A domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block, the face of which may be blank or bear from one to six pips (also called dots). 28 such pieces form a complete set. A domino is used in many different games, including the game of chess, where pieces are placed on a board in lines and angular patterns to form playable rows. A person who plays domino is known as a “domino player.”
In the game of domino, players take turns laying down a domino, usually clockwise around the table. Each domino must be played in turn, and a player cannot hold back a playable domino for strategic reasons.
The rules of each particular game determine how a domino is played, but some basic rules are universal across the many variations. Typically, each domino is scored based on the number of dots or points it has on its ends. A domino with a higher number of pips is referred to as “heavier” and has more value than a domino with fewer pips.
Dominoes are used in art projects to create straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, and 3D structures like towers and pyramids. Some people use dominoes to make intricate mosaics, or they can be used to create abstract patterns. Creating these designs can be challenging because dominoes have inertia, meaning they resist motion until a force pushes on them.
The name “domino” was derived from the Latin word for “table.” The term was later applied to a small wood-and-leather gaming table and then, in the early 20th century, to a new type of newspaper, Domino. The newspaper, published by Conde Nast, featured fashion and lifestyle content. It was considered an innovative new form of journalism, and it quickly became a popular and successful publication.
In recent times, the term has been applied to an organizational structure and a style of leadership. This style, sometimes referred to as “domino management,” focuses on developing leaders rather than hierarchies. It also emphasizes individualism and empowerment, with the goal of increasing the success of an organization.
Domino’s Pizza is a good example of this approach to management and leadership. When customer complaints about the quality of Domino’s pizza became overwhelming, Patrick Doyle, the CEO of Domino’s, decided to confront them head-on. He did not hide behind corporate rhetoric or ignore the complaints, but instead featured all of them in a national advertisement and promised to do better. This bold move was a huge risk that paid off, as the company saw its sales rise and its stock price increase dramatically.
Some sets of dominoes are made from natural materials such as bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother-of-pearl or MOP), ivory, and dark hardwoods such as ebony. These sets have a more traditional look and feel and are often more expensive than polymer sets. Other unusual materials for domino sets include marble and granite; metals such as brass, copper, or pewter; and even frosted glass or crystal.