A domino is a small rectangular block used as a gaming piece. It features a central line or ridge to divide the domino into two squares. The dividing line may be either vertical or horizontal. Each of the squares is marked with an arrangement of dots, like those on a die, but some squares are blank or identically patterned on both sides. These dots are called pips, and the sum of all the pips on a domino is its rank or weight (see below).
Dominoes can be made from a variety of materials including bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory, wood, and even acrylic glass. In addition, they are sometimes painted or stained. European-style domino sets are normally made of a material with a high-quality finish, such as ivory or ebony with contrasting black pips. Other sets are made of natural materials such as marble, granite, or soapstone; other types of wood; metals, such as brass and pewter; ceramic clay; and frosted glass. In general, dominoes are twice as long as they are wide.
Although there are many different games played with dominoes, most fall into one of four categories: bidding games, blocking games, scoring games, and round games. There are also a number of domino games that are adaptations of card games and were once popular in some areas to circumvent religious proscriptions against playing cards.
While most domino games are played by two or more players, they can be enjoyed solo as well. For example, a person can use a domino set to construct a domino maze.
In order to win a game of dominoes, it is important to know the rules. The most basic rule is that the player must play all of his or her tiles before any other player can play. This is known as the principle of priority and is a key to success in most domino games.
The most common way to play dominoes is in positional games, where each player in turn places a domino edge-to-edge against another in such a way that the adjacent faces match or form some specified total value. This type of game is most popular in the United States, but many other countries have their own unique variations of positional domino play.
Another key aspect of Domino is to focus on the most important task at hand and to remain at it until completion. This approach to work is embodied in the corporate slogan, “Deliver with Passion.”
Technology is a critical component of Domino’s business model, and it has transformed how customers order their pizzas (via the mobile app, Facebook, Twitter, or by texting an emoji); how they monitor the status of their delivery; and how Domino’s delivers its products. In fact, half of the workers at Domino’s headquarters are in software analytics, and the company has been a leader in developing new ways for customers to communicate with their local stores.