The Basics of Dominoes
A domino is a small rectangular block, usually made of wood or plastic, with a line down the center and one side marked with dots that resemble those on dice. It is usually stacked on end in long lines. If one of the ends is tipped, it causes the next domino to tip over and so on. In this way, many complex designs may be constructed. When used as a game, domino is played by two or more players. A player earns points for laying down dominoes edge to edge in such a way that the exposed ends match: for example, one’s touch two’s, or three’s touch four’s. In addition, the exposed ends must total a certain number (e.g., five). Some games use only a single type of domino; others require several different types to be played together.
Dominoes were developed in Italy and France during the 18th century. They became popular in the United States in the 1860s. Most Americans grew up playing with them at schools or private parties. In the United States, a person who is known for his skill at playing dominoes is called a dominator.
The word domino is also an idiom, a figurative expression with a specific meaning that is not directly deducible from the literal meaning of its individual words. The idiom’s roots are derived from a political idea that was first proposed by Joseph Alsop, who described the spreading of Communism as “the falling of a series of dominoes.” The concept soon caught on with journalists and politicians, who came to refer to it as the domino effect.
As a result of the popularity of dominoes, there are many different ways that people use them to play games. Some of these games involve scoring and blocking other players, while others require positioning the tiles to make sure that their values match. The most common game in which a domino is used as a base is a variation of Concentration. The typical domino set contains 28 unique tiles, as each piece is designed to represent a particular combination of the results of throwing two six-sided dice. A common variant, known as a double-six set, features two ends each containing a value of either zero, 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6, while the other end is blank or has a number that cannot be counted.
Taking inspiration from the game, some people use dominoes as a metaphor for personal development and goal achievement. A good domino is a task that contributes to the overall accomplishment of a larger goal, such as planning and executing a financial plan. A person should focus on these activities, allowing them to “knock over” other goals that are more difficult to achieve. Eventually, the accumulation of good dominoes will lead to accomplishing the ultimate goal. Likewise, a business can be improved by breaking down large processes into smaller good dominoes. This could include simplifying internal procedures, such as reducing the number of steps to place an order.