Dominoes are a popular game piece that can be used in a variety of ways. Many people enjoy stacking them on end in long lines and then letting them fall. Others like to use them to make intricate designs. They are also used in games where players try to empty their hands of them before their opponents can. Regardless of how they are used, dominoes are a great way to develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

When playing with domino, each player draws a set of tiles. Then, the first player (determined by the drawing of lots or by who holds the heaviest domino) begins the game by placing the first tile on the table. This can be either a double-six or a five-six, depending on the rules of the particular game being played. Then, each player must place a domino edge to edge on top of the previous tile in such a way that the adjacent sides match (e.g., a six-to-six) or form some specified total (e.g., fifty-five). If a player cannot play a domino to do this, he or she “knocks” the table and play passes to the next player.

As the players continue to draw and place dominoes, they can create an intricate pattern on the board. Then, they can also play blocking games in which the goal is to prevent the opponent from laying any more tiles. Finally, there are scoring games in which points are accumulated by counting the number of pips (spots) on a domino.

In the early 18th century, dominoes were introduced in Europe from Italy and France. Originally, domino pieces were ebony black with ivory faces. They were similar to the traditional hooded cloak worn with a mask at a carnival masquerade, and the name probably evoked this image as well. In addition, the word “domino” earlier denoted a cape worn by a priest over his surplice.

The most famous game to be played with domino is a double-twelve or double-nine set of 91 tiles. The winner of this game is the person who has the fewest remaining tiles after the other players have all laid out their entire hands. Alternatively, the winner is the person who places all their remaining tiles in a line across the center of the table.

A second version of this game involves using a smaller set of 55 tiles. This variant is a little more complex, but it is still very enjoyable. This game can be played with two players, or it can be a team game. The game is also a good way to learn the principles of geometry.

The domino effect refers to any sequence of events that lead to much greater, and sometimes catastrophic, consequences than the initial event itself. It’s a good analogy for the way that story plotting works. Whether you are a pantser who writes by the seat of your pants, or a planner who works with an outline program like Scrivener, story plotting is about thinking ahead and anticipating what will happen next.