Domino is an ancient Egyptian board game of chance, skill and strategy played with special dice-like objects called sekhems – or “sekhems of the gods.”
A domino has a rectangular top surface which is marked with an arrangement of dots known as pip, similar to those on a die. These pips are organized in two rows of eight with the center row always remaining blank; these dots give each domino its identity and determine its playability; the exact rules vary between games.
Most domino games require at least one player to participate, though teams of two players can compete as well. A winning partnership is determined by comparing total spots on remaining tiles in both players’ remaining sets; play ends either when either player can no longer make moves or when their total value of remaining tiles reaches zero; should either partner be unable to continue, they may “chip out” (play their last domino and pass play on) by “chipping out” their remaining domino and passing to their other partner.
As soon as a domino is set down, it becomes the start of an extraordinary chain reaction. At first, all other dominoes remain motionless until prompted by an outside force to move. That nudge causes one domino to pass its tipping point and gain enough potential energy to start pushing on other dominoes with similar speed as its source axon axon impulse travels along its trajectory to its conclusion axon impulses travel back from source to endpoint of chain reactions like those created by neuron firing neuron impulses along axons from source to endpoint of chain reactions like fire axon impulses do axon impulses travel at constant speed from source to endpoint of its axon impulse from source to end point of its axon; until an external force provides something similar; usually through which one domino initiates yet another chain reaction occurs with no apparent source point for starting sequence of dominoes being nudged from an external force (nudge from outside force). At that momentary tipping point passes its tipping point and becomes potential energy to push on other dominoes similar to when firing neurons fire their impulse travel at constant speed from source all the way along its axon; much like firing neurons firing neurons firing neurons’ impulse travel across its axon terminal endpoint.
Lily Hevesh is an artist known for creating large, intricate domino installations – such as her 15-color spiral. Having worked with dominoes for more than 30 years, she possesses an in-depth knowledge of their forces that affect how they fall.
Hevesh uses fractions to help determine how many dominoes she requires for each line in her spiral design project, for instance when planning a 24″ spiral. Furthermore, fractions enable her to divide out how many she requires per color installation in her project.
When making a play, an open end of one tile must touch the closed end of its predecessor – this action is known as setting, downing or leading. After which the domino must be laid square on the table with all tiles from its adjacent line of play touched.
A domino tile may be played in any direction if it fits its size for that particular line of play. Most domino games adhere to this basic rule; however, some use other rules which deviate from it, such as counting pips from losing tiles (even doubles!) to determine who wins; but most popular domino games abide by this fundamental tenet.
