A domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block, typically twice as long as it is wide and marked with dots resembling those on dice. A set of these tiles forms a game or other playable structure, often with rules for scoring and blocking the action of opponents. The term is also used for the figurative domino effect, which describes the cascading impact that one activity has on other activities. For example, a soccer team’s victory can lead to dominoes of wins that propel the whole league into state playoffs.

Dominoes are usually arranged on a flat surface, with each tile having one end that is matched to an adjacent piece or part of a larger domino that is already set down. The end of a domino is known as its value, which is usually indicated by the number of spots on each side (also called pips). Dominoes may be set down with any combination of their values, but the most common arrangement is two rows of parallel lines with one domino set at each end of a table.

Many people enjoy playing domino games, which are sometimes referred to as “dice games,” because they involve a certain degree of luck and timing. There are many different games, from simple ones to more complex, strategic affairs. Some are designed to be played with one player, while others are designed for multiple players.

A popular game is a domino rally, in which each player attempts to build a line of tiles that connects from their own tile to the last domino. The first player begins by placing their tile in the center of the domino rally, matching its end to a spot on one of the other players’ tiles. When a player can’t continue to place their tiles on the line, they must draw a domino from unused tiles.

The word domino is also used in a figurative sense to refer to the impact that one event or situation has on another, as when it is said that a country is expected to respond politically to events in other countries, such as the U.S.’s increasing support of the Ngo Dinh Diem regime in South Vietnam in 1961-62 and its support for non-communist forces in Laos in 1963.

Whether she’s setting up 300,000 dominoes or a simple circle of 10 of them, Hevesh uses science to guide her creations. She says that the most important factor is gravity, which pulls a knocked-over domino toward Earth and causes it to trigger other dominoes in the process.

For a writer, this can be an important concept to consider. Rather than attempting to do everything all at once, it’s often better to focus on a few good dominoes that can have an effect in the long run. These are tasks that may be difficult or take a significant amount of time to complete, but that will eventually help you get where you want to be. For example, working on your finances could be a good domino since it will eventually influence how you manage other areas of your life.