What is Domino?
Domino is the name of a game that involves matching dominos with one another to form chains that fall in a sequence. Each domino has a pattern of dots on one side and is blank or identically patterned on the other. The dominos in a standard set are usually numbered from 1 to 28 and have two open ends that connect to each other. The number of points a player scores is determined by the total number of pips on the open ends of their dominos when the chain begins.
The earliest known use of dominoes dates to the 12th or 13th century in China. The modern form of the game developed in the 18th century in Italy and France. Today, the game is popular around the world and has many variants. It is often played in teams. The goal is to be the first to reach a specified number of points in a round, such as 61. Each player starts with a hand of dominoes. Each time a player plays a domino, the total of pips on its open end is added to the total on the other player’s hand. The player who has the highest total score wins the game.
A player may win by playing a domino in any position, but most players choose to extend the chain. To do this, a domino is placed with its open ends touching, and then the other player places a tile that matches the color or symbol on the exposed surface of the first domino. The chain continues this way until a player is unable to make a match or has no more tiles left in their hand. A player can also win by scoring the most points when the total on their opened ends is exactly divisible by five or three.
In mathematics, the domino technique is an excellent way for students to demonstrate the commutative property of addition. Students should be able to recognize that the total number of dots on a domino is the same regardless of how it is oriented, and this is the key for understanding how a series of addends can be written in any order.
The domino effect is a useful analogy for writers, especially those who write by the seat of their pants. If you don’t plan out your plot ahead of time, it can be easy to create scenes that are either too long (which can feel dragged out and slow the pace) or too short, such as when a scene has no impact on the one before it. In a story, the domino effect works best when each scene moves the hero closer to or farther from their goal and has a clear impact on the scene that follows it. If your scenes don’t advance the plot or feel logical, readers will lose interest quickly. This is why planning ahead using a tool such as Scrivener is helpful for plotters.