What is Domino?

Domino is a game where players try to lay down dominoes edge-to-edge so that they touch all the pips on one end of an adjacent tile. The player who successfully completes a row wins that round of play. Some players also make domino art: straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, and even 3D structures like towers and pyramids.

A domino can be made from wood, marble, clay, or plastic and comes in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Some can have a colored pattern while others are clear. The word and the game both appear to have originated in France around 1750. It is possible that the name derives from a French word meaning “hooded cloak” and that it was originally used in reference to a black hooded cape worn by a priest over his surplice during a carnival season or masquerade. The term was eventually adopted by English in the mid-18th century.

There are countless variations of domino games, but most involve a series of turns where players place tiles on the table and then try to connect them by placing a domino on the end of a chain of previous tiles. The rules of each game vary, but in general a player may only play a tile that has a number showing on one of its ends or matches a number on another tile (either the same number or some other value such as zero). Some games also allow a double-blank to be played instead of a number; in those cases, it is a wild card and can be matched with any other tile.

In some games, the players try to get all their tiles in the center of the table to win. A player with all their tiles in the center wins that round of play and becomes the winner of the game. Other games, such as the well-known game of tic-tac-toe, are won by the first player to reach a predetermined score—such as 100 or 200 points.

Dominoes are also used in other ways, such as building dazzling displays of domino art before live audiences at domino shows. These builders compete to build the most complicated and imaginative domino reaction or effect before a crowd of fans.

When it comes to writing, the concept of a domino effect is an excellent way to describe how a small setback can have far-reaching consequences for a plot or storyline. Think of each scene as a domino and how it naturally impacts the scenes that follow.

Domino’s grew rapidly after its initial success, but in the late 1990s the company began to struggle with declining profits. In response to this, CEO Tom Monaghan revamped the company’s business strategy, focusing on bringing pizza to new markets and improving delivery service. He also put a premium on locating stores near college campuses, which targeted the company’s core audience of young adults who wanted pizza quickly. This helped revive Domino’s fortunes, and the company continues to be a dominant force in the pizza industry.