In Domino, the player attempts to build a line of dominoes that match a value at either end of a previously played domino. The number of matching tiles determines the winner of the game. Dominoes are usually 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 dots (inlaid or painted). Some sets also include other materials like stone, other woods such as maple and oak, metals such as brass or pewter, or ceramic clay.
When a domino falls, it releases potential energy, which can push on the next domino or trigger another reaction. The same principle applies in fiction, where a well-written scene may generate the momentum to propel the story toward its conclusion. This is why it’s important to carefully craft scene after scene, and to keep a writer’s ear open for what might be missing.
The word domino comes from the Latin “dominium,” which means supremacy or mastery. It appears to have first been used in the 16th century. The modern sense of the word reflects its early use in French as an adjective meaning “hooded cloak worn with a mask at carnival season or masquerades.” The name for the game derived from an earlier meaning of the word, which was sometimes used to describe a priest’s hooded cape over his surplice.
The first domino was set in Ypsilanti, Michigan, by a man named Fred Monaghan. His company soon grew beyond his capacity to deliver pizzas himself, and he introduced franchising in 1967.
Since that time, the Domino’s brand has become one of America’s favorite pizza franchises. As the company continues to expand, it is focusing on a strategy that emphasizes listening to customers. The Detroit Free Press reported that Domino’s CEO, Steve Doyle, has emphasized the importance of this strategy as part of his leadership.
For example, Domino’s has recently developed a new delivery truck that is designed to be more fuel efficient, and has started using renewable electricity at some locations. It has also expanded its use of drones to deliver pizzas. The company has also rebranded its stores with a fresh new look and feel.
Domino’s has a long list of core values, including “Champion Our Customers,” and the company listens to customer feedback to help shape its strategy. This customer focus has contributed to Domino’s success, and it helps the company deliver on its promise of providing fast, friendly service.
The most basic domino game requires a double-six set. The 28 tiles are shuffled and form the stock or boneyard, and each player draws seven tiles. In some games, a player may be permitted to bye one or more tiles from the stock; in others, a player is required to draw a specific number of tiles from the stock depending on the rules of that particular game. If a player makes a mistake in play, the tile is called a misplay and must be recalled; the score for that hand or game is determined by counting the total number of pips on the remaining tiles in the losing players’ hands, subtracting the pips on any matching tiles from the winning player’s count.