Domino is a type of game board and playing piece. It is a rectangular block that has a number of pips (spots) on one side and is blank or identically patterned on the other. Each domino is also marked with a line or ridge that separates it into two squares. Dominoes are usually made of a material such as wood or plastic. In addition to being used for gaming, they are also a popular toy that children use to make elaborate designs by stacking them on end in long lines. If the first domino is knocked over, it causes the next domino in the row to tip, and so on, until all the dominoes have fallen. This is what gives rise to the phrase “domino effect,” which means that one event can cause a chain reaction of events that leads to greater–and sometimes even catastrophic–consequences.
Domino also refers to a leadership style. The company Domino’s Pizza, for example, has a strong leadership structure, and their CEO often works directly with employees. The show Undercover Boss is a great example of this, as the CEO of Domino’s sends himself out to work in several different restaurants and delivery services. He analyzes how the employees work and talks to them about their issues and concerns. He is able to implement changes based on his observations, which helps him keep the business running smoothly.
The name Domino is derived from an Italian word meaning “little domino.” In the English language, it was originally a term for a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. It later came to refer to the domino game, which originated in France in the mid-18th century.
Throughout history, people have played many games with dominoes, including positional and scoring games. To play a positional game, each player in turn places a domino edge to edge against another such that the exposed ends match (i.e., one’s touch aces and two’s touch three’s). The resulting lines of overlapping pieces are then counted to determine points.
Most domino games are played with at least two players, and the goal is to empty one’s hand before the other player. Each player then draws seven dominoes for his or her hand. The remaining dominoes, called the boneyard, are left face down to be drawn later if a player cannot play from his or her hand.
There are many types of domino games, from the simple to the complex. Some involve drawing from the boneyard to determine who gets to play first, while others involve blocking opponents’ plays and counting pips. Some games are won by the first player to completely fill in all of his or her dominoes. Still other games have a set score, such as bergen and muggins, that is awarded to the first player to reach that point. Regardless of the rules and scoring, the most important thing to remember when playing dominoes is that it is a game of choice.