The word “domino” derives from the Latin dominum, meaning “flip.” A domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block that is either blank or bears from one to six pips (or dots). 28 such pieces form a complete set. A domino is used in a variety of games played with other players by matching the ends of adjacent tiles and laying them down in lines and angular patterns.
Dominoes are often arranged in a line or a row to form pictures, walls, or 3-D structures like towers and pyramids. When these dominos are positioned in a careful sequence, the nudge of just one domino can cause thousands of others to fall over—a spectacle that is often the subject of public displays and competitions.
In the world of domino, there are two main types of games: blocking games and scoring games. In blocking games, the goal is to empty a player’s hand while blocking the opponent’s; in scoring games, the goal is to make a chain with open ends that reach a specified number—often 61, although other numbers can be used.
The order of play in a domino game begins with the stock, or collection of unplayed tiles, being shuffled and dealt to each player. The first player to draw a tile makes the first play. If there is a tie for the first play, the tie is broken by drawing new dominoes from the stock. The next player to draw a domino continues the play, and so on, with each player choosing a tile according to the rules of the particular game being played.
After a player plays his or her first tile, the rest of the tiles must be placed in an appropriate manner. A single is always played lengthwise, while a double—also known as a spinner—is placed cross-ways. In some games, a player may be able to buy a double from the stock by adding one of its matching ends to his or her existing line of play. The purchase must be done before the next player plays a tile, and it is generally agreed that a purchased domino cannot be played until it is a complete end of the line of play.
As a domino is added to the line of play, its potential energy becomes kinetic energy, which is the energy that drives it forward. This energy is transmitted to the dominoes adjacent to it until they are all at their tipping point. Then, a tiny nudge from one domino can send them all over the table. These domino effects are a visual treat, but they are also a metaphor for how narrative works. A scene domino is inert by itself, but when positioned in a careful sequence with other scenes, it can give a story momentum. In fact, when Hevesh builds her mind-blowing domino installations—and she has helped set a world record for the largest amount of dominoes toppled in a circle—she follows something similar to the engineering-design process.