Domino, the game of domino, is a great way to develop strategy and hone hand-eye coordination. Most people who play domino do so as a form of entertainment, and many find it therapeutic as well. The game has been around for hundreds of years, and its rules have been established in a variety of ways. It is possible to play with any number of players, although the standard game of domino requires two or more.
The first player to place a domino sets the tone for the rest of the game. The player may only place a domino that has on one side the number 1 or 2. This sets up an ever-increasing chain of numbers that begins at the end of the playing surface. The player must continue to add tiles to the end of the chain, if they are able, until no longer possible.
As the chain continues, it can be difficult to predict how the game will end. Often the result is a stalemate, in which none of the players are able to make another move. Usually, the game ends when the last player chips out (plays their final domino). However, some games allow the winning players to continue play even if all the losing players chip out. The winners are the players whose total number of pips (spots on the domino) in their hands at the end of the game is the lowest.
The shape of a domino chain provides part of its charm. The shape is a function of the rules of the game and how they are implemented, and it can be influenced by a number of variables. For example, a tile played to a double must be placed so that the two matching ends touch fully. This allows the other domino to be positioned perpendicular to the chain, a configuration that can lead to the formation of a snake-like line.
When a domino stands upright, it stores potential energy based on its position. As the domino falls, much of this energy is converted to kinetic energy, which travels down the chain and causes one domino after the other to topple. This process is similar to the firing of a neuron, with each domino pushing the next in a chain reaction that continues until it comes to an end.
The domino effect can be applied to any series of events. In politics, for instance, a small trigger can start a chain reaction that leads to the collapse of a government or system. This is the principle that President Eisenhower used when explaining America’s decision to aid the South Vietnamese government in the Cold War. The idea has since become common enough to be referred to simply as the Domino Effect. In fiction, a scene domino might represent a piece of information that doesn’t really advance the story, but when grouped with other scenes it naturally influences the next scene. For a writer, this can be a useful tool to keep in mind as you write.