A domino is a small, rectangular block of wood or plastic, with one or more sides bearing from one to six pips (dots) resembling those on dice. It is used for various games played by matching the ends of the pieces and laying them down in lines and angular patterns. A complete set consists of 28 such pieces.
A game of domino is normally played in pairs, with each player scoring points for the total sum of the pips on the end tiles they have left in their hands after all plays have been made. The basic rules shown on this website apply to all games. If more than two players are playing, the players draw additional hands. Those with the highest value hands begin play.
When a domino is played, it may join a line of tiles that already exist on the table, joining them by placing the tile across or next to the existing dominoes. The pips on the new tile must match those of the dominoes it is joining to form a chain. This is known as the line of play. When a player plays a tile that causes all the other dominoes on the line to change their pips, that is called stitching up the ends.
The way a domino falls can be a great deal of fun, especially if it is arranged to create some kind of artistic arrangement or display. For example, it is possible to create a line of falling dominoes with a theme that could be as simple as a single word or as complicated as an entire city skyline. The falling dominoes can also be arranged to make shapes, like hearts, circles, squares, stars, or a flower garden.
Many people use dominoes for art and for making acoustic sculptures by tapping them on a hard surface. This produces a sound similar to that of raindrops or thunder, which can be very exciting.
Dominoes are also widely used as a teaching tool for children to learn about probability and chance. By showing children how the odds of a domino falling can be greatly increased by the addition of another domino, they can learn to think about probabilities and make better choices in their daily lives.
When the Domino’s refinery in Brooklyn closed, residents of that working-class neighborhood protested that they would be pushed out in favor of luxury high-rises. A local craftsman developed a method to make dominoes that, when set up in straight lines, can form pictures of these structures when they fall. He didn’t use a blueprint or expensive computer-controlled equipment; he simply used the tools in his grandmother’s garage.
Domino’s CEO David Brandon and President Doyle were able to restore the company’s financial health by listening closely to customers. They implemented a series of changes, including relaxed dress codes and leadership training programs, that helped turn around a sinking ship. They also spoke directly with employees to find out what was going on and what was needed.