A domino is a small oblong tile marked with an arrangement of dots, called pips, on one side and blank or identically patterned on the other. Dominoes are used to play a wide variety of games. The most common are bidding games, blocking and scoring games. Unlike playing cards or dice, dominoes can be combined into large structures like walls and towers, as well as into 3-D shapes such as pyramids.

A player draws the number of tiles permitted by the rules of the game he is playing from a larger set, which is called the stock or boneyard. Some games allow players to pass a number of tiles to another player, which is called byeing, or buy tiles from the stock, according to the rules of the game being played. The first player to draw a domino that matches the value of a tile already in play begins the next round of play.

The speed at which a domino falls depends on its size and the relative position of the other pieces. In most cases, the larger the domino, the faster it will fall. Larger dominoes are also more likely to cause other dominoes to fall when they are struck.

When a player makes a mistake while making his turn, he must recall his domino or forfeit the game. He then draws again and may try to make a better play. When a player does not make a move or makes a mistake, his opponent can place his domino in any open spot on the board.

Dominos are most often made from ivory, silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother of pearl), or a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black pips inlaid or painted. In addition to these traditional materials, sets are now being made from other natural substances such as stone (e.g., marble or granite); other types of wood, including hickory and maple; ceramic clay; metals such as brass and pewter; and frosted glass.

In most domino games, the pips on each end of a domino are arranged in a pattern that distinguishes it from other dominoes with the same number of pips on all four ends. The pips are usually either dots or circles, but some manufacturers produce tiles with different shaped pips to distinguish them from other types of dominoes.

The word “domino” comes from the Latin dominus, meaning lord or master, and earlier denoted a long hooded cloak worn together with a mask for the head at carnival time or at masquerades. The modern sense of the word was established around 1750. The name of the company that sells these plastic oblongs is a portmanteau of Domino’s Pizza and Domino’s Coffee, reflecting the company’s early emphasis on listening to customers. The founder of Domino’s, David Brandon, created a line of communication with employees that continues under his successor, Steve Doyle. This included relaxed dress codes and new leadership training programs.

Dominoes