Domino is a family of tile-based games played with gaming pieces. Each domino is a rectangular tile with a line dividing its face into two square ends, either marked with a number of spots or blank. The backs of the tiles in a set are indistinguishable and either blank or have some common design. The word domino comes from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord.” The game originated in the Middle Ages. The first written record of the game dates to 1542, and the rules for many domino variants have been codified over time.
There are many different types of domino games, though nearly all of them fit into one of four categories: bidding games, blocking games, and scoring games. The basic instructions shown on this website apply to most of these games, although some have specific instructions not listed here.
A domino is a small, flat, thumbsized rectangular block of wood or plastic bearing from one to six pips, or dots, resembling those on dice. A complete set of dominoes consists of 28 such blocks. When a domino is placed on a table, its open end must be touching another domino or an empty space, and the matching ends are usually adjacent to each other.
When a domino is flipped over, it initiates a chain reaction called the Domino Effect. Similar to the way nerve impulses travel through the brain, the Domino Effect occurs when a series of actions is initiated by a single event and each action triggers more and more reactions. Eventually, the entire domino chain collapses like an avalanche.
Lily Hevesh has been playing with dominoes since she was 9, and her grandparents gave her a traditional 28-pack when she turned 10. Now she’s a professional domino artist who creates stunning setups for movies, TV shows, and events—including an album launch for Katy Perry. Hevesh makes test versions of each section of her installations before putting them all together, and she films them in slow motion to ensure that they work properly.
In a game of domino, the person who holds the most number of tiles is called the “dominator.” The player with the highest number of dominoes seats himself to the left of the person in front of him. When the game is being contested, players may draw extra dominoes for their hands depending on the rules of the particular game. When a domino is drawn that the player is not permitted to play, the player must return it to the stock and draw a new tile.
As a result of the Domino Effect, the company made changes to the dress code, leadership training programs, and college recruiting systems that employees were happy with. It also kept its core value of listening to customers, and this helped the company bounce back quickly from its financial struggles. Domino has since grown into an international corporation, and it continues to thrive on its strong values.