Domino is a small, flat rectangular block used in gaming and various other activities. It has a number of identifying marks, or pips, on one side and is blank or identically patterned on the other. The pips are arranged in the same way as those on a die, although some of the pips are “wild” and can be ascribed any value. Alternatively, dominoes may have a pin or a spinner to control their direction of fall.
In most games, dominoes are placed edge to edge on a table. This makes the formation of a chain that develops a snake-like shape, according to the whims of the players and the limitations of the playing surface. The pattern of the chains varies by game and by player, and is often determined by the pips that are available to match.
The word domino has an uncertain origin, but it is thought to be derived from the French for “slipper,” or hooded garment worn with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. An earlier sense of the word, also in English and French, denoted a dark-wood cape or surplice that was worn by priests over their white linen clothing.
A Domino’s Pizza employee is the star of this episode of Undercover Boss, which airs on CBS. The company’s CEO sends the employee to work at some of their busiest restaurants and learn more about how they operate, including their delivery service. The employee is able to make changes in how the business operates that result in improved customer satisfaction.
Domino’s also provides some interesting marketing ideas that can be implemented in other businesses. The company has a large social media presence and has an active YouTube channel that features videos of people using its products. The company has also been known to sponsor events in local communities.
The most popular domino game is a simple variant called Draw and Play, in which each player draws seven tiles from a double-six set (28 tiles) and then places them on the table. When a player can place a tile onto a matching end of another bone, it is played, and the process of placing each subsequent domino continues until the first player “chips out” or plays his last bone.
Other, more complex domino games are played by two or more players, usually in teams. These games may be positional, in which the players place bones edge to edge against each other so that their adjacent ends either match each other or form a specified total, or they may involve scoring points for each successful move. Typically, these games are won by the team that reaches the final score before its opponent, although some versions require both teams to reach a specific total before play stops. The most common domino sets commercially available are the double-six and the double-nine sets. Larger sets exist, and are often used for educational purposes or in the manufacture of dominoes.