What is Domino?
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Domino is a popular tile-based game for two players. Each player starts with a set of dominoes, usually a double-six or double-nine set (28 tiles or 55 tiles respectively). The remaining unused dominoes form the boneyard, or stock. Each player draws seven tiles from the stock, and then places them in their hand. Those dominoes remain in their hand until an opening double is played, and then they become part of the chain that develops snake-style across the table.
Dominoes have many different games and variations, but most of them fall into one of two categories: blocking or scoring games. In a blocking game, the goal is to empty your opponent’s hand while preventing them from doing so. In a scoring game, the objective is to accumulate more points than your opponent by counting the number of pips on all of your dominoes.
The word “domino” most likely stems from the Latin, dominus, meaning master of a house or estate. The vocative, domine, became the Scottish and English dominuse and then domino. It has also been suggested that the name comes from the shape of the tile. The flat side is shaped like a truncated pyramid, and the raised or pointed side looks somewhat like a tusk.
In 2004, Domino’s faced a serious challenge, as the company’s stock was dropping and its profits were dwindling. Former CEO David Brandon knew that he needed to take swift action. He implemented a series of changes, including relaxing the dress code and revamping employee training programs. He also spoke directly to employees about their concerns, and this line of communication was a key part of Domino’s success.
Lily Hevesh began collecting dominoes at the age of 9. Her grandparents had a classic 28-pack, and she loved setting up straight or curved lines and flicking them to see them all fall, one after the other. She started posting videos of her creations on YouTube, and she’s now a professional domino artist. She’s worked on projects for movies, TV shows, and even an album launch for Katy Perry. She even holds the Guinness World Record for most dominoes toppled in a circular arrangement: 76,017.
She’s created a huge variety of setups, from simple chains to multicolored spirals and intricate designs involving thousands of dominoes. Some of her favorites include a heart made out of dominoes, a tree of life, and a giant dragon. She’s also a great teacher, and she offers workshops for children and adults to teach them the basics of domino art.