Domino is a game played by two or more people using tiles with identically patterned or blank sides. Most commonly available domino sets consist of 28 or 55 tiles. They are used to play a variety of layout games, blocking games, and scoring games. Each domino has a number on one side and an arrangement of dots, called “pips,” on the other, similar to the markings on a die. A domino can belong to any suit of numbers, although it is usually part of the suits of threes and fives.
When dominoes are placed in a line, each one must touch the ends of adjacent pieces. This is known as the chain rule. Normally, the ends of adjacent pieces must be either open or closed to allow for a new tile to be laid on top of them. However, for some games, the open or closed ends can be positioned at right angles to each other or may be a combination of both (i.e., a 6-6 with open ends of 4 and 5).
The most popular type of domino play involves setting up the dominoes in a long line and then flicking the first one to make it fall. This is a simple but entertaining game that helps develop motor skills and attention to detail. It can also be a great way to teach children about numbers and sequencing. The best part of the domino game is that a single set of dominoes can be used to play many different games.
Lily Hevesh began playing with dominoes as a child, when her grandparents gave her a 28-piece set. She loved to create a long, straight or curved line of them and then flick the first one over. Now she has more than 2 million YouTube subscribers and makes a living by creating amazing domino setups for movies, TV shows, and events.
Domino’s founder David Brandon knew that to grow, the company had to listen to its customers and make changes accordingly. When he became CEO, he put into action the value of championing the customer. This included a relaxed dress code, new leadership training programs, and a college recruiting system. It also meant bringing Domino’s to more urban areas where people were most likely to want pizza.
In the early days of Domino’s, the chain grew by opening stores near college campuses. This tapped into a young demographic that was eager for a fast-food option that was affordable and convenient. The strategy paid off, and by the 1970s, Domino’s had over 200 locations.
In a typical multi-round domino game, each player takes turns playing one domino from their hand until they cannot lay another. The player then “knocks” or raps the table and play passes to their opponent. Points are awarded for the number of pips on opposing players’ tiles (though there are many variations, such as whether doubles count as one or two and whether double-blank counts as 0 or 14). The first player to score a specified target amount in a given round wins.