Domino, from the Latin domini, meaning “lord,” is a regal name that encourages a masterful mindset. The word is related to the ancient game of domino, which teaches players to consider the effect of their actions on others. This is an important lesson when applied to business, as well. A successful company needs to be able to predict the effects of its decisions on other departments and stakeholders.
Domino has several meanings in English, including “a small hooded cloak worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade.” However, the most familiar sense of domino refers to a type of tile used in games such as piquet or chinese checkers.
A domino is a flat, thumb-sized rectangular block with one side bearing from 1 to 6 pips or dots and the other blank or identically patterned. A complete set of dominoes includes 28 such tiles. The pips are usually arranged in a square pattern, but they may be scattered in other configurations as well. Some modern domino sets use Arabic numerals instead of pips.
Most domino games have a line of play that is created as each player makes his or her turn. This line is also referred to as the layout, string, or line of play. There are some exceptions to this rule, but in general, a player must place a tile onto the table so that it touches an open end of a previous tile played. This creates a chain of dominoes that gradually increases in length.
When a player places his or her domino on the table, it is considered to be “out of play.” The other players then draw additional dominoes for their hands and replace the ones that are out of play in the stock. If a player draws more tiles for his or her hand than he or she is entitled to, the extras are placed in a “blocked game” pile.
In some games, the heaviest domino is placed first to begin the chain. In other games, the winner of the last game plays the first tile. If no one is a winner, the player holding the highest double starts the next game.
There are many different types of domino games, and the rules vary from place to place. Some games are adapted from traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Indian games. Other games are based on the principles of chance, mathematics, or strategy. Each game has its own set of rules that must be followed to ensure fairness for all players.
As the first domino topples, it creates a pulse of energy that travels down the line, just as a nerve impulse travels along an axon. This pulse of energy is called potential energy, and it is stored in the position of the domino. When the domino is pushed over, this potential energy is converted to kinetic energy and causes the other dominoes to fall as well.