In the popular game of domino, players place small rectangular pieces (called dominoes) on end in long lines. When the first domino is tipped over, it triggers the rest of the line to tip as well, and so on. Many different games can be played with dominoes, and children enjoy lining them up in long rows to see if they can create interesting shapes.

Dominoes are cousins of playing cards, and like those card pieces, they allow for a variety of different types of games. They also provide an opportunity for math practice. The markings on the faces of each domino, called pips, originally represented the results of throwing two six-sided dice.

While dominoes are most commonly used to build a chain reaction of events that eventually leads to the domino falling over, they can also be used to illustrate how simple actions often have much greater-and sometimes catastrophic-consequences. The concept is similar to the “domino effect,” a term coined by Admiral William H. McRaven in his 2014 commencement speech to University of Texas graduates. McRaven advised students to be kinder to one another and never lose sight of their values. His advice was based on the principle that the smallest act, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can have profound effects.

In business, the idea of a domino effect is often used to describe how one success builds on previous successes. For example, a company that opens new stores in an area is said to have the “domino effect.” This strategy was employed by Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, who opened his first franchise location in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1967. He grew his company by focusing on strategically placing Domino’s Pizza locations near college campuses, where customers would be most likely to order pizza.

A domino effect is also a useful writing tool in fiction and nonfiction. Throughout a story, a writer can use scene dominoes to illustrate how one scene naturally influences the next. A domino effect can help a writer keep their plots logically connected and ensure that the emotional beats of each scene follow an appropriate sequence.

Dominoes are a familiar sight in most homes, and children love to play with them. They enjoy lining them up in long rows and then knocking them over. In fact, some children even compete in domino competitions.

For adults, however, the best way to get the most out of dominoes is to play some of the many games that can be played with them. Many of these games require calculation and strategy, and some of them can be quite challenging.

Whether you prefer to block or score, there is sure to be a domino game that is right for you. So, go ahead and try one of them out! Just make sure to watch out for that last domino – it can be very hard to stop the chain reaction.