In a domino game, a player uses a set of tiles to try to knock down a single opponent’s tile. When the opponent’s tile is knocked down, it sets off a chain reaction that can end up with the domino falling into the next domino and so on. The cascading effects of dominoes are often used in figurative ways to describe the spread of an idea or event from one action to the next.
Dominoes, also called bones or pieces, are a traditional game of strategy and skill. They are usually made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (MOP), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips.
The game of dominoes can be played with a single set of 28 or 55 tiles, called a “double six” or “double nine.” Larger sets are available for longer games, and are more expensive than smaller ones.
A domino game typically requires two or more players. It can be played with a variety of different rules, but all involve using the tiles to create a layout. The most popular types of domino games are blocking games, scoring games, and layout games.
Blocking games are a type of domino game that involves playing the doubles in a cross pattern across the layout. This means that the long side of each double is connected to all other tiles, while the short sides are not. In a blocking game, additional tiles cannot be placed beside the ends of doubles that are forming a cross.
This type of domino game is similar to the draw game but with a difference: Once a doublet has been played, the next four tiles must be played against that doublet so that it forms a cross. This process may take some time, but once the cross is complete, play continues in the same way as the draw game.
The player who wins a game of dominoes is the one who has the most points. The number of points awarded to a winning player is based on the pips on his or her own dominoes and the pips on all the other player’s dominoes.
A double six or double nine set of dominoes is the most common commercially available set, and is often played with a double-twelve or double-nine layout. Some larger sets are available for games involving multiple players, but most players prefer to use smaller sets.
Several different kinds of dominoes are available, including single- and double-pips, chinese, European, and American. Many of them are made from polymer, such as plastic, but some are also made of wood or other natural materials.
Some domino sets are carved from a single piece of wood, with the top half of the dominoes being thicker than the bottom. These sets are usually much more expensive than those made from polymer materials, but they have a more unique look and feel.
They can be made in a wide range of sizes and shapes, from large circular arrangements to flat, rectangular displays. The most complex installations require several hours to fall into place, but Hevesh says that the most important part of her work is the law of gravity:
As a result of this force, she can create intricate designs with hundreds of thousands of dominoes. She makes test versions of each section of her installation to make sure it works individually before she puts it up. She films these tests in slow motion to see how she can correct any issues that arise.
