Domino is a game in which players score points by laying tiles down on a board and connecting them with adjacent ones. It is a game that helps develop strategic thinking, counting, and matching skills simultaneously. It is also a fun way to spend time with family and friends and can help improve concentration and focus. The word Domino can refer to a variety of games and activities, but it is most commonly associated with the game of dominoes, which was first popularized in the US by Antoine Fats, an American rhythm-and-blues pianist, singer, and composer who died on June 27, 2017 at age 88.
The individual pieces of a domino set, which may be called bones, cards, men, or tiles, are normally twice as long as they are wide and bear from one to six pips or dots on each end. They are arranged in a rectangular grid and a domino set usually contains 28 tiles. Each domino has a value indicated by the number of pips on its two open ends, and this value is used to determine the player’s turn order and his or her scoring options.
While some of the most popular domino games involve blocking other players, others are played by accumulating scores and attempting to build chains of tiles. There are also some domino games that can be used to teach basic arithmetic skills and patterns. The game is a great way to bring families together and teaches children strategy, math, and social skills while being fun for everyone.
Domino also is the name of a large pizza chain, founded in 1984 by entrepreneur Tom Monaghan and his brother Paul, which is now one of the world’s leading pizza companies. The company’s name is a portmanteau of the Italian words for “flavour” and “large,” reflecting the founders’ vision to offer quality food at a reasonable price.
Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Juan, who wanted to know, “What is a Domino effect?”
A domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block with a divided face, each side bearing either blank or a number of pips (or dots). A complete domino set contains 28 tiles, and each domino has a value indicated by the numbers on its two open ends. The most common domino is a double-six set, but other sets may be used for different games.
In dominoes, the goal is to be the first player to lay all of your tiles down in a line or angular pattern. The number of sides on each tile can vary from three to ten, depending on the type of domino and the house rules.
A classic domino game involves a double-six set and two players. Each player draws seven tiles from the stock (also known as the boneyard) on their turn and then places them, on-edge, in front of them. The next player then lays a tile joining the two open ends of the domino, and so on. A player may choose to draw more tiles from the boneyard if he or she cannot match an existing tile.