Dominos are small rectangular blocks of wood or plastic, each bearing a pattern of dots resembling those on dice. They are played with one hand and are usually stacked on a domino table, though they can also be played on a flat surface or in a box. A domino has a printed identity on one side and is blank or identically patterned on the other.

A domino may have any number of pips, but the most common are singles and doubles. A set of dominoes may have a variety of colors, but most are white or ivory with a black background. Dominos are commonly made from polymer, but sets have been produced from a wide range of materials including silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), bone, ivory, ebony, and a variety of other hardwoods.

Most domino games have specific rules governing their play and scoring. The basic rule for most is that the player who makes a play, or “takes” his turn, must place the next tile on the domino table in such a way that it touches the end of a previously played tile, creating a chain of tiles called a domino line or a domino rail. The chain of tiles must continue to grow in length as each tile is placed and touched by the next. The first tile is called the start or acess tile and the last tile, or the faller, is known as the tail or ender.

Players often compete to create the most elaborate domino chains before an audience of spectators in a domino show or competition. This can involve hundreds or thousands of dominoes, set up in careful sequence to topple with the nudge of just one. These elaborate chain reactions are referred to as domino effects and are a key element of the entertainment value of many domino shows.

Each player has a hand of seven tiles and a stock, or boneyard, of additional tiles. A double-six set contains 28 tiles, and each player draws a hand of seven from the stock to begin the game. After the initial draw, any excess tiles remain face down in the boneyard and may be passed (See Passing and Byeing) or bought (See Order of Play) by another player later in the game.

In writing, the concept of a domino effect can be used to describe any action that triggers a series of consequences, like a series of falling dominoes. Similarly, if you want to create a dramatic or suspenseful scene, it is important to plot out the domino effect beforehand, so that the scenes that follow the triggering event build tension and momentum. If you are a pantser, or do not plan out the plot of your story in advance, using a tool such as Scrivener can help you weed out scenes that do not advance the action or add to the overall tension of the narrative. A sloppy, unplanned, or inappropriate domino effect can derail the story and reduce reader interest in your work.