Domino is a game in which players arrange dominoes edge to edge on a flat surface. The goal is to play a tile that touches another domino in such a way that the two matching ends of the exposed side of the other piece are identical or form some specified total. The resulting “chain” of tiles forms the shape of a snake-line. Some games also involve scoring points for certain combinations of tiles.
Dominoes are usually stacked on end in long lines, but they can also be arranged into shapes and 3D structures such as towers or pyramids. Many domino fans are also interested in laying out intricate designs that will create interesting patterns when they fall. These designs are known as domino art and can be very elaborate. The designs can be curved lines, grids that form pictures, or stacked walls of dominos.
Most dominoes are made of clay, plastic or polymer and have black or white pips (inlaid or painted). But they can also be found in other materials including silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell (mother-of-pearl), bone, ivory, and dark hardwoods such as ebony. These sets are more expensive but they have a classic, elegant look and feel. Some sets even have a top half thickness in mother-of-pearl or ivory with a lower half in a contrasting material such as ebony.
The most popular type of domino is a double-six set. Each domino in this set contains the number six on one of its four sides and a “dot” on the other. There are also special dominoes that are used to represent some of the results of throwing two dice. These dominoes have a different arrangement of pips and have the numbers seven, eight, and nine on them.
Traditionally, dominoes are played by two or more people sitting around a table. They begin by placing a domino on the end of a line of other dominoes. Each player then plays a domino that fits the end of the line and, if possible, extends the chain to the farthest end of the table. Play continues until a player cannot place another domino. Then the player “chips out” and play passes to the other players.
In business, the term domino is often used to refer to a strategy that focuses on one important task that will lead to the completion of other important tasks. This is a concept that was taught to Charles Schwab by his mentor Ivy Lee. Lee instructed him to rank the most important tasks on his list for each day, and then to work on that first task until it was completed. This would allow him to build momentum and help him “knock over” the other important tasks on his list.
This is a powerful lesson that anyone can use in their lives. If you focus your efforts on one task that will move other important tasks forward, then you can be successful in whatever you pursue.