The Basics of Domino
Domino is an elegant game of strategy. It’s a game that’s been around for centuries, and it can be played in many different ways. However, the basics of domino are remarkably similar. The game requires quick observational skills, strategic planning, and a keen understanding of the rules. But it’s also a game that can be altered according to the whims of the players and the limitations of the playing surface.
Lily Hevesh first got into dominoes when she was about 9 years old. Her grandparents had a classic 28-piece set that she would play with, and the physics of the game fascinated her. She started posting videos of her domino creations to YouTube and now has more than 2 million subscribers. Hevesh creates mind-blowing domino setups that are used for movies, television shows, and events. The first step in creating her creations is considering a theme or purpose of the installation. Then she brainstorms images and words that she might want to include in the design. She tests each part of the setup to make sure it works before she puts them all together.
When a domino is placed, its matching ends must touch each other. The rest of the tile is “open” for play, and additional tiles can be placed against it from one or both directions. For example, if the initial domino is a 6-6, a tile can be placed to its right or left, producing open ends of 5 and 6. Usually, an additional tile is played to a double. This produces a “snake-line” domino chain, and the shape of the chain develops according to the whims of the player and the limitation of the playing surface.
Traditional European-style domino sets are made of natural materials such as bone (often silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell, or MOP), ivory, and a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on them. Modern domino sets are often made of polymer, but they can also be made from stone (e.g., marble, granite, or soapstone); woods other than ebony (often mahogany or rosewood); metals such as brass or pewter; ceramic clay; and crystal. These materials and designs can give a domino set a unique look, but they are usually more expensive than polymer sets.
Domino’s had been losing money for some time when David Brandon became CEO in 2004. He knew that if the company wanted to thrive, it needed to take its customers seriously. So he introduced a relaxed dress code, revamped employee training programs, and spoke directly to employees to find out what they wanted from the company. This line of communication was crucial to Domino’s turnaround. It wasn’t an easy path, but it was a successful one. By the end of the decade, Domino’s was back on top.
Domino is an elegant game of strategy. It’s a game that’s been around for centuries, and it can be played in many different ways. However, the basics of domino are remarkably similar. The game requires quick observational skills, strategic planning, and a keen understanding of the rules. But it’s also a game that can be altered according to the whims of the players and the limitations of the playing surface. Lily Hevesh first got into dominoes when she was about 9 years old. Her grandparents had a classic 28-piece set that she would play with, and the physics of the game fascinated her. She started posting videos of her domino creations to YouTube and now has more than 2 million subscribers. Hevesh creates mind-blowing domino setups that are used for movies, television shows, and events. The first step in creating her creations is considering a theme or purpose of the installation. Then she brainstorms images and words that she might want to include in the design. She tests each part of the setup to make sure it works before she puts them all together. When a domino is placed, its matching ends must touch each other. The rest of the tile is “open” for play, and additional tiles can be placed against it from one or both directions. For example, if the initial domino is a 6-6, a tile can be placed to its right or left, producing open ends of 5 and 6. Usually, an additional tile is played to a double. This produces a “snake-line” domino chain, and the shape of the chain develops according to the whims of the player and the limitation of the playing surface. Traditional European-style domino sets are made of natural materials such as bone (often silver lip ocean pearl oyster shell, or MOP), ivory, and a dark hardwood such as ebony, with contrasting black or white pips inlaid or painted on them. Modern domino sets are often made of polymer, but they can also be made from stone (e.g., marble, granite, or soapstone); woods other than ebony (often mahogany or rosewood); metals such as brass or pewter; ceramic clay; and crystal. These materials and designs can give a domino set a unique look, but they are usually more expensive than polymer sets. Domino’s had been losing money for some time when David Brandon became CEO in 2004. He knew that if the company wanted to thrive, it needed to take its customers seriously. So he introduced a relaxed dress code, revamped employee training programs, and spoke directly to employees to find out what they wanted from the company. This line of communication was crucial to Domino’s turnaround. It wasn’t an easy path, but it was a successful one. By the end of the decade, Domino’s was back on top.