A domino is a rectangular tile with pips (spots) on both sides. Each side of a domino has a different number of spots, and a set contains a total of twenty-six tiles. A domino’s pips are designed to fit together edge-to-edge with another domino so that the exposed ends of all the pieces match each other (one’s touch one’s, two’s touch two’s, and so on). This matching of the dominoes creates lines of dominoes called a chain reaction that can knock over anything, even a person.
Dominoes are often used to build art, and can be arranged in straight or curved lines, grids that form pictures, stacked walls, and 3D structures like towers and pyramids. These artistic creations can be simple or complex, and can use any number of dominoes from a small starter set to a large double-twelve set. Many of the same rules that govern regular domino play apply to these artistic creations. When designing a domino track, or any other kind of art for that matter, it is important to plan out the design in advance. This can help ensure that the work is completed without any snags, and that the finished product will look as intended.
While some people have a gift for creating stunning domino artwork, it is also possible to learn the rules of domino and create your own designs with a little practice. A good starting point is to consider the theme of the piece, then brainstorm images or words that might be associated with it. From there, you can draw a diagram of how the dominoes should fall, and include arrows that show which direction the dominoes will travel. When planning out your track, be sure to include the number of dominoes you’ll need for your design, and plan out any other details that may be relevant, such as how far apart the dominoes should be, or what kind of layout will best support the type of structure you want to build.
When creating a domino layout, it is important to test the setup before putting it in place. Hevesh creates test versions of each part of her installations, and films them in slow motion to make precise corrections if the layout isn’t working. Once she’s satisfied that the individual sections are set up properly, Hevesh puts them all together to create her mind-blowing creations.
When playing domino, players draw a certain number of dominoes at the start of each hand. The player with the highest domino in their hand leads the first turn. Then, other players take turns picking a domino from the boneyard until they have a higher double to lead with. This is known as picking an opening double. The first player to play an opening double is awarded points for their dominoes. Some games score points by counting the pips on the exposed ends of all the dominoes in the losing player’s hands, while others use blocking plays to determine points.