Domino (also dominoes) is a small rectangular wood or plastic block with one side blank and the other bearing from one to six arranged dots, resembling those on dice, and sometimes also a suit symbol. A complete set consists of 28 such pieces. Dominoes are used for various games in which the players build chains or lines of dominoes by matching adjacent pieces and laying them down. Several kinds of games can be played with dominoes, the most familiar being blocking and scoring.
In the simplest basic game, called the Block game, two players each draw seven tiles from a double-six set; the remainder are not used. The first player plays a domino on the table which starts the line of play, and each subsequent player must extend this line by playing a domino with either one or both of its ends matching an adjacent end of the previous tile. If a player cannot do this, he or she passes. The game is won by a player who has a remaining domino with the highest pip count.
A large number of domino sets are available, including multicolored ones that can be used to make patterns. Some artists and designers create dazzling domino art, arranging them into straight or curved lines and grids that form pictures when they fall, or 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Many of these creations are the product of a collaboration between an artist and a domino expert. The artist designs the domino layout on paper before constructing it with the help of the expert, who assists with placement and timing of each domino in the final piece.
The domino effect refers to the way a single event can trigger a chain reaction of events that results in a dramatic shift in one’s behavior. For example, when Jennifer Dukes Lee began making her bed every day, it resulted in a more neatly-kept home and a change in her overall self-image. Over time, she became more disciplined in other areas of her life and found it easier to maintain these habits.
This concept has been used in the context of writing as a metaphor for how each scene can influence the next, or even the overall direction of a story. It is also used to describe the way that a writer’s work can have an impact on the literary world and beyond, just as the domino effect can affect entire nations.
Another use of the domino effect is the way in which Domino’s Pizza advertises and markets itself. The company uses a unique marketing strategy known as “think global, act local” to promote its products and services. It has built a worldwide network of franchises, which offer delivery and catering services to their customers, in addition to its main business of selling and delivering pizza. It has also developed a range of purpose-built vehicles for pizza delivery and is experimenting with drones. This approach allows Domino’s to deliver its products more quickly and efficiently, thus minimizing costs.