Dominoes are small rectangular blocks of wood or plastic marked with dots that resemble those on dice. They are stacked on end in long lines, and when the first domino is tipped over, it triggers the rest to fall over, creating a chain reaction. This phenomenon has led to the common phrase, “the domino effect,” which refers to events that start out small and quickly grow out of control.
In a game of domino, players score points by laying tiles with matching numbers side-by-side so that the exposed ends form a total multiple of five (e.g., one’s touch two’s, or five’s touch sixes). Each player then adds another tile to the line and continues scoring until the total of all of a player’s remaining tiles is zero. The winner is the player whose score is the highest when all of his or her tiles have been played.
When a player cannot play any more tiles, he or she must “chip out.” Then the other player may take a turn. The resulting collection of unused tiles is known as the boneyard. A tile with the same number on both sides is called a double; a double-blank means it has no pips on either end.
The earliest dominoes were developed in China and functioned similarly to playing cards. The Chinese version of the domino is still played today, though it has been adapted for a different style and is now more like a traditional deck of cards. In the West, dominoes were first recorded in Italy and France in the mid-18th century, and they were introduced to England by French prisoners toward the end of that same period.
A person can create a variety of artistic designs by stacking dominoes on end in straight or curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, and 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. Professional domino artists can create spectacular setups for movies, TV shows, and even events such as album launches for pop stars. Lily Hevesh, a young artist who posts videos of her work on YouTube, started playing with dominoes at the age of 9, and she has since built a career as a domino art designer.
When applying for a job, a good domino is a task that contributes to a bigger goal and can have an impact in the future. For example, creating a budget could be a good domino that will eventually lead to a more financially secure future. Alternatively, a good domino could also be something that requires a lot of time and focus, such as writing a book. Regardless of how challenging it is, a good domino is a step that will have a positive ripple effect in the future.