Domino is a small rectangular wood or plastic block that is used to play games of chance and skill. Also called bones, men, or tiles, the domino has one side with an arrangement of dots resembling those on dice, and the other side is blank or identically patterned. The identifying marks on a domino are called pips and range from six pips to none or a blank. A set of dominoes contains 28 pieces: seven doubles (the same number on both ends from a double blank to a double six) and 21 singles.
Like playing cards, the pieces can be arranged on a table in long lines to form patterns or a matrix of numbers. By tipping the first domino, it can cause the next piece to tip over and so on until the entire set falls down. This phenomenon led to the term domino effect, referring to the way in which one action can trigger subsequent events with greater-than-expected consequences.
The name Domino has a sense of authority and leadership associated with it, which makes it an appealing choice for businesses, organizations, and products that seek to convey a sense of expertise and mastery. It is also a common given name, imparting a strong sense of power and confidence.
In business, the company Domino’s Pizza has built a reputation for excellent customer service, and its leadership structure has a strong focus on employee development and training. The company has also emphasized innovation, including a new delivery system that uses specialized trucks designed to navigate city streets and narrow alleyways. The company has also partnered with Uber on a pilot program that will allow customers to order and pay for their food via smartphone app.
For many people, domino is a fun family activity that can be enjoyed with children or friends. There are countless games that can be played with a domino set, and there are also many ways to make the game more challenging and exciting. The most popular way to play is with two players. Each player draws five dominoes and sets them up so that the others cannot see them. The game then begins, and players take turns placing their dominoes in the proper place so that they match up with the other players’ pieces. The first person to play all of his or her dominoes wins.
Other games use different methods to score points, such as bergen and muggins, which determine points by counting the number of pips in each losing player’s hand. Still other games, such as chicken foot, Mexican train, and matador, involve blocking opponents’ play. Some dominoes even duplicate the cards of a deck of playing cards, and they are often used as educational tools to help children learn numbers. A book that contains the rules for a wide variety of domino games is available in most libraries. In addition, there are numerous websites devoted to teaching the rules for domino games.