Rules

Mexican Train is played with a double-12 set of dominoes by 2 to 8 players. These are the standard rules, the same words the game shows on the TV.

1. The goal

  • Get rid of your tiles.
  • When a round ends, the pips left in your hand count against you.
  • After 12 rounds, the lowest total wins.

2. Setting up

  • Each round starts from a double in the station: double-12 in round 1, then one lower each round.
  • Everyone is dealt a hand: 16 tiles with 2 players, down to 9 tiles with 8.
  • The tiles left over are the bone pile.

3. The trains

  • Everyone has their own train, which starts from the station.
  • The Mexican Train belongs to everyone. Anyone can start it, but not on their first turn.
  • Its first tile must match the station double, like every train.

4. Your first turn

  • On your first turn of each round, lay a chain on your own train.
  • Play as many tiles as you like: the first matches the station double, and each one matches the one before.
  • If you can't start your train, draw one tile. If it matches, play it on its own; if not, put a marker on your train.

5. Each turn

  • Play one tile that matches the open end of your own train, the Mexican Train, or any train with a marker.
  • If you can play, you must.

6. Doubles

  • When you play a double, play one more tile, on any train you can play on. If that one is a double too, play one more again.
  • If you can’t, draw. If that doesn’t help, mark your train.
  • A double that ends up uncovered can stay open; nobody has to cover it.
  • You can’t go out on a double: your last tile can’t be one that still needs covering.

7. Drawing and markers

  • No tile to play? Draw one from the bone pile. If it fits, play it.
  • If it doesn’t, put a marker on your train. Anyone can then play on it, until you play on it yourself.
  • Playing on another train doesn’t remove your marker.
  • If the bone pile is empty, mark your train and pass.

8. Scoring

  • A round ends when someone plays their last tile, or when the bone pile is empty and nobody can play.
  • Everyone adds up the pips left in their hand.
  • The double blank counts 50 points.
  • Lowest total after 12 rounds wins.

Matching tiles

A tile joins a train when one of its ends matches the number showing at the train's end:

House rules you can choose

Families play Mexican Train in different ways. Before a game starts, the host picks how these work, and anyone can check them on the TV during the game.

First turn
Lay a chain of as many tiles as you can on your own train (standard), or play one tile like any other turn.
Open doubles
A double left uncovered can stay open (standard), or must be covered before anyone plays anything else.
Covering a double
Cover it on any train you can play on (standard), or only on that same double.
Starting the Mexican Train
Its first tile matches the station double (standard), or it can start with any tile.
Rounds
12 (standard, from double-12 down to double-blank), or any number from 1 to 13.
Double blank
Counts 50 points in a hand at the end of a round (standard), or 25, or 0.

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