Domino is a common game of chance and skill. It can be played by two or more players and is similar to the dice or playing cards used in games like bridge, poker, and rummy. It is usually played with a domino set consisting of a number of pieces (called “dominoes”) that are stacked into rows and columns. The goal of the game is to score points by laying out the dominoes end-to-end, with the touching ends forming matching numbers or totals.
The game can be played with a variety of sets. Traditional dominoes are divided into two squares called “ends,” each with a line down its middle. These can be blank or have a number of spots, or pips, on each side. The values of each side are usually arranged in a sequence from one to six. The highest value of a piece is often called the “double.”
A Domino Effect
The term domino effect refers to the idea that one action can spark a chain reaction and spread an event from its initial starting point. It is often used to describe a situation in which a single event triggers a cascade of related events and leads to a series of changes that ultimately influence the future of a person or an entire society.
During the Cold War, American political analyst Edward Alsop argued that the spread of communism in Southeast Asia would be comparable to the cascade of dominoes that occur when a single tile is knocked over and then falls into a row of other dominoes. He described the domino theory in his 1963 column in the New York Times as a “simple but effective model” for how America should support the South Vietnamese government and fight communism in Southeast Asia.
A Domino Artist Who Uses Science
In order to create her dominoes, Hevesh has learned a lot about how the laws of physics work. She explains that the most important factor in her installations is gravity, which helps a domino topple once it’s knocked over and pushed toward the next domino.
She lays out several test versions of each section of her installation to ensure that it will fall properly. She then films each test in slow motion, so she can make adjustments to the arrangement if necessary.
Once she’s satisfied with the results of her testing, she starts putting together large installations. Her largest display consists of 300,000 dominoes and takes several nail-biting minutes to topple.
There are many different rules for playing the game. Some of them are quite complicated, but the basic idea is still the same: The goal is to lay down dominoes end-to-end, arranging them in a pattern that matches or exceeds the number of points scored by each tile.
The player who lays down the last domino in a row wins the round. If a player is unable to lay down any dominoes that match the ones already laid, they must play the last domino from their hand.