Domino – A Game of Skill, Luck, Strategy and Chance
Domino (also dominoes and dominó) is a game of skill, luck, strategy and chance played by two or more people. The game involves placing small rectangular blocks of wood or plastic called tiles, and arranging them in lines or a pattern to form an asymmetrical design that is then knocked over by other dominoes positioned around it. The game has many variations, each based on the arrangement of pips or dots on dominoes, and the rules for scoring and winning.
Domino is usually played by drawing and placing dominoes on a large table before the players, who then try to build chains of tiles, with each tile touching one end of the previous domino. The first player to complete a chain wins the round and may award points equal to the number of pips on opposing players’ tiles, depending on the rules agreed upon by the players. Double-blank tiles often count as zero, while ones that show a number at both ends, such as six or twelve, typically count as one or two.
The word “domino” was derived from a Latin term for “little one.” A domino is a small, flat, thumb-sized rectangular block the face of which is divided into parts bearing from one to six pips or dots; 28 such pieces comprise a complete set. Earlier, the word denoted a long hooded robe worn together with an eye mask at a masquerade or carnival season.
Hevesh’s domino designs can be as simple or complex as her clients want them to be – straight lines, curved lines that create pictures or grids, 3-D structures like towers and pyramids. She starts by considering the theme or purpose of the installation, brainstorming images and words that might inspire her. She then plans out a layout on paper, using a ruler to draw arrows that indicate the way she wants the dominoes to fall. She also makes test versions of each section before putting it all together.
Dominoes can be made from a wide variety of materials, but traditionally sets are made of ivory or a dark wood such as ebony with a black or white inlaid finish. More recently, dominoes have been made from alternative materials such as stone (especially marble, granite and soapstone); metals (including brass and pewter); glazed ceramic clay; or wood composites. These sets can be much heavier than traditional polymer sets. They are often more expensive, and have a more elegant appearance. Some European-style dominoes are made of silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), bone, or other natural materials and can be very elaborate in their design. In addition to being more beautiful, these sets can be very functional. Many of them are designed to be functionally identical to playing cards and may be used in various card games. They are sometimes called “card dominoes.” They can be very useful to poker players who have lost track of their cards, as they allow them to keep a record on the table without having to write down all the information.