Domino, the word and the game, originated in Europe in the late 18th century. Its exact origin is unclear, though it probably derives from the French term for a long black cape worn together with a mask during carnival season or at a masquerade. This cape might have evoked the domino piece’s ebony black and ivory contrast. In any event, both the game and the word became popular in taverns and other public gatherings.
Dominoes are used to play a variety of games, most of which involve blocking or scoring. They are also a medium for creating works of art. Many people display domino art in their homes or offices. Others compete in domino shows where they build a complex and imaginative arrangement of dominoes before a live audience.
Hevesh, a 20-year-old YouTube domino artist who has more than 2 million subscribers, makes stunning creations with thousands of dominoes that take several nail-biting minutes to fall. Her largest displays feature 76,017 dominoes, which are arranged in a circular pattern.
She creates these elaborate setups by laying each tile in careful succession. She tries to anticipate how each domino will fall, but sometimes it’s impossible to predict what the next move will be. A slight nudge from another domino or from the floor can set off a chain reaction that leads to the final collapse.
When she starts a new project, Hevesh often begins by creating a base with a line of dominoes that are touching at one end or the other. She then lays each domino on top of this base. If she lays a double, it is placed perpendicular to the other dominoes. She can then add more doubles and so on. The chain will grow and develop its own shape.
Domino is played in a wide range of ways, but the most common way is by placing each domino edge to edge against a previous one until all of the exposed ends match. If the matched pairs total a certain number, points are awarded. The most basic form of the game involves a single player and multiple sets of dominoes.
The game grew in popularity in the mid-20th century and was eventually introduced to North America by Monaghan. He positioned the first Domino’s locations near college campuses and other venues that would appeal to students. He emphasized speed, too, which was essential to his strategy since he knew that students often wanted pizza quickly.
Domino is also the name of a chain of pizza and pasta restaurants that is widely known throughout the world. The company’s first location opened in 1967 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The chain has more than 200 stores and employs more than 70,000 people worldwide. It has an estimated annual revenue of more than $27 billion. The Domino’s Pizza franchise was a success because it relied on the same principles as the chain of pizza shops that Monaghan pioneered: putting fast food in high-traffic areas to attract customers and get them into their cars quickly.