The Rules of Domino
Domino is a game that requires concentration and timing. It is also a form of art where each player makes a personal design that builds into a chain of dominoes, some of which will fall. Some of the pieces are even arranged into shapes like curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Hevesh, an artist who creates such displays for movies, TV shows, and events, has built some of the largest domino chains in the world. The most complex ones take several nail-biting minutes to fall, and the result is a stunning visual display that thrills audiences.
Each domino has a pattern of spots or markings on one side, and is blank or identically patterned on the other. This pattern of spots is called the dominos’ identity, and it determines the rules that govern how each domino can be played. There are many different games that can be played with a set of dominoes, and the specific rules will vary according to the particular game.
The way a domino is placed determines its place in the chain and the number of points it is awarded for scoring. Usually, the first tile to be played must match and touch an open end of the previous domino. If the tile is a double, the matching ends must be adjacent, and they may either be joined in the middle or perpendicular to each other across the end of the line of play. Once a domino has been touched, all other tiles must be placed to form a chain.
When a player can no longer make a play, he or she “knocks” the table to end the hand and pass the turn to the next person. Occasionally, it can happen that no one is able to continue playing and the game ends in a draw. In such cases, the winner is determined by comparing the combined total of the remaining spots on each losing player’s dominoes. If the count is higher on one player, that player is declared the winner.
Some players choose to use a scoring method that does not consider the value of any doubles in the chain, but only counts the total of all individual spots. This scoring method is popular among some tournament players. The scoring method of a game is usually written in the rule book.
In the chemical process industry, domino effects are analyzed by studying accident scenarios that occurred when these effects were present. The study of these accidents provides valuable insight into such factors as common domino events, sequences that are more likely to occur, and substances that are easily influenced by the Domino effect. It is important that such analyses are performed and that the results be compared to the safety standards of European regulations.