Domino is a game of two players who use pieces called dominoes to knock down other dominoes. Each domino is a rectangle divided by a line down its middle, and each of its ends are either blank or have a number of spots–called pips–on them. Traditional domino sets have one unique piece for each possible combination of two ends, from six pips to no pips. Larger domino sets often have more pips, but they also sometimes feature readable Arabic numerals to make it easier to identify the number of pips on each tile.
Dominoes are made from wood, with a variety of textures and colors. Some are painted, while others have carved designs, such as a cross or star. They are normally twice as long as they are wide, and can be stacked and held together.
They are used in several games, including block-and-draw, draw, concentration, and trick-taking. The most common is the block-and-draw game, played with a set of shuffled dominoes face down on the table and with players drawing for the lead, then taking turns to place and knock down tiles. The winner is the player who has the lowest total pip count at the end of the game.
Other popular games include the draw game, in which players take less dominoes initially and must pick a sleeping domino to add to their set before their turn. The game is similar to the block-and-draw version, but with a greater emphasis on individual player strategy.
A variation of this game is the Concentration variant, which uses a double-six set and has players placing tiles with a total of 12 or more pips in order to match them up. It is very popular in India and has been adopted by many other countries.
Some other popular domino games are solitaire, in which players attempt to complete a puzzle or task without removing any of the tiles. These are usually based on card games, but can also be adapted to dominoes.
The domino effect is the idea that one small thing can start a chain reaction of events, which can be beneficial or harmful. This is a useful metaphor for business growth.
It is important to remember that the best results come from focusing on the right things, in the right order. Rather than trying to accomplish everything at once, break down tasks into smaller, more manageable steps and try to achieve them as quickly and as effectively as possible.
In this way, you can ensure that each of your efforts has a positive impact on the next step. As you do this, your goals and vision can grow in scope, and become more realistic.
For example, if you are attempting to improve your financial health, it may be helpful to break down the process into several good dominoes that can be completed in short periods of time. This will help you focus on what is most important, while avoiding distractions.