Domino is a popular children’s game where you stack pieces on end in long lines and then knock them over. The first domino to fall starts a chain reaction that continues until all the pieces have fallen over. This is the origin of the phrase “domino effect,” which describes a sequence of events that start small but have much greater–and sometimes catastrophic–consequences.
Dominoes are also used in a number of other games and can be made into very elaborate designs. They are most often made from ivory, bone, or a dark wood such as ebony with black or white spots (inlaid or painted). Occasionally, sets may be constructed from metals, ceramic clay, or frosted glass. The domino game has a long history, and its development is closely related to the rise of the railways in the mid-19th century.
Initially, dominoes were primarily used for playing positional games where one player placed a piece edge to edge against another so that the identifying marks on the face of each tile matched or formed some other specified total. Since the early 20th century, however, dominoes have been adapted for use in other games as well. Today, a wide variety of domino sets are available.
The earliest known dominoes were probably made in Italy and France in the mid-18th century. The defining characteristic of these early sets is that each domino has two square faces, called ends, which are marked with a sequence of numbers or dots. The number of pips on each end determines its value, which is referred to as the domino’s rank or weight. The values of a domino range from six to zero.
A standard double-six set of dominoes consists of 28 tiles. In the most basic version of the game, these are arranged in a row with a “stock” or “boneyard” on the left. Each player draws seven tiles from the stock and places them in front of him or her. Depending on the game, some of these tiles are left in the stock as deadwood for later use, while others may be matched to other pieces.
In this way, each player tries to form chains of dominoes that reach across the table. When all the tiles have been matched, each player counts his or her score, which is determined by multiplying the number of dominoes in an opponent’s hand by the number of dots on each end of the matching pieces.
Domino’s success stemmed in large part from its ability to deliver hot pizza to its customers quickly. This was made possible in part by the company’s emphasis on innovation. During the 1990s, the company developed a cutting-edge ordering and delivery technology that enabled it to compete with more established competitors. The company also focused on employee satisfaction by listening to feedback through a variety of channels. For example, it implemented a more flexible dress code and new leadership training programs.