What is Domino?

Domino is a small, rectangular block of rigid material, usually wood or plastic, that is marked with dots resembling those on dice. A domino is used to play a game in which the goal is to build a line of numbered tiles across or lengthwise, depending on the rules of a particular game. The first player to reach the end of a domino chain wins that game. In some games, scoring is based on the total number of points achieved by the players.

Most domino sets have twenty-four double-sided tiles with a total of ten pips, but some may have more or less. The pips on the tiles are inlaid, painted or engraved, and they are colored white, black, or both. Traditionally, dominoes are made of bone or silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl, MOP), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony with contrasting white or black pips. In recent times, however, domino sets have been made from other materials such as ceramic clay or frosted glass, which give them a more novel appearance and feel, and are often considerably heavier and more expensive than those made of polymer material.

Each player draws a hand of dominoes from the stock, and then a play begins with the person who has the highest domino in his or her hand. Typically, the heaviest double is played first; if there is no domino with that number, the next heaviest is used. After that, the heaviest double or single that any player has in his or her hand is played. If a player has a double that can be played on all four sides, it is known as a spinner.

A domino effect occurs in many ways, from the way a domino is positioned in a chain to the way it affects its neighbors, whether in a line of dominoes or in a group of individuals. In fiction, domino effects are most commonly seen as scenes in a story that illustrate a specific theme or point of view.

While the concept of a domino effect is simple enough, it is not always easy to achieve. For example, it can be difficult to maintain momentum when trying to build a long chain of events, and it is all too easy for one big domino to knock over everything else. For this reason, it is important for people to break down larger tasks into smaller steps that can be accomplished over time, and to set realistic goals for themselves.

For example, a person might decide to work on one scene per week. Getting that scene written can be challenging, but once it is completed, it can help to motivate the person to continue writing. In the business world, a company could use a similar strategy by setting goals for itself that can be measured and tracked over time. Ultimately, this can lead to success by creating a positive feedback loop of results and accomplishments.