A domino is a flat thumb-sized rectangular block, bearing an arrangement of dots or spots on one face, and blank or identically patterned on the other, with from zero to six of these markings making up a complete set. It is also the name of various games played with such blocks, typically by laying them down in lines or angular patterns. Dominoes are made of clay or wood, and they can be painted or engraved. Nick, who wanted to do something creative with wood, came up with a design for a domino using a piece of old pallet that was lying around his workshop. He didn’t have any plans or instructions, but was able to use his imagination and the tools in his grandmother’s garage. Using a drill press, radial arm saw, scroll saw, belt sander and welder he was able to create a very unique looking domino.
Although he wasn’t the first to do so, the way Nick constructed his domino was unique and innovative. The method he used to make the domino is one that can be easily replicated by amateur craftsman. This is the type of product that could have been manufactured by a large woodworking company but was done in Nick’s garage for a fraction of what it would cost to have it manufactured.
While the main game of domino is played by blocking and scoring, there are many other variations of the game. For example, a variant known as the Draw game is popular in many parts of the world. In this variation, each player starts with a different number of dominoes (two players start with seven tiles, three players begin with five and four, etc.). The first player plays a doublet, followed by adjacent dominoes of the same value until the cross of a square is formed. From this point on, every play must be played against a domino that has a matching value on the opposite side.
Another common game of domino is called the Matching game. In this game, each player draws a number of tiles (the amount is agreed upon at the beginning of the game). The first player then takes turns placing a single domino onto the table, ensuring that it matches the value on the end of the existing chain of tiles. This continues until the entire line of dominoes has been laid, or a player can’t continue.
One of the most interesting aspects of a domino is that even when they are stacked on end in long lines, they can still be knocked over. This is because the dominoes have inertia, a property that causes them to resist movement until a force of some kind is exerted on them. The slightest nudge is enough to tip a domino over, and when that happens, all the potential energy stored in that first domino is released in a cascade of movement. This is the domino effect, which has also been seen in real life events such as avalanches and nuclear disasters.
