Domino rules
Mexican Train dominoes rules
Mexican Train is the domino game for a crowd: two to eight players, a double-twelve set, and 13 rounds. Like golf, the lowest total wins.
What you need
A double-twelve set of 91 tiles, where each end shows 0 to 12 pips. Many sets come with a hub for the center and small train markers, but coins work fine. You also need a way to keep a running score for 13 rounds.
Setting up a round
- 1Take out the round's engine and put it in the middle. In round one it's the 12-12, then 11-11, all the way down to 0-0 in round 13.
- 2Turn the rest of the tiles face down and mix them.
- 3Everyone draws a hand (see the table). The rest stay face down to draw from later.
| Players | Tiles each |
|---|---|
| 2 to 4 | 15 |
| 5 or 6 | 12 |
| 7 or 8 | 10 |
Trains, markers and turns
Each player builds their own train out from the engine, and there's one shared train everyone can use: the Mexican Train.
Your train
Ana's trainMarker: open to all
Mexican Train
- 1On your turn, play one matching tile: on your own train, on the Mexican Train, or on any train with a marker.
- 2Can't play? Draw one tile. If it plays, play it. If not, pass and put a marker on your train.
- 3Your marker comes off when you play on your own train again.
Doubles
When someone plays a double, it has to be covered before anyone plays anywhere else. The player who played it gets one more try to cover it. If they can't, the next player must, and so on around the table, drawing if needed.
Ending a round and scoring
The round ends when someone plays their last tile, or when nobody can play and the draw pile is empty. Everyone else counts the pips left in their hand, and that goes on their score. Points are bad here.
After 13 rounds, add up each player's total. The lowest total wins.
Score Mexican Train with Pipside
Pipside keeps the running totals for all 13 rounds on one phone, so nobody needs a pencil.
See the Mexican Train score keeperCommon questions
- How many dominoes do you draw in Mexican Train?
- Usually 15 each with two to four players, 12 with five or six, and 10 with seven or eight. Boxes vary a little, so pick a rule and stick with it.
- Can you play on another player's train?
- Only when it has a marker, which means that player couldn't play on their last turn. The Mexican Train is open to everyone at any time.
- What does the double-blank count at the end?
- Zero at most tables. Some count it as 50 to punish holding it.
- Who wins Mexican Train?
- The player with the lowest total after all 13 rounds.