Domino is a game of chance and skill played with a set of flat rectangular blocks, or tiles, that are marked on one face with an arrangement of dots similar to those used on a die. The other face is blank or identically patterned. The dominoes are traditionally made from a material such as bone or ivory, ebony or other dark hardwood with contrasting black or white pips, but also may be made from stones (e.g., marble or granite); metals (e.g., brass or pewter); ceramic clay; and even glass or crystal.
There are many different games that can be played with dominoes. The most common is simply to arrange them into a line or a shape, and then knock over each one in turn with the end of another tile. This creates a chain reaction where one domino affects all of the others, each causing more and more to fall over until a complete set is produced.
A more sophisticated version of the game involves matching up pairs of dominoes with a number showing on both ends; the player who plays the first tile with this combination wins that pair. Other common domino games involve matching the pips on both sides of the tiles or the number of pips on an entire end. There are a variety of ways to extend sets to increase the number of unique combinations of pips on an end; examples include double-twelve, double-nine and double-15 sets.
Besides games, Domino can be used to build shapes of all kinds, from simple lines to complex structures. Dominoes are also a popular decoration, often placed in groups or arranged on shelves and tables.
Technology has become a big part of Domino’s business. They have been working on cutting-edge methods of pizza delivery, including integrating their ordering system with Apple CarPlay. Domino’s CEO, David Doyle, has even made a special purpose-built pizza-delivery vehicle, and the company is currently testing robotic delivery and drone delivery as well.
One of the key lessons I try to teach my book editing clients is that the best stories have a “domino effect.” A domino effect means every scene and plot beat leads up to a climax that is unexpected and exciting. If each domino is too predictable, readers will either tune out or find a new story to read. So, when writing your story, think of each scene as a domino in a row that will build up to a climax that will thrill your readers. And don’t forget to shuffle the dominoes at the beginning of each hand so everyone gets a fair shot at winning that round!