Writing About Dominoes

Domino is a game in which players place small rectangular blocks, called dominoes or dominoes, on the table. When one domino is toppled, it triggers a chain reaction that causes other dominoes to fall over in succession. The number of dominoes that fall is determined by the number on each tile, the layout of the tiles, and the rules of the game being played.

A domino is also a metaphor for the effect of one event on others in our daily lives, whether good or bad. For example, when a friend or coworker says something that offends you, the result is similar to knocking over a domino. The consequences of such an event may be far-reaching. Likewise, a domino is often used to refer to a person who takes advantage of others.

When writing a scene, it is often helpful to think of how a domino effect might work. This can help writers determine if a sequence of events would be plausible and logical to the readers. For example, if a character does something immoral that goes against the norms of society, such as killing a stranger or having an affair, writers must make sure they provide enough logic for readers to understand why this action is acceptable. If the author doesn’t, the domino cascade will fail and the reader won’t be able to “buy into” the story.

The word domino is also used in the form of an adjective, meaning “dominant.” For example, a domino-sized building would be large enough to contain several people or vehicles. A domino-sized company would be a large business with a lot of revenue.

Domino is also a verb, meaning to play a game with dominoes. There are many different games that can be played with dominoes, and they all have slightly different rules. Some of these games have very similar names and even identical rules, but they may be played differently in different parts of the world.

After the tiles are shuffled, each player draws a domino from the stock to play with. The player who draws the heaviest tile will usually make the first play. Some games state that a player must play a domino with a number showing on one end. In other cases, a player must play a domino that matches a previous tile in the line of play. If a player cannot make a match, he passes.

The shape of a domino chain as it develops over time is part of the enjoyment of playing a game. Depending on the rules of a game, a player must play a domino so that its matching ends touch fully (unless it is a spinner, which can be played with its two matching sides touching). Doubles are always placed square to each other. Some games use a grid on the table to guide this process.