The Domino Effect
A domino effect is an event or series of events that occurs because of the impact of one event on another. The term is most commonly used in the context of mechanical effects, such as a falling row of dominoes, but it can also be applied to other types of processes.
In a domino game, players use gaming pieces known as dominoes to play a variety of games. They are similar to playing cards, but each domino has a rectangular face divided into two square ends by a line or ridge, and the front of the tile is marked with an arrangement of spots (also called pips or dots) or is blank.
Each end of a domino is unique, and the number of spots on each end varies between sets. Most domino sets consist of 28 tiles, each featuring a combination of spot counts between zero and six.
The top half of each tile is made of a hard, rigid material such as bone or silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (MOP), while the bottom half is made of a lighter-weight hardwood such as ebony. Often, contrasting black or white pips are inlaid or painted on the tops of the dominoes.
When the first domino falls, some of its potential energy is converted to kinetic energy; this energy then travels to the next domino, and so on, until all the dominoes have been knocked over. This is the basic principle of domino toppling, which can be a popular form of entertainment.
Several types of domino games exist, including blocking and scoring games that are similar to those played with playing cards. These games can be played with either traditional European-style dominoes or with larger, more elaborate versions.
Some domino games are played with a variety of tile colors, but the most common and popular variants involve the use of a double-six set. The 28 tiles in this set are shuffled face down, and each player draws seven tiles from the stock. Then, the tiles are placed on edge in front of the players, so that each player can see the value of their own tiles, but not that of their opponents’.
In these games, the first two or three tiles that fall are considered to match if their total pip count is equal to or greater than the number of spots on the opposing tile. The player who has the most matching tiles is the winner, and if no one has any matching tiles, the game is over.
A growing number of domino variants are played with larger sets, which allow more combinations of pips on the faces of each domino. For example, a double-nine set allows 55 tiles, and a double-12 set 91 tiles.
Dominoes are also made from different types of natural materials, such as stone or wood. These sets are often heavier and more expensive than polymer-based ones, but they have a distinctive look and feel that is appreciated by domino players.