A domino is a tile or block of wood or plastic, with one side bearing an arrangement of spots or pips similar to those on a die and the other blank. It is used in games to score points or create a pattern. You may also use it as a toy or for decoration.
Dominoes are often arranged in long lines, and when the first domino is tipped over it triggers a chain reaction that causes other dominoes to tip over. This sequence continues until all the dominoes are on the ground. This is called a domino rally and it is fun to watch. Dominoes are also used to create art and can be stacked into 3D structures like walls or pyramids. Artists that create elaborate designs with dominoes are known as domino artists. Watch a video of a domino artist in action below!
Most people are familiar with the simple game of domino, but there are many other types of domino games that can be played. There are layout games, scoring games, and blocking games. A domino set typically contains 28 tiles, though larger sets exist for games that involve more players. Some sets are made from a natural material such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, or a dark hardwood such as ebony. Other materials include marble, granite, soapstone, metals, and ceramic clay.
The most common type of domino game is layout. In a layout game, the player takes turns placing one tile onto the domino surface and then determining where to place it in relation to other tiles. A domino has a matching end to another tile and can be placed perpendicular to it or parallel to it, but must be placed within one space of the edge of the previous tile. Dominoes can be laid down in a straight line or into a curved pattern. When a domino is placed to a double, the domino must be positioned so that the two matching ends touch and do not overlap.
If a player has a full hand of dominoes, he or she scores points by counting the number of pips on opposing tiles. Most dominoes have a suit of numbers such as 6, 12, or 14, and some have suits of blanks or zero. The player that scores the most points over a set number of rounds wins.
Domino is also a term that describes a situation in which a small change initiates a series of reactions that ultimately affect other areas of a person’s life. This is sometimes referred to as the “Domino Effect.” One example of this is when someone begins making their bed each day. This simple habit can lead to a new self-image that results in other positive changes.
The domino effect can also be applied to business and marketing. For example, when a company like Domino’s Pizza (DDP) repositions itself to compete against third-party food delivery services, such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, it can see a rapid increase in customer retention and market share.