Domino is a game in which a series of flat, thumb-sized, rectangular blocks are stacked on end to form long lines. The topmost domino is then tipped over, triggering the rest of the line to fall over. This creates a sequence of events, known as the domino effect, which can have a dramatic impact.
The most common way to use domino is for positioning games that involve a player placing a single domino edge to edge against an opponent’s domino, thereby blocking the opponent’s movements. Other games of a more strategic nature also can be played with the pieces, often adaptations of card games that were once popular in areas that had religious proscriptions against playing cards.
In these games, a domino is identified by its pips, which are small circles or dots arranged in groups of six on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. There are 28 such tiles in a complete double-six domino set. The number of pips on a domino may be used to determine its value in the game; higher values are assigned to more valuable pieces.
A variety of games can be played with these pieces, including blocking, scoring, and forming angular patterns. Some are based on the rules of card games, while others have their roots in other folk traditions, such as solitaire and trick-taking. For example, a variation of Concentration uses the dominoes to replace cards in the stack.
Those with more time and patience can enjoy the challenge of building intricate designs by laying out dominoes in straight or curved rows or diagonals. These asymmetrical arrangements are sometimes referred to as the “domino puzzle.”
It’s important to remember that the domino is only effective when it is spaced correctly. The space between dominoes can be as much as three times the width of a piece. Too little space and the domino won’t cascade. Too much space and the dominoes will be too far apart to reach each other, or the resulting sequence will be slowed or even stopped completely.
As the domino effect continues, the CVS decision will likely trigger a chain reaction of other retailers following suit and cutting prices on erectile pills, potentially leading to a price war that could reduce access to the drugs for millions of Americans. It’s a domino effect that can have a devastating consequence, not only for men’s health but also for the economic stability of our country.
For writers, whether you’re a pantser who writes off the cuff or an outliner who plots ahead of time, the key to a compelling story is to consider how each scene will influence the scenes that follow. The domino effect is a powerful tool that can help you avoid scenes that don’t advance your hero’s goal or feel too short at moments of big discovery or drama.