Domino is a game of matching ends of domino tiles with one another. Each end is marked with a different number of spots, called pips. The pips on a domino tile are organized into suits; each suit has its own color and corresponding numbers of dots. The first player to complete a full line of dominoes wins the game.

Domino was invented in Italy and became a popular fad by the early 18th century. It came to England by way of France, where it was a popular pastime for both children and adults. Domino was also used as a tool for teaching basic arithmetic. The earliest known domino puzzles were of the type where players were given a pattern and asked to place tiles on it so that the exposed ends matched.

The modern Domino brand is owned by the Italian company, Ratti. The brand has become a global phenomenon with more than 25,000 locations worldwide. While the chain has a global presence, it is still closely aligned to its core values, which include providing excellent service and championing employees. The Detroit Free Press reports that the company puts an emphasis on hiring from local colleges and has implemented a value system that emphasizes respect, honesty and loyalty.

The game of domino is played on a large rectangular table or on an open floor, with a set of domino pieces (usually made from ivory or bone) laid out in a row and ready for play. The pieces are double-sided, with the identity-bearing side being patterned with an arrangement of pips, while the other side is blank or unmarked, representing zero. The name of the game derives from the Latin dominus, meaning master. The word dominus was later adapted into French dominie and English domino.

Each player begins with a single domino that is placed on the table so that its left end touches a tile in its hand. The domino that is touched then becomes the starting point for a new row, which must be completed before another piece can be laid across it. The first player to do so scores points by placing the next domino in its hand at right angles to its previous piece, so that a one’s end touches a two’s end.

In most games, each domino in a row must touch all adjacent sides of other dominoes. This rule is not a requirement in all games, but it ensures that the game ends quickly and fairly. Each player is then awarded a certain amount of points based on the total number of points of all his or her tiles.

For example, the player with the most doubles leads the game, and other players play their remaining dominoes until the winning player has played all of his or her tiles. This is referred to as dominating, and it is an important part of the strategy in many domino games. In addition to the simplest block game, other popular games of domino are matching, racing, slapjack, and double-twist.