Domino is a game that uses a set of rectangular shaped tiles with pips on both sides. These pips may be either dots or squares and each has a specific value that determines its rank among the other dominoes. The value of the pips can be used to score points in a variety of ways depending on the game. Dominoes are normally twice as long as they are wide, making them easier to re-stack after use.
A player begins playing by drawing a domino from the stock and placing it in front of him on the table. The domino he draws must be a double or a single, depending on the rules of the game he is playing. If he draws a higher-ranking domino than the one he already holds, he plays that domino first.
When the first domino is played, it slides along and down its paired partner. As it moves down the line, it causes other dominoes to slip and slide in its wake, and that motion creates friction that converts some of the potential energy stored in the domino into heat and sound. The falling dominoes then transfer that energy to the surfaces they touch, which can result in other dominoes falling down as well.
Each domino has a rank and its own particular characteristics. Some are heavier than others, which allows players to play them on top of each other. In addition to the ranks, each domino has an opening that can be used to join other pieces on the table.
The open end of a domino is sometimes called the “stake” or the “node.” The value of this opening depends on how it is used, but in most cases, it represents the point in the line of play where the next tile must be placed.
After the players draw their hands, the heaviest domino begins play in most games. However, some games require the winner of the last game to open play. In those cases, the winner counts the pips left in the losers’ hands at the end of their hand or game and adds that number to his score.
In some games, a player may “buy” dominoes from the stock by putting down a matching tile in front of him. If the domino bought is a double, it must be played onto the other side of the table, but if the buying player has a single, he can place it across from his own piece.
Like the dominoes that fall, a novel’s plot relies on many scenes to make the story come together and build to a climax. When a writer can connect these scene dominoes, the reader will feel as though the story flows smoothly and makes sense. For example, a character in an old Clint Eastwood “Dirty Harry” film may be a violent killer, but his scenes are smooth and well-connected, so the reader doesn’t get distracted by a hiccup in logic.