Domino is a popular tile-based board game that can be played by two or more players. The domino pieces are identical in shape, but one side features a pattern of dots, similar to those on a die, while the other is blank. The player takes turns placing a domino edge to edge against another, with the aim of building lines that form specific totals or structures. The first person to complete their line wins. There are many different games that can be played with dominoes.
Aside from the game itself, Domino has also been used to teach children counting and math skills. It is thought that dominoes may have originated in India, although the first documented use of them was around 1700 AD. In the 18th century, they were introduced to Europe, and it was not long before they became a widespread pastime.
In the modern world, domino is often seen as a symbol of power and success. The company behind the game, Domino’s Pizza, has become one of the most profitable chains in the United States.
Domino’s is able to maintain high engagement with consumers by using personalization and location-based data to communicate with customers. The company can send personalized welcome messages and tantalizing upsell offers to consumers as soon as they enter the restaurant through their smartphones. This type of communication has increased consumer interaction by more than three times.
The word “domino” is believed to come from the French term for a hooded cape worn with a mask at a carnival or masquerade, and it is possible that the name was chosen because of the association between the garment and the domino playing piece. An earlier sense of the word referred to a black cloak that a priest wore over his surplice, and it is possible that the contrast between the ebony domino and white of the priest’s robe gave rise to the association between the two items.
The traditional European-style domino set consists of 28 tiles, with each tile representing one of the possible combinations of six-sided dice (2d6). The tiles are typically 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 on each face. There are also sets made of more novel materials, such as ceramic clay; natural stone (e.g., marble or granite); metals; and even frosted glass. Some sets are designed with a double thickness, featuring the top layer in MOP, ivory, or a wood, and the lower portion in ebony for a dramatic effect.