Dominoes have long been a popular pastime, with millions of people playing the game at home and in public. In many cultures, domino is a symbol of camaraderie and unity because it connects across language barriers. The game is often used to teach children mathematics and social skills, as well as the value of cooperation and teamwork.
In a traditional set of dominoes, each tile has a number of dots (called pips) that mark its value, from six pips on the side with the most pips to blank or none if the domino is unmarked. Each domino is double-sided to make it easier to re-stack after use. A domino with no pips is sometimes called a bone or a card.
Depending on the type of game being played, dominoes are joined in a line of play that extends either lengthwise or crosswise. The player who begins a line of play is known as the setter, the downer or the lead. The player who plays his first domino is then in turn called the player or the catcher. The player who makes a mistake in laying a domino may be called out of turn or must recall his play, depending on the rules of the game.
To keep a game going, a player must have all the tiles in his hand that he is eligible to lay. If he does not, the player must “chip out,” or lose the game. The winning players are those whose partners have the least combined total of all the pips on their remaining pieces.
The center of gravity of a domino is relatively high, meaning that only a small amount of force is required to tip it forward and cause it to fall over. This is why the game is so easy to play, and also why it can be so hard to master.
Dominoes can be made from a variety of materials, including metals and ceramic clay. They can be painted or stained, but most modern sets are plastic-based to save money and resources. Natural-material sets are often more expensive but offer a unique look. Traditionally, European-style dominoes have been made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl) or ivory, with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on the surface.
For the most spectacular displays, Hevesh creates 3-D arrangements with hundreds or even thousands of dominoes, and then sets them up to tumble according to the laws of physics. She starts each project by brainstorming images or words, and then planning out how to arrange the dominoes to create her desired effect. Hevesh then tests each section of her creation before assembling the entire installation. Some of the largest installations can take several nail-biting minutes to fully topple. Her YouTube channel, Hevesh5, has more than 2 million subscribers who watch her impressive work. Hevesh has created displays for movies, TV shows and events — including an album launch for Katy Perry — and she holds the Guinness World Record for the most dominoes toppled in a circular arrangement: 76,017.