A domino is a small rectangular block with one side bearing an arrangement of dots, like those on dice, and the other blank or identically patterned. Dominoes are usually twice as long as they are wide, making them easier to re-stack after use. The identifying mark on each side is called a pip; the number of dots indicates its value, which may range from six to zero. The values of the two matching sides determine how a domino is placed in a chain. Dominoes come in many different varieties and have been used for centuries to play a variety of games.
As a child, Hevesh spent hours lining up dominoes in long rows. As she grew older, her interest in dominoes remained strong, and at age 10 she began to post videos on YouTube showing her domino creations. As of this writing, her Hevesh5 channel has more than 2 million subscribers. Hevesh creates intricate domino setups for movies, TV shows and events, and her largest creations take several nail-biting minutes to fall.
While she is working on a project, Hevesh films each part of the domino setup in slow motion, which allows her to make precise corrections as needed. She then assembles the sections, starting with the larger 3-D structures. She then adds flat arrangements and finally lines of dominoes that connect all the sections together.
For most domino players, the thrill of a game is not in tipping over each individual domino one by one but in watching the entire chain reaction develop before your eyes. The same principle applies to writing fiction. Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or carefully plan every plot beat, considering the domino effect will help you to create a compelling story.
When playing domino, it is important to play on a hard surface, as the pips can slide and fall off. Moreover, it is best to play on a tabletop with square edges, as this helps to ensure that the dominoes will not become unbalanced. The size of a domino is also important; a small domino is easier to place and harder to knock over than a large one.
Dominoes are often used to teach basic counting and math skills, and many children learn to count the pips on a domino while playing. In addition, many domino games are played to learn the principles of strategy and physics. A good player can minimize the number of turns needed to win a game by strategically placing his or her tiles.
Dominoes can be used to build artistic designs, such as straight lines or curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures such as towers and pyramids. They can be arranged in flat rows, or they can be stacked up to create walls of dominoes that can be knocked down. For those interested in creating domino art, it is helpful to draw a diagram of your design before beginning. This will help you to calculate how many dominoes you need and can be a fun way to pass the time.