Domino is a name that inspires a sense of mastery. Its ties to the ancient blocking game encourage a rule-oriented mentality, while its Latin root and connections to cause and effect encourage a cautious attitude. The word also evokes images of a chain reaction, and its history in the gaming world makes it an appropriate choice for a leader.
Dominoes are rectangular tiles with a line dividing each face into two square ends, marked with a number of dots (also called pips) or blank. Each domino is a component of a set, often called a deck or pack. When used for gaming, the dominoes are laid out on a table and each player in turn places one of their tiles on top of the others, positioning it so that it touches either one end of the existing chains or the other. If played correctly, each domino then affects the subsequent placement of other tiles, resulting in a long string of dominoes that gradually increases in length.
There are a wide variety of games that can be played with dominoes. The most common of these are positional games. In these games, each domino has a value, such as 5, 6 or 7, which is determined by the numbers showing on each of its two sides. A domino is distinguished from other tiles in a set by the fact that one half of its face contains all of the pips of the previous tile, while the other half does not. A domino with identical pips on both its sides is known as a double.
Each player begins a game with a set of dominoes, shuffled together and then arranged in a line to form the stock or boneyard. The players then draw seven dominoes from the boneyard and play them, taking care to place each of their tiles so that it is adjacent to all of the other tiles. When a player cannot play a domino due to lack of matching values, they must continue drawing from the boneyard until they find a domino that can be played.
For players who prefer a quicker pace of gameplay, there are several game variants that feature fewer dominoes. These variants include Draw and Five-Up, both of which are usually played with a double-six set.
The phrase domino effect is often used to describe how the actions of one person may influence the actions of another, such as the leader of a nation influencing its allies. The idiom is also sometimes used to refer to any event that may lead to a series of events, such as a small trigger starting a large chain reaction.
The term domino is used in the naming of many products and businesses, including Domino’s Pizza and the Domino’s Delivery Service. In addition, the name is sometimes used to describe a system of rules or laws that are similar to those of the game of domino. These rules are usually written and codified in a document such as a constitution, code of conduct or other legal document.
