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips. More recently, they have been made from materials such as stone (including marble, granite, or soapstone), metals, ceramic clay, and frosted glass or crystal. Such sets have a more novel look and feel, and tend to be heavier than polymer dominoes.
The most basic Western domino variant is called a block-and-draw game for two players. The dominoes are shuffled and then drawn at random, with the player who draws the highest domino having first turn. The remainder of the dominoes are left face down in a pile, known as the stock or boneyard. The player who plays the highest domino must then follow that piece with his or her own. The aim is to build a line of play and eventually knock over all the other players’ dominoes. The player who finishes the line wins. This can be a challenging, but exciting game for adults and children alike.