Domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block with a face divided into halves, each half marked by an arrangement of dots resembling those on dice. Each half also has a blank or identically patterned side. A domino has a number of different uses and is often used in games to score points or as a centerpiece for a tabletop display. It is a variant of the game of poker and is sometimes called the “poor man’s poker.”
When creating a domino, it is important to think ahead and plan how you want your design to look. Domino art can be simple or elaborate and can include straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, stacked walls, and even 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Some of these designs can be very complex and take a long time to build.
A common domino game is a basic line-up, in which each player takes turns laying down a domino tile, or “knocking” it, and completing the row before an opponent can complete a play on their turn. Each round is played until a player can no longer play their tiles or the entire deck is exhausted. Then the score for the round is awarded to the winner, depending on the rules of the game and the number of rounds in which play has occurred.
Many different rules govern how a domino should be played and where it can be placed on the table. Some rules call for a domino to be placed with the pips facing up, while others specify that it should be faced down. The amount of pressure applied to the domino is also a factor. Some games also require that a domino be set on a hard surface to prevent it from sliding or shifting.
The word domino is derived from the Italian noun dominica, meaning “little throne.” A domino is similar to a card in that it has an identity-bearing side and a blank or identically patterned side. The term also refers to the game itself, which originated in France shortly after 1750. Earlier, domino denoted a long hooded robe worn with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade.
As a metaphor, the concept of domino offers a powerful way to think about life and business. Psychologist Ivy Lee once taught business leader Charles Schwab to pick one task each day that would have the most impact and focus all of his attention on it until it was completed. This domino-like approach helped Schwab to move his company forward quickly.
When a domino falls, it generates kinetic energy that pushes the next domino toward Earth and sets off a chain reaction. This principle is the foundation of Hevesh’s incredible domino installations, which are usually constructed from tens or hundreds of thousands of domino pieces. Hevesh uses a version of the engineering-design process to create these mind-blowing arrangements and tests each section individually before putting them together. This allows her to correct errors and ensure that all of the elements work properly.