Domino is a term that describes a whole chain reaction that starts with one small action and then leads to greater consequences. It can also describe how something one person does can influence other people to change their behavior. This principle is the basis of the “domino effect,” a popular phrase that emphasizes the importance of influencing others by setting positive examples. This domino effect can be seen in the way a small drop of water creates waves in a glass of water or the effect that one person can have on the entire class at school.
Most commonly, dominoes are used for playing games in which players place a domino edge to edge with another, forming a line of dominoes that can fall over as each is knocked down. A traditional domino set consists of 28 tiles with pips from zero to six on each end. Each piece can have one or two different numbers of pips, and the number of pips on each end determines its rank in the set. For example, a double-six set has 28 unique dominoes, and the highest-ranking domino in this type of game is the two-pip blue domino.
Many people use dominoes as art, creating intricate designs that look like walls and other structures with the help of a pencil and a ruler. The designs can be straight or curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall over, stacked walls or 3D structures such as towers or pyramids. The most important aspect of this art is to plan out the design before beginning. This will allow the artist to calculate how many dominoes are needed and ensure that they are properly positioned.
The most basic domino game is played by two players with a “double-six” domino set. Each player plays a domino by placing it in front of the other, and the first domino to fall must have an end that matches the number of pips on the other end of a previous domino played. The most common way to score the game is to play several dominoes in a row and then count how many of the other side’s pips are visible. The winner is the first player to reach this amount, usually winning by a single point.
Other than the pips, dominoes can be made from a variety of materials. For a more natural look, they can be made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), ivory or a dark hardwood such as ebony with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on them. Some sets even come in crystal or frosted clay.
Domino’s CEO Dominick Doyle has been doing his part to improve the company’s image and boost its stock price since he became CEO in 2010. He is promoting changes such as more relaxed dress codes, new leadership training programs and college recruiting systems. But he has also stayed true to the company’s core values, including listening to employees and customers. This strategy has boosted morale and helped to revive the pizza-delivery business.