Domino is a popular board game that features squares that are marked with an arrangement of dots, or pips. They can have anywhere from six to as many as 18 pips on one side, and blank or identically-patterned on the other. Each piece is typically twice as long as it is wide. Dominoes are distinguished from playing cards by their lack of a face and a line in the middle, which divides the visual space into two squares (called ends). The value of a domino is determined by counting the number of pips on either end.
Dominoes can be used in a variety of games, both blocking and scoring. Blocking games include matador, chicken foot and Mexican train, while scoring games are based on counting the number of pips in your opponents’ hands. Many Dominoes are also educational, helping children with number recognition and math skills.
Many sets of dominoes have been made from natural materials: bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory or a dark wood such as ebony, often with contrasting black or white pips; metals like brass or pewter; ceramic clay; and even frosted glass or crystal. These sets tend to be heavier and more expensive than those made from polymer, but are more attractive and feel substantial in the hand.
For some players, the beauty of a domino display is as much of an attraction as its playability. Creating these intricate designs requires careful planning, as each domino must be positioned in the correct position to ensure that the next domino will fall properly and complete the design. Some artists have created works that take weeks or months to build.
Other pieces are built for pure entertainment. Artist Lily Hevesh, for example, builds colorful, interlocking spirals using a single double-six set. Hevesh’s work has been featured in exhibitions and on the covers of books.
Domino’s success is largely due to its focus on innovation. The company invests heavily in technology, including mobile ordering and emoji-based ordering via mobile phones. It also has a thriving research and development team that is constantly testing ways to make its pizzas faster, cheaper and better.
In addition to its emoji and voice options, Domino’s offers a variety of delivery methods, including curbside pickup and delivery through Uber Eats. The company has a network of more than 25,000 locations in the US and is on track to hit its goal of 25,000 global outlets by 2025.
When writing a novel, think of your scenes as dominoes. The first scene of your story might be ineffective by itself, but when you stack it with the other scenes, it naturally influences the next scenes in a rhythmic cascade. This is called the Domino Effect. Be sure that the scenes in your novel logically connect to each other, and that they advance the plot by moving your character through an emotional arc.