How to Make a Domino Display

A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block, with one face blank and the other marked by dots resembling those on dice. A domino set contains these tiles in various colors and sizes, along with a set of rules that govern how they are played. The word may also refer to a game played with these tiles, or to a person who sets out to create complex displays of them.

While some people set out to make domino displays, others simply play the games. The number of dominoes a player is allowed to take in the course of a hand or game, and how they are counted to determine winners, vary according to the rules of each particular game.

As a result, there are many different kinds of domino games, although most share certain basic elements: A game begins when players draw the number of dominoes they are permitted to take from the stock, and then arrange them in front of themselves in an arrangement that is legal under the rules of the particular game being played. Each player then places his or her first domino onto the table, usually by putting it on top of an already-played tile. The player then plays his or her next domino, or “knocks” it down, by placing it on an open end of a preceding tile that has the same color and number of pips.

In some games, players may bye (take) additional tiles from the stock if they can place them legally on an existing domino, but this is not required. After each player has placed his or her dominoes, play continues until a single player cannot continue. The winner of the game is then determined, and the winner’s winning score is recorded. Alternatively, some games allow for a tie, in which case a new round of play is begun by drawing lots to decide who will make the first play.

Hevesh says that one physical phenomenon is most important to a good domino setup: gravity. When a domino is knocked over, it stores up potential energy, and this energy causes it to crash into the next domino in a cascade that eventually leads to its destruction.

Hevesh has created several spectacular domino displays, including a giant chessboard and a circular pattern that was once the Guinness World Record holder for most dominoes in a chain reaction. She works on her projects in sections, and she makes test versions of each section before assembling them together. This allows her to make adjustments if the pieces aren’t falling in exactly the right way. She also films each test, so that she can review it in slow motion and make sure everything is working as intended. This process is crucial, because her best work requires precise timing to pull off. Without it, a domino display could look unfinished or amateurish. It also takes some patience, because she can spend hours just waiting for the first dominoes to fall.