A domino is a small rectangular piece of game material. It has a number of dots on one end and is blank or identically patterned on the other. A domino is used to build a chain of squares or to play a scoring game such as bergen, muggins, or Mexican train. Dominoes have been played for centuries in many parts of the world. The first recorded evidence of them dates to the 12th or 13th century in China. In Europe, dominoes were developed in the 18th century.
The most familiar form of domino is a double-six set. The 28 tiles are shuffled and placed face down on the table to create the boneyard or “stock.” Each player draws seven dominoes from the stock. A player’s turn begins when he plays the first domino in his hand. Whenever possible, players try to empty their hands before the opponent does. The winner is the first player to do so.
As with playing cards, a domino set is divided into suits, and the pips on each end of a domino identify it as belonging to a particular suit. For example, a domino with a 3 on the left and 2 on the right belongs to the suit of 3. Other sets have special designations, such as aces and nines, or doubles and singles.
In most games, the value of a domino is determined by its suit. When a domino has an arrangement of pips that corresponds to a specific value, it is called a tally, or a pointer. Some dominoes have no tally at all, and these are known as “wild” or “wild-card” tiles.
A domino must match with another domino of the same suit, unless it is a double. Doubles can be placed diagonally or cross-ways, depending on the rules of a game. The way a domino chain develops provides a great deal of the entertainment and strategy of the game.
The game of domino has been linked to mathematical concepts for centuries. The game is a good way to introduce the concept of addition and subtraction. Students can play the game individually or in pairs with a teacher. The class can practice naming addition equations by choosing dominoes with numbers on both ends and identifying the relation between the total number of dots and the number of dots on each end of the chosen domino.
In addition, a game of domino can be used to reinforce the basic facts of multiplication and division. The class can also play a game to practice writing and counting addition and subtraction equations.
Domino’s has a strong commitment to the community, and its local stores support schools, churches and other organizations. The company has made a major effort to reach out to its customers by offering a wide variety of pizzas and other products. It has been successful in attracting young adults and families to its stores. The company has also been able to compete with its larger rivals, such as Pizza Hut and Little Caesars, due to its low price and high quality products.