Domino is a tile-based game where a player in turn places a domino edge to edge with another domino, such that the numbers (or blanks) on adjacent faces match. Each domino also has a value, based on the number of spots or pips it has, which is used in the scoring of games. Most commonly, a domino has the values of six through one and a half, but many larger sets have pips that go up to twelve or even twenty-one. The first person to place all of their dominos down wins the game.
The most basic game of domino is called “Single Domino.” In this version, each player must play a domino when their turn comes. If they don’t have a domino to play, they must block the opponent so that they cannot make a move. In this way, each player tries to gain an advantage by blocking the other players from making plays they want to make.
A more complex version of this game involves placing dominoes in a line such that they all touch each other. This allows the players to make more elaborate designs and can lead to a lot of strategy. Some games have a specific score, and the winning player receives the highest score for their design.
Other games have the goal of removing all of your opponents’ dominoes from the table. This can be done by placing a domino of the same color next to each other, which forces your opponent to knock over their entire row of dominoes. This can be very satisfying, as it is the best way to win a game of Domino’s.
As a child, I enjoyed playing dominoes, especially the games that involved putting them in a line and then tipping over the first one, causing all of the others to fall over in a chain reaction. This is the essence of the “domino effect” – one simple action leading to much greater (and sometimes catastrophic) consequences. It’s what makes domino so exciting, and it’s exactly the concept behind narrative structure.
When creating your own novel, think of each scene as a domino in a line. Each scene should have a clear action, and the rest of the story should work to support that action, like dominoes falling in a well-organized line. This is one of the most important lessons I try to convey to my clients when providing book editing services.
Domino’s is a company that knows the importance of focusing on its core business and staying true to what it does best. That’s why the company invests in new technology for food delivery and experimenting with autonomous vehicles. But at its heart, the company is a pizza shop that knows what its customers want. And that’s why it will succeed despite some recent stumbles.