What you need
- A double-12 domino set (91 tiles)
- A train marker for each player and one for the Mexican Train (coins work well)
- Paper, or the free score keeper
Players and time
2-8 players. About 1 to 2 hours for all 13 rounds.
The goal
Get rid of your dominoes by building trains from a center double. A round ends when someone plays their last tile. Everyone else scores the pips left in their hand. Play 13 rounds; the lowest total wins.
Setup
- Put the double-12 in the center for round 1. Turn the other dominoes face down and shuffle them.
- Each player draws a hand, based on the number of players. The set maker's chart for a double-12 set: 2 players 16 tiles, 3 players 15, 4 players 14, 5 players 12, 6 players 11, 7 players 10, 8 players 9. Pagat's chart is different (see the note below).
- The remaining dominoes form the boneyard. Keep your hand hidden from the others.
- Choose who starts round 1. In later rounds the starting player moves one seat clockwise.
- Each player builds their own train out from the center double, and there is one shared public train, the Mexican Train, which anyone may play on.
- Subsequent rounds: reshuffle all the dominoes. Each round starts with the next lower double in the center: double-12 first, then double-11, and so on down to the double blank in round 13.
A turn
- First turn: play one domino, or a chain of dominoes from your hand, onto your own train. The first domino must match the center double, and each next domino must match the open end of the last one. Dominoes joined end to end must show the same number of pips.
- If you cannot start your train, draw one domino from the boneyard. If it fits, play it. If it does not, end your turn and put your marker where your train would start. You may not play on another player's train on the first turn.
- Later turns: play one domino per turn. You may play on your own train, on the Mexican Train, or on another player's train only if it has a marker on it.
- The Mexican Train can be started on any turn after the first one. Its first domino must match the center double.
- If you cannot play, draw one domino from the boneyard and play it if you can. If you still cannot play, put your marker on your own train (leave it if it is already there). Your train is now open for everyone to play on.
- You can take your marker off your train once you play on your own train again.
- If someone plays all their dominoes on the first turn, the other players still get their first turn before the round ends and scores are counted.
Special cards and combinations
- Doubles
- A double is a domino with the same number on both ends, and it is placed crosswise. After you play a double you must play a second domino on your turn. It can go on the double or on any other train you may play on. If you cannot play a second domino, draw one. If you still cannot play, put your marker on your own train and your turn ends.
- Satisfying (covering) an open double
- If a double is still open at the end of a turn, nobody may play on any other train until someone plays a domino on that double. A player who cannot do this after drawing puts their marker on their own train. Once it is covered, play returns to normal.
- Going out
- The round ends when a player plays their last domino. It also ends when the boneyard is empty and nobody can play. Pagat adds that going out with a double ends the round immediately.
- Different hand sizes
- Hand sizes differ between sources. The set maker chart above is one common version. Pagat uses 15 dominoes for 2 to 4 players, 12 for 5 or 6, 10 for 7 or 8, and 8 for 9 or 10. Another published guide uses 15, 12 and 11 for 2-4, 5-6 and 7-8 players. Agree on one before you start.
Scoring
At the end of a round, each player adds up the pips on the dominoes left in their hand. The player who went out scores 0. The blank half counts as zero. Lower is better.
If nobody can go out (the boneyard is empty and everyone has passed), the round is blocked. Nobody scores 0 just for having the lowest hand: every player, the lowest included, scores the pips left in their hand.
After the last round, add the 13 round scores. The lowest total wins.
| Player | Round score |
|---|---|
| Player who played their last domino | 0 |
| Blocked round (nobody went out) | Every player scores the pips left in their hand, even the lowest hand |
| Everyone else | Total pips on the dominoes left in hand |
| A 12-5 domino | 17 points |
| A 6-6 domino | 12 points |
| A blank-2 domino | 2 points |
Worked example
Four players. In round 1 (the double-12 round) Player 2 goes out and scores 0. Player 1 holds 12-5, 6-6 and blank-2: 17 + 12 + 2 = 31. Player 3 holds 14 pips and Player 4 holds 22.
In round 2 (the double-11 round) Player 1 goes out. Player 2 holds 18 pips, Player 3 holds 9 and Player 4 holds 27.
Totals after two rounds: Player 1 has 31 + 0 = 31, Player 2 has 0 + 18 = 18, Player 3 has 14 + 9 = 23 and Player 4 has 22 + 27 = 49. Player 2 leads.
Keep score with the Mexican Train score keeper
How to win
After round 13 (the double-blank round), the player with the lowest total score wins.
Common house rules
These are house rules. They are not part of the official rules, so agree on them before you start.
- Draw to find the starting double House rule
- Pagat describes letting the holder of the center double start, and drawing from the boneyard until someone finds it. The set maker rules put the double out before dealing instead.
- No draw on the first turn House rule
- Pagat has a player who cannot start their train just put a marker down, with no draw. The set maker rules and the other guide have you draw one domino first.
- Winner scores the pips House rule
- Some groups give the winner of the round the total pips left in the other hands and play for the highest total. Pagat lists this as a variation. The score keeper uses the standard lowest-total scoring.
- Fewer rounds with a smaller set House rule
- With a double-9 set, play 10 rounds, starting with the double-9. The score keeper lets you change the starting double.
Frequently asked questions
How many dominoes does each player get in Mexican Train?
It depends on the source. One set maker deals 16 for two players down to 9 for eight players. Pagat deals 15 for 2-4 players, 12 for 5-6, 10 for 7-8 and 8 for 9-10. Pick one chart and stick to it.
How many rounds are there?
There are 13 rounds in a full game: the double-12 round first, then double-11, down to the double blank.
What does a marker mean?
A marker on a player's train means that train is open. Anyone can play on it. You get a marker when you cannot play on your turn. You can take it off once you play on your own train.
What is the Mexican Train?
It is one extra train that belongs to nobody and is always open to everyone. It starts from the center double and can be started on any turn after the first.
Do I have to cover a double?
Yes. When a double is left open at the end of a turn, nobody may play elsewhere until someone covers it. If you cannot cover it after drawing, you put your marker on your own train.
Who scores 0 in a round?
The player who plays their last domino. Everyone else scores the pips left in their hand.
What if nobody can play?
The round ends when the boneyard is empty and all players have passed. Everyone counts the pips left in their hand and scores that many points, including the player with the fewest. Nobody scores 0 unless their hand is empty.
Can I play with a double-9 set?
Yes. Start with the double-9 and play 10 rounds, down to the double blank. The score keeper supports this through its starting-double setting.
Sources
- Mexican Train, Pagat (The standard reference for the rules. Source for the 13-round format, hand sizes, markers, doubles and scoring.)
- Mexican Train Deluxe Dominoes rules (55405), University Games (A set maker's instruction sheet. Source for the hand-size chart, first-turn draw, markers and covering doubles.)
- Beginner's guide and rules to Mexican Train Dominoes, mexicantrain.com (An app maker's guide to the most common play. Used as a cross-check for hand sizes and markers.)