Domino is a game where players try to collect pairs of tiles with the same numbers. Each domino has four pips, and the aim is to get the largest number of pairs.
The game originated in China, but there are differences between Chinese dominoes and Western ones that make them distinct from one another. European domino sets lack the military-civilian suit distinctions of Chinese games, and they also have no duplicate tiles.
While the exact origins of dominoes are still unclear, they probably descended from a cape that a priest used to wear over his surplice. This garment was likely made from ebony blacks and ivory, which contrasted with the white face of the domino.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, domino means “a long hooded cloak,” and the word also refers to a mask worn during carnival season or at a masquerade. In French, the word can also be found in the sense of “a black cape.”
A domino set is a set of tiles with numbers printed on them, often in a variety of different colors. Most commonly, a set contains 28 or 55 tiles, although larger sets are available.
To play dominoes, players lay down the tiles on a table. They then draw a number of tiles, usually seven, and place them in a pile called the stock or boneyard. A leader is selected, and the players then take turns to play a series of dominoes.
When a player is ready to play, they turn the bones over and expose two tiles. If the four values of both tiles sum to 12, they are taken, and each player scores a point. In most Western games, the first player to accumulate 50 (or 100) points wins the game.
In some variations, double-six dominoes have a different rule. They form pairs only if both the pips of the two dominoes sum to 12. For example, a double-six 2-2 and a 5-0 form a pair, but a 5-2 and a 0-four don’t.
Using science to create amazing displays
For her work, Hevesh relies on the laws of physics to help her build intricate installations. She makes test versions of each section of a design to make sure it’s working before she lays them down.
She films her tests in slow motion, making it possible to make precise corrections as needed. Afterward, she puts the sections together, adding flat arrangements and lines of dominoes.
The resulting display takes several minutes to fall, but it’s well worth the wait. It’s a remarkable show, and it is a wonderful way to demonstrate how a series of events can build to an explosive conclusion.
A domino chain is an interesting analogy for personal strategy, because it shows how concentrating energy on one activity can trigger a series of related actions that knock over other things. It’s the same concept that Ivy Lee taught Schwab many years ago when she showed him a simple but effective technique for completing a day’s worth of tasks in a single sitting.