Domino is a game of chance and strategy in which players roll small rectangular tiles with numbers on them called dominoes. They are played in many countries and have been played for over a thousand years. They are similar to dice and playing cards and can be played in a variety of ways, but they also have distinct rules and different materials.
In Western culture, domino is most commonly a game for two or more players. The earliest games involved a shuffle of the stock, then drawing out one piece at a time for each player. Today, the game has become a popular social activity for adults and children alike.
The basic rule of a domino game is that each tile has a number on it showing at one end or the other (called pips). For example, the tile may have a 0 or six on one side and a blank or three on the other. The player with the most pips on his or her domino wins the game.
Unlike dice and cards, which are played face up, dominoes are shuffled and rolled on a table, where they are scored by counting the number of pips on each other’s tile. In multi-round games, the player who reaches a certain target score or who accumulates the most points during the game wins.
Some people have made elaborate designs with dominoes, forming geometric patterns that look impressive when they are dropped or thrown. They can be arranged horizontally, vertically or at right angles to the table.
In Europe, domino sets are traditionally made of bone, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (MOP), ivory or a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips. Some sets have a top half thickness in MOP or ivory and a bottom half in a lighter wood such as ash.
Most modern domino sets contain one unique piece for each possible combination of numbers from 0 to six spots, with larger sets having more. Some sets have as many as 190 dominoes, while others have only 28.
These large domino sets are typically used in games for multiple players, such as a domino club or a family game night. In addition to allowing for long domino games, they make it easier to play when players have limited space, as a single tile can fit on most tables.
The concept of the domino effect arose when one domino was tipped over and caused a chain reaction that knocked down many more dominoes. In a personal context, the domino concept suggests that concentrating on a few good dominoes will create a positive ripple effect in the future.
Using the domino effect as a strategy can be a great way to focus on what’s important, while still completing tasks that are difficult or require a substantial amount of time. For example, if you are working on a financial plan, it can be helpful to pick dominoes that will help you get there.