A domino is a small, rectangular tile used as the gaming object of a variety of games. It is sometimes called a bone or a piece, but more commonly it is simply referred to as a domino.
A game of dominoes is a popular form of entertainment in Europe and the Americas, where it is played by two or more players. The object of the game is to place a domino end to end, with matching sides, such that the dots on each exposed end total any multiple of five. The player who makes the first match wins and the players continue to play dominoes until one player has played all of his or her dominoes.
Dominoes are available in several different sets, including double six (28 tiles) and double nine (55 tiles). Larger sets can be found as well, and are often preferred for larger games with many players.
Typically, each player picks a set of dominoes and then places them on the playing surface in the order that they are to be played. The first player then plays a single domino from the beginning of the line, followed by the second player. If the second player cannot find a domino that matches the domino already played, then that domino is removed from the boneyard and the first player picks a new one from the boneyard to replace it.
The next player then plays a single domino from that same starting point, followed by the third and fourth players, etc. If the second player cannot find a match for the domino that was placed last, then that domino is removed from the set and the second player picks another domino from the boneyard to replace it.
Each successive tile that is placed in a domino chain develops a snake-line at random, and the shape of the chain can be very complex, with open ends and closed ends forming at any time, as long as there are no other tiles connected to the open ends. Occasionally, a double may be placed cross-ways across the end of the chain.
In this way, the layout can be very intricate and exciting to watch as the chain is formed. In addition, the dominoes can be stacked on end in long lines so that the line can topple over in an amazing fashion.
It is very interesting to think about the ways that a series of events can happen with just a single action, and how they lead to much greater consequences than you might expect at first. For example, a single action by an individual or a company can result in huge gains for the business as a whole.
As an example, one of the most successful businesses in the world — the Domino’s Pizza chain — is the result of a single strategic move made by its founder, Jim Doyle. That single move sparked a transformation that took the business from a struggling, debt-ridden operation to a thriving, profitable one that eventually made Doyle a very rich man.
