Dominoes are flat, thumb-sized blocks of wood or plastic, bearing from one to six pips (or dots) that form a number. 28 such pieces constitute a complete set. Depending on the game being played, dominoes may be arranged in lines or angular patterns. When one player plays a domino, its open end must be adjacent to the end of another domino already in play, forming a chain that may extend in any direction.
The earliest records of domino play come from China in the 12th or 13th century. In these games, players drew lots to determine the first player to make a play. Then, each player began placing his or her tiles in a line of play. Eventually, the whole domino chain developed into a snake-line of matching ends. The player who played the final tile determined whether the chain ended in a full circle or in a square, depending on the rules of the game.
Today, many popular domino games fit into one of four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games. These games differ in the way they score, how players take turns, and how they begin the game.
Most domino games are played in a linear, clockwise fashion. However, some Latin American countries use a counter-clockwise rotation for play, and others have adopted a system of passing and byeing that allows players to choose who will make the first play of the next game. In some cases, players may draw more tiles for their hands than they are entitled to; this is known as overdrawing. The extra dominoes remain face down, and the players who have drawn more than they need return their excess to the stock.
Once a domino falls, much of its potential energy converts to kinetic energy (energy of motion). Some of this energy is transmitted to the next domino, providing the push needed for it to topple over. This continues from domino to domino–until the last one falls.
When a writer is developing a story, he or she must consider how to create domino effects in the same way that a domino player considers how to set up his or her line of play. Whether the writer composes the manuscript off the cuff or carefully follows an outline, plotting a novel ultimately comes down to one simple question: What happens next? Using domino effects can help writers answer this question in a way that draws readers into the story.
The word domino derives from the Italian for “flip.” Historically, the term was also used to describe a long, hooded cloak that was worn together with a mask at carnival season or a masquerade. The cloak was often black, and thus was reminiscent of the domino piece. The word has also been associated with the hooded cape of a Dominican priest over his white surplice.