Domino is a family of games played with small rectangular pieces that are marked on one side with numbers or blank and have two ends. They are often called bones, cards, men, tiles or spinners and can be used for a variety of games and activities.
Dominoes are most commonly used for positional games, in which a player in turn places a domino edge to edge against another domino such that the adjacent faces match or form some specified total. The resulting chain of dominos, or line of play, gradually increases in length as more tiles are added to it. The players try to make the chain as long as possible by adding matching or numbered tiles. When a player makes a mistake in this process, it is known as a misplay and the error must be corrected as soon as it is discovered.
Generally, the game of domino is played between two players, but it may also be enjoyed by larger groups or even entire families. In many countries, people gather to play domino as a social activity. In the US, domino clubs exist where people meet to enjoy domino play and compete in tournaments.
A set of dominoes includes 28 tiles that are normally twice as long as they are wide. They are stacked horizontally and each has a line down the middle that divides them visually into two squares, with each end having a number of spots or pips. The value of a domino is determined by counting the number of pips on its one end, or by taking the sum of all of the pips on both ends.
Dominos have a lot of inertia, meaning that they remain where they are placed unless some outside force causes them to move. This is why domino builders set up massive displays of hundreds and sometimes thousands of dominoes that will topple with a slight nudge. The builders then demonstrate their skill by performing an impressive domino reaction before a crowd.
The success of Domino’s in the pizza business stemmed from the company’s adherence to certain principles. Its founder, Dominic Monaghan, began by establishing stores in the right locations, specifically near college campuses. This ensured that Domino’s could offer its fast delivery service to a large, receptive audience.
In addition, Monaghan insisted on putting Domino’s locations close to other businesses that would be able to promote their own products to customers walking by. This was a smart marketing strategy that helped the company grow rapidly in its early years.
While there are a multitude of different ways to use domino, most involve lining up the tiles in long lines and then knocking them over. Some games are scored by counting the pips on all the lost players’ remaining tiles, but most allow for some degree of scoring flexibility. To keep track of these scores, players usually make notes or use a domino scorer. A popular method of scoring involves counting the numbers on the two ends of a domino, or the line of play, rather than just the pips on one end.