Domino is a name that suggests a masterful commander who keeps his eye on advantageous opportunities. It also refers to a game based on cause and effect, where one simple action sets off a chain reaction of greater consequences. The game of domino has inspired a number of popular movies that have highlighted the power of this effect.
Like the game of playing cards, of which it is a variant, dominoes are arranged in long lines on a flat surface such as a table. Each domino has an identifying mark on one face and is blank or identically patterned on the other. Unlike dice, which have a single arrangement of dots, dominoes have a set of six pips on each end. These pips determine the suit of a domino. Most games require that a player place a domino on the layout so that only its matching end is touching another tile. When a domino has two matching ends, it is called a double. In some cases, additional tiles can be placed perpendicular to a double or on the short side of a double.
Traditionally, dominoes were made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl or MOP), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony and had contrasting black or white pips. They were often emblazoned with the name of the manufacturer or a specific type of domino. Modern sets of dominoes may be crafted from other materials such as stone (e.g., marble or granite); other types of wood (e.g., ash, oak, redwood, and cedar); metals (e.g., brass or pewter); or even ceramic clay. These sets tend to be more visually striking than their MOP and ivory counterparts. They are also generally heavier and feel more substantial in the hand than polymer dominoes.
Aside from the typical blocking and scoring games, dominoes can also be used for more creative purposes. They can be stacked on end to make very long lines that can then be tipped over to create complex geometric designs. These are known as domino art and can be very impressive to watch.
Dominoes can also be used to create stories or scenes. For example, in a domino cascade, a first tile is played to start the chain that eventually leads to the ending of the scene. The key to this type of story is timing — the domino must be placed in such a way that the end of the scene appears inevitable, but it should not be so obvious as to detract from the overall plot.
Dominoes are also used to build models and structures in school science classes. For example, a student could use dominoes to construct a model of the solar system. The student would then place a domino on the model to represent the planets, and then he or she could move each of the other dominoes around to show how the model of the solar system worked.