Domino is a type of game in which players place domino pieces end-to-end on a grid to form chains. Each domino has a number of spots, or “pips” on one side and is blank or identically patterned on the other side. The number of pips on each domino determines its value in the game. The most basic version of the game is played with just a double-six set, but larger sets have been developed for more players and include more variety in the number of pips on each end.
Most of the time, a player will play his or her domino by placing it on the table so that its matching end touches another domino in the chain. This creates a link between the two pieces, and the domino chain then develops a snake-like shape as it lengthens. The players must follow the rules of the game in determining how to position each new domino. For example, a domino must always be placed so that its pips match those of the other dominos in the chain and that it is not blocking the flow of other tiles from reaching their targets.
A Domino Effect is a chain reaction that starts somewhere and then spreads, usually quickly and unpredictably. The word has been used to describe a wide range of things, from political movements to the way that an event can influence an entire region. The term can also be applied to business and marketing strategies that result in positive or negative effects. For example, a company may start an employee training program to increase productivity, and the effect could be seen as a domino effect that causes other companies to adopt similar programs.
In addition to the traditional wood, plastic, and ivory domino sets, a number of different natural materials have been used to make dominoes. For instance, European-style dominoes are often made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), or a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted onto them. These materials provide a unique, luxurious look and feel to the pieces, and their often heavier weight adds to the enjoyment of playing the games.
To determine who will begin play, the players usually draw a domino from a stock. The player who draws the heaviest tile will make the first move in the game. If a tie exists, the game will typically continue by drawing more tiles until a winner is determined.
The word domino is actually a contraction of the Latin verb domino, meaning “I govern”. It was influenced by an earlier sense of the word to mean a cape worn over a priest’s surplice, perhaps because it matched the contrasting colors of the ebony blacks and ivory faces of the domino pieces. The most common sense of the word in English, however, dates to 1750, and is probably a translation from French. The English spelling “domino” was not adopted until after 1770.