Domino is a family of games in which players arrange dominoes on end, or “tiles,” in long lines. If the pieces are properly spaced, each domino will tip over its neighbor, creating a chain reaction that continues until all the tiles topple over. The result can be a simple straight line, a grid that forms a picture or shapes, or a 3-D structure such as a pyramid or tower.
Dominoes are often used as toys for children, who enjoy stacking the tiles on end and then arranging them to form designs. Some of these designs involve intricate patterns or chains that connect the pieces. Others are merely random, such as lines of dominoes that run the length of a board. Many dominoes are made from plastic, but some are manufactured from wood or even stone. Some are even decorated with different colors and shapes.
Most domino games require players to empty their hand before another player can play a tile. Games of scoring, such as bergen and muggins, determine points by counting the pips (spots) on the losing player’s dominoes. Blocking games, such as matador and chicken foot, also exist. Some of these games duplicate card games, helping teach number recognition and counting skills.
One of the most popular games for two players involves an opening double, sometimes called an “opening bid.” Players then pick a domino from their hands to play, attempting to match the highest domino in their opponent’s hand. The first player to play a domino with the same amount of pips as the opening bid wins the hand.
In addition to the usual blocking and scoring games, dominoes can be used in elaborate artistic displays, as a way to practice engineering and math skills, or simply to create an impressive spectacle. Some of these displays are even competitions, in which builders try to create the most complex and imaginative domino effect or reaction before an audience of fans.
Hevesh has a unique approach to domino design, testing each section of her creations before putting them all together. For example, she might make test versions of each big 3D section of the display, before putting it all together to see how the dominoes fit together and how they move when the display is set up on a flat surface.
As a child, Hevesh was fascinated by the domino effect and often saw how one little action could have much greater consequences. She now uses her knowledge of how dominoes work to create spectacular artistic displays that are also educational.
The power of a domino effect is best illustrated by watching how an unmoving domino can be brought to its tipping point with just a tiny nudge. This is because dominoes have inertia, a tendency to resist motion, until the force of an outside force is applied. Once that happens, the potential energy stored in the domino is released, and it’s as if a giant domino springs to life.