Dominoes are a familiar sight in many households and classrooms. Children often enjoy lining them up in long rows and then knocking them down. However, did you know that domino has a lot of uses outside of playing games? Today’s Wonder of the Day explores this concept, and we also learn more about how dominoes work.
Domino (also called bones, cards, men, or tiles) are rectangular blocks that feature an arrangement of dots on one side and are blank or identically patterned on the other. The identifying marks are called pips and appear in an even pattern on both sides of the domino. A domino’s pips distinguish it from similar pieces in other sets and can make it easier to stack them up or tack them together. The amount of pips a domino has is its value and is referred to as its rank. A domino’s suit is determined by its value and rank, as well as the number of pips it has. A domino that features a number of pips in a specific pattern belongs to a certain suit. For example, a double-six domino belongs to the suit of sixes and has a rank of six.
Like playing cards, a domino has a number of different variants and is used for a wide variety of games. The most common domino games are blocking and scoring games. Blocking games involve emptying a player’s hand while blocking opponents from playing any more tiles. Scoring games such as bergen and muggins allow players to count the number of pips on a losing tile to determine the winner.
Another type of domino game involves drawing. This variation allows players to draw any domino they can find, but they must replace any they can’t with a domino that matches in color or number of pips. This game is typically played with a smaller domino set, such as the double-twelve or double-nine.
The word “domino” itself may have a French origin. It was borrowed into English in the 18th century and probably originally denoted a long hooded cloak worn with a mask at a carnival or masquerade ball. The term has also been associated with the domino game because of the similarity of its shape to a priest’s black domino contrasting with his white surplice.
As a writer, the concept of the domino effect can help you logically connect scenes in your story. For example, if your protagonist takes an action that goes against societal norms, the domino effect suggests readers will likely give her a pass if she explains why this is the case. Then you can move on to the next scene in the story. Similarly, if a scene doesn’t advance the plot or build tension, consider whether it has enough logical impact on the scene ahead of it. If not, it’s best to tack on an additional scene or rework the current scene into something more logical.