Domino is a game where dominoes are stacked on end in long lines. When a single domino in the line is tipped, it causes the rest of the dominoes to fall over, creating beautiful and complex patterns. This concept of one action leading to a series of greater consequences is the basis for the phrase, “domino effect.”
The most basic domino game involves two players and a double-six set. The 28 tiles are shuffled and then placed face down in a pile called the stock or boneyard. Each player then draws seven dominoes for their hand. These must have the same number of pips on each end as a previously-played domino. A player may also choose to draw extra dominoes, but they must return them to the stock before anyone else draws them.
There are many different games of domino, but most fall into four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games. Some of these games are geared toward learning, while others are just for fun. Some are used in instructional ot therapy as ways to help children learn to identify letters, numbers, and pictures. Some are used to help students with autism to recall and reinforce their experiences.
The first step to play domino is to determine what type of domino you want to use. Most people prefer the traditional rectangular shape, but there are also circular dominoes available. The most important consideration when choosing a domino is the number of pips it has on each end. This will dictate what other types of dominoes can be played with it. For example, a square domino cannot be joined with a circle because they have different numbers of pips on each side.
As you make your way through the line of dominoes, it is helpful to keep track of the total count of all the tiles that have been played so far. You can do this by counting the open ends of the dominoes. Each time a new domino is added to the line of play, the count is increased by one. If you have a double tile, this is counted as three since it has both a 3 and a 1 on each end.
Once you’ve figured out the total number of dominoes that have been played, you can begin to build your lines of dominoes. These must be joined in a specific way to ensure that the dominoes will fall correctly. The most common method is to join them with the line of play, which means placing a domino with its matching number across the line of play. This is done by putting the domino with its matching number with the line of play, so that it matches up with the open end of the previous tile.
Whether you are a pantster writer who doesn’t create detailed outlines for your manuscript or a plotter who uses a software program like Scrivener to help you map out your novel, it is useful to consider how your scenes cascade in your story. Just as the last domino in a line of hundreds or thousands will only fall with the gentle nudge of just one, your story needs to have a compelling plot that will draw readers in and compel them to read on.