Dominoes, or dominoes as they are sometimes called, are small rectangular wood or plastic blocks that can be arranged to create a variety of different games. They are also used as a form of art, with artists designing elaborate structures that are meant to be toppled by the application of simple physical principles. Dominoes can be used to create straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, or even 3D structures like towers and pyramids. In addition, they can be stacked in layers to create intricate patterns.
When playing a domino game, the first thing to do is to determine who will make the first play of the round. This depends on the rules of the particular game being played, but often the player with the heaviest double in his hand will make the first move. This player is sometimes referred to as the setter, the downer, or the lead. Once the first player makes his move, all other players will draw dominoes from the stock, and if necessary break any ties by drawing new tiles from the stock.
Once a player draws the first domino, he must place it on the table, positioning it so that one end of the chain has a number showing. The other end may be blank or marked with a pattern of dots resembling those on dice. If a player cannot play his next domino, he must “buy” it from the other players by placing a single domino on its side on the table, or pass his turn and let the other players play their tiles before him.
While it is possible to create many different domino games, the most common are a variant of the block and draw games. In these games, the players start with a certain number of dominoes, and the player who draws the largest tile must play it first. The remaining players must then take turns picking dominoes from the sleeping dominoes and adding them to his own stack, or byeing if they are unable to play their tile. The player who draws the last domino is called the ender and wins the game.
The word domino derives from the Italian verb dominare, meaning to lead or control. It was probably borrowed into English around 1750 from French, where the word had an earlier meaning, that of a long, hooded cloak worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. Interestingly enough, the same sense of domino can be found in the name of the country of Indochina.
When writing a story, it is important to consider how the actions of your characters will affect those around them. For example, if your character does something that is immoral or against societal norms, it will cause a domino effect that can either derail your entire plot or provide readers with the logic they need to accept it as plausible. If you want your scene to work, then it must follow the rules of physics.