The term domino is used to describe a chain reaction that begins with one small act and results in much larger, sometimes catastrophic consequences. It’s a concept that could be applied to many different aspects of life, from the way a simple action can trigger the next in a line of dominoes to the way one person’s behavior can affect everyone else around them.
Dominoes are small rectangular blocks, normally marked with pips, that are stacked end to end in long lines. They can be arranged in straight or curved lines, and when the first domino is tipped over, it causes all of the others to fall. Dominoes can be used for playing games and as decorative elements in homes or businesses. They are also used in science to model physical systems, such as the human heart or a forest fire.
Lily Hevesh began playing with dominoes when she was 9 years old, and her grandparents gave her a classic 28-piece set. Her obsession with the small, white bricks grew to the point that she now works as a professional domino artist, creating elaborate domino sets for movies and events. She’s also a YouTube celebrity, with more than 2 million subscribers to her channel, Hevesh5.
There are many different kinds of domino games, and the rules vary by game. Some have a specific order of play, while others allow players to pass tiles to the left or right before making their play. The rules of a particular game may also determine the heaviest tile, which can be played before any other tiles.
When a player draws a tile that matches the number shown on the heaviest domino, that player must immediately play it. Otherwise, the tile must be passed to the player on his left. A player may also choose to make his play by “knocking” or rapping the table and declaring the number of the domino he is about to play.
If a player makes a mistake when placing his tile, it must be corrected before the next play. If he cannot correct his mistake, then he must recall his tile and draw another one for his turn. If he can’t recall his tile, he must play the remaining tiles in his hand.
The number of tiles in a player’s hand is called his stock, and it is the source of his power. If he has a large number of matching tiles, for example, then he will have the ability to play more dominoes than his opponents. If he has a few non-matching tiles, he will have fewer than the other players and will have to be more careful when he plays them.
There are some games that require players to buy tiles from the stock. When a player buys a domino, he places it face down on the table and adds the number of its pips to his score. Other games don’t allow players to buy tiles from the stock at all, and those that do typically have a maximum number of available tiles that can be bought.