Dominoes are black and white blocks that some people like to line up in long rows. Others enjoy putting them together in 3-D structures that make cool patterns when they fall over. Whether you prefer to play dominoes or create art with them, it’s important to understand what makes the pieces work together so that your finished project is flawless.

In today’s Wonder of the Day, we’ll learn more about this fascinating concept.

A domino is a small rectangular block, thumb-sized, with the face divided into two parts, each bearing from one to six pips or dots (the value of a particular side is called its rank) and 28 such tiles form a complete set. Also known as bones, cards, men, or pieces, they are normally twice as long as they are wide. Each has a central line that divides it visually into squares, each of which may be blank or marked by numbers. The number of pips on each side gives the rank of the tile; the number of blank sides makes it the “blank” piece, sometimes called a wild domino or a “0.”

There are many games that can be played with these small blocks, most of which involve matching the ranks of the ends of a series of tiles or laying them down in lines and angular patterns. Some are blocking games, in which you try to prevent other players from making a move; others are scoring games, in which you aim to win points by completing a chain of dominoes of varying sizes before your opponent.

In the 1970s, Richard Nixon used the term domino theory to defend his policy of destabilizing Communist Chile and Cuba, arguing that a communist Chile would “make a red sandwich” of Cuba and the United States in Latin America. Victor Cha argues that the same logic can be applied to international politics as a means of analyzing a country’s intentions toward its neighbors.

Hevesh’s domino art is both beautiful and complex. She carefully tests each piece to ensure it works properly. She then builds her final installations in a step-by-step process, starting with the largest, flat sections and then adding lines of dominoes that connect each section to the rest. To avoid mistakes, she often films her processes in slow motion to make it easier to correct any errors.

The best part of this article, however, is the fact that Hevesh’s principles can be applied to writing. Whether you compose your manuscript off the cuff or take your time with a careful outline, determining what will happen next is a vital aspect of any plot. Using the Domino Theory can help you build a strong, compelling plot that will keep readers engaged.