Domino, like dice and playing cards, is one of the oldest tools for game play. They allow people of all ages to engage in games that are both challenging and rewarding. Dominoes are recognizable by the markings, or pips, that are on each half of the domino’s face. These pips were originally the results of throwing two six-sided dice and are now used to represent numbers. Some dominoes have the same number of pips on each half of their faces and are called singles, while others have different numbers of pips on each half of their face and are called doublets.
The most common way that people use dominoes is to stack them on end in long lines and then knock over the first domino. This causes the rest of the dominoes in the line to tip over, creating very elaborate and complex designs. This is the origin of the phrase “the domino effect,” which refers to a chain reaction that starts small and quickly grows to become much larger than anyone could have imagined.
Dominoes also have inertia, which means that they will stay right where they are until someone moves them. This is the same principle that leads to the falling of a house of dominoes when the slightest nudge will cause it to topple over. This is why Hevesh carefully tests each section of her creations, even the largest 3-D sections. She films the tests in slow motion so that she can see precisely how each piece works.
Hevesh’s work can be dangerous, especially when she creates her larger pieces. Thousands of dominoes can weigh down on the floor or table and create a dangerous situation. In order to keep herself and her audience safe, Hevesh takes extreme care not to place the dominoes too close together or in a position where they might fall on them.
The art of building a domino structure requires an enormous amount of practice. Hevesh uses test dominoes to make sure that her larger installations will work properly, and she carefully tries to find the best places for them to be placed before starting to put them up on the wall. She also takes special care to keep each piece in its proper place so that it won’t move until she is ready for it to move.
Many different games can be played with a domino set, including blocking and scoring games. Blocking games, such as bergen and muggins, require the player to empty their hand before their opponents can play. Scoring games, such as dominoing and Mexican train, score points by counting the total number of pips on each end of the exposed domino.
Dominoes are usually made of wood or other natural materials, such as silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory or ebony, with contrasting black pips. Some sets are also made of other materials, such as stone, to provide a more unique look and feel. Those made from natural materials are more expensive than those made of polymer, but they offer a greater level of quality and are typically heavier in weight.