When a domino is tipped ever so slightly, the entire structure comes crashing down in a beautiful cascade of motion. This same principle holds true in the way that scenes can influence each other in a novel or short story. Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or use a tool like Scrivener to help you plot, constructing a clear series of scene dominoes is essential to a well-structured narrative.
A domino is a small rectangular block of wood or plastic, bearing an arrangement of dots similar to those on a die on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. A domino may also have a line or ridge that divides it into two equal squares. The identity-bearing squares are called pips, and each domino has a number of them.
Each domino has open ends; the total number of pips on these ends is counted to determine when points are scored. When a domino has both open ends matching, the pips on both sides are considered when counting. Doubles, which have the same number on both ends, count as one end when counting a domino’s number of pips.
Most domino games fall into four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games and round games. In most of these, players in turn place a domino edge to edge against another domino of the same color, or a different number of matching squares on the opposite side. The first player to do this wins the game.
Blocking is the simplest basic domino game. To play this, each player draws a seven-tile hand from a standard double-six set, and then extends the line of play with one domino of the same color on either end. The loser must then pass, or play a tile that matches one of the ends of the line of play. The winner scores the remaining pips of the losing player’s hand.
Dominos can be used to create a variety of structures, including 2-D walls and 3-D towers and pyramids. A skilled domino artist can also use them to make impressive patterns and pictures. Some people even build a domino city, where all the pieces are arranged to form streets and buildings.
In skillful domino games, players compete to be the first player to reach a set number of points in a round often 61. Points are scored when the total number of pips on the ends of the line of play is exactly divisible by 5 or 3. The score is determined by counting the pips on both the domino and the matching open end of the next domino played.
The most popular domino games are bidding, blocking, scoring and round. The order of play and the rules for each game vary from one country to another, but most follow the same general principles. The game begins with each player drawing a hand of dominoes and then playing them according to the rules of that particular game.