Domino is a game that involves arranging tiles on their edge in long lines. When the first domino in a line is knocked over, it triggers the other dominoes to tip over in turn until they have all fallen. Many different games can be played using this basic concept. The term domino also has a more figurative meaning, where it refers to a series of events that start with one small trigger and then spread like a chain. This idea is often used in political discussion, as was the case when President Eisenhower described America’s decision to offer aid to South Vietnam as the first domino that would lead to Communism spreading throughout the country and eventually the world.
Dominoes are typically made of rectangular blocks that have a smooth surface and are marked with an arrangement of dots, called pips, on one side. The other side of the domino is blank or patterned identically to the pips on the face. The number of pips on a particular domino determines what kind of game can be played with it. The most common domino game is called a draw game, in which each player draws seven tiles from the stock and places them in front of him or her. The pips on the tiles are then used to score points in various ways. The winning player is the one with the most points when all of the opponent’s tiles have been played.
Other domino games require players to build structures by placing the tiles in different positions and then knocking them over. Some of these games, such as matador and Mexican train, involve blocking the opponent’s play while others have a scoring system that counts the number of pips in the losing player’s hand.
As the popularity of domino increased, people began to use the word in a more figurative sense to describe a series of events that start with one cause and then spread like a chain. A domino effect can occur in a business, a classroom, or a family, where one person’s behavior affects everyone around them. The idea of a domino effect is often used in politics, and it is particularly effective when discussing international events such as wars and revolutions.
In writing, the domino effect is a way of building plot and creating tension. Whether the writer composes his or her manuscript off the cuff or spends weeks outlining it, a story is nothing without its reaction, and plotting the reactions of characters to their actions is a major part of the craft. The best writers understand that a domino effect can be both dramatic and exciting. In fact, a successful plot relies on it to move the reader along and keep him or her engaged in the narrative.