Domino, a small rectangular block of wood or plastic used as a game piece. Its identifying mark is an arrangement of spots, like those on dice. Dominoes are often played with a set of matching pieces that form a chain, each domino touching either the end or a neighboring piece. The value of a domino is indicated by its number of spots, but it may also have no marks.
As the first domino falls, it exerts a force on the next one that causes it to topple as well, and so on. This is called the Domino Effect, and it can have positive or negative results. It can lead to a positive change in behavior, such as Jennifer Dukes Lee starting to make her bed each morning, but it can also cause a decline in morale or productivity among employees at work.
The term Domino is also applied to any process or system that operates in a similar way, such as the computer software package developed by the company of the same name. The software allows for the automation of many processes, such as accounting, inventory management and customer service. Its use has reduced the need for human intervention and freed up time for other tasks.
A player begins play by placing a domino on the table, positioning it so that both ends are touching an adjacent domino. Then, a tile may be placed on top of the domino with its identifying mark touching that of the previous domino, or it may be positioned to touch only one of the ends. Each new tile thus places a link in the chain of dominoes that increases in length.
To win a game, the first player must complete the domino chain before his opponent. If he cannot do this, he chips out by playing his last domino, and play passes to his opponent. Some games require that the chains reach a specific point before a player can chip out, and other games allow players to continue until each has a full set of ten or more dominoes, in which case their points are totaled.
Dominoes can be arranged in many ways, from straight lines to curved lines and grids that form pictures when they fall, and they can also be stacked into 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. This sort of domino art can be a fun family activity or a great way to show off your skill with the pieces.
In a story, as with domino constructions, it is important to place each scene in the right spot if you want it to work. Scenes that are too long can slow the pace, while scenes that are too short leave readers wanting more. The perfect scene is just right – it provides enough information to move the hero closer or farther away from the goal, and it is done in such a way that it seems natural and logical.