Domino is a small rectangular block used for playing various games. It bears identifying marks on one side, called the “identity” face, and is blank or identically patterned on the other. A domino is also sometimes referred to as a “tile.” Dominoes are usually twice as long as they are wide, and may be separated visually by a line or ridge. The spots on a domino are called pips, and the numbers represented on each side of an individual domino range from six to none, with six pips representing the most common set.
A common game of domino involves stacking dominoes on end in long lines. When the first domino in a line is tipped, it causes the rest of the lines to topple over and create very complex designs. This is an example of the “domino effect,” which refers to a chain reaction that starts with a simple action and then results in greater–and often devastating–consequences.
The oldest and most popular type of domino is the double-six. This set has 28 tiles, and each player begins with seven. The remaining tiles are shuffled face down to form a stock or boneyard, from which players draw as needed. The objective of this game is to make a total of points before the opposing player does. To score, a player must place a tile in the line such that its exposed ends match: one’s touch one’s, two’s touch two’s, etc.
Domino’s first major success came in 1967 with the opening of its first franchise location in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The company’s founder, Dominick Monaghan, emphasized placing locations near college campuses. This targeted the company’s core audience, which was primarily young adults. He also emphasized fast delivery.
As the company grew, it began to branch out beyond pizza. In the early 1980s, Domino’s introduced a 30-minute delivery time. This caused traffic accidents, as drivers raced to meet the deadline. The company eventually backed away from the 30-minute delivery promise and focused on its pizza business.
To attract customers, Domino’s uses targeted internet advertising and direct marketing methods like email marketing with a call-to-action button. It also partners with sports leagues and events to promote its products and raise brand awareness. Domino’s has also partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Liga De Videojuegos Profesional (LVP) esports organization.
There are many different games that can be played with dominoes, but the most basic is positional. Each player takes turns placing a domino edge to edge against another domino such that the adjacent faces are either identical or add up to some specified value. In this way, a domino is added to the domino line, and play continues until one player cannot make a play.
A more sophisticated version of this type of game is called combination dominoes, in which the number of pips on each half-face determines its value. This leads to games such as a 5 to 2 game or the more advanced 5 to 7 game.