A domino is a type of game piece that can be used to build intricate designs or play traditional games. Traditionally, dominoes are made from wood or bone and feature black or white pips inlaid or painted on each face. The pips help to distinguish each domino from another when they are lined up together in long lines. If one domino in the line is tipped over, it causes the others to tip over as well. This is known as the domino effect, and it can be a lot of fun to watch when done correctly!
Dominoes can be stacked to create shapes like squares, hearts, and curved lines. They can also be arranged in 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Many people enjoy creating domino art, which can be as simple or elaborate as the builder desires. Domino artists may also participate in domino shows, where they compete to show off the most impressive domino reactions before a crowd of fans.
Whether you compose your novel off the cuff or take the time to carefully outline every plot beat, the process of writing a story comes down to one question: What happens next? Considering how you can use the domino effect in your writing can help you to answer that question in a compelling way.
One of the most common uses for dominoes is to play block or scoring games. The basic rules of these games are simple: a player must be able to place a domino on the table before anyone else can. Each player starts with a certain number of dominoes. The winner is the first player to place all of his or her dominoes. Players pass turns until someone cannot place a domino or the table is full.
Many dominoes are made from wood or clay, and they can be purchased in a variety of colors. They usually feature a color code on the side of the piece that helps players identify them. For example, some dominoes have a blue color code on the sides and an orange color code on the backs, while others are simply yellow.
Other materials are sometimes used to make dominoes, including silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony. These sets often have contrasting colors, with the top half thickness in mother of pearl or ivory and the lower half in ebony.
Some people have made dominoes out of other materials, such as marble, granite, soapstone, or metals. These sets are often more expensive than those made from polymer materials, but they can have a more unique look that some people prefer.