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🚂

Mexican Train

The Ultimate Family Domino Game

👥 2-8 Players 🎲 Double-12 Dominoes ⏱️ 45-90 Minutes 📊 Easy
🎯
Objective
Lowest score wins
🚂
Key Feature
Build domino trains
🏁
Round Ends
When someone goes out
📊
Rounds
13 rounds (12-0)

What is Mexican Train?

Mexican Train is an incredibly popular domino game perfect for family gatherings and parties. Players build personal "trains" of dominoes extending from a central hub, plus there's a communal "Mexican Train" anyone can play on!

The game combines simple matching mechanics with strategic decisions about when to open your train, how to handle doubles, and when to play on the Mexican Train.

🎲
Equipment Needed

Double-12 domino set (91 dominoes with 0-12 pips)

Train markers for each player (coins, figurines, or included markers)

Center hub (optional but helpful)

Setup

  1. Place the Starting Double
    Find the double-12 and place it in the center (or in the hub). Round 1 starts with double-12, Round 2 with double-11, etc.
  2. Draw Your Tiles
    Each player draws dominoes based on player count:
    • 2-4 players: 15 dominoes each
    • 5-6 players: 12 dominoes each
    • 7-8 players: 10 dominoes each
  3. Create the Boneyard
    Remaining dominoes stay face-down in the center. This is the "boneyard" - you'll draw from here if you can't play.
  4. Get Train Markers Ready
    Each player keeps their marker nearby. You'll place it on your train when it becomes "open."

Starting Your Train

On your very first turn of each round, you can play multiple dominoes to start your personal train!

  1. Match the Center Double
    Your first domino must have the starting number (12 in Round 1). Place it extending outward from the center.
  2. Chain as Many as Possible
    Keep playing matching dominoes end-to-end. You can play your entire hand if they all connect!
  3. Can't Start? Draw and Mark
    If you have no matching domino, draw ONE from the boneyard. If it plays, play it. Either way, place your marker on your train space.
💡
First Turn Strategy

Play as many dominoes as possible on your first turn! This is your only chance to play multiple tiles at once (unless doubles are involved).

Regular Turns

After the opening turn, each player plays ONE domino per turn (unless playing doubles).

Where Can You Play?

  • Your own train - Always available to you
  • The Mexican Train - Always available to everyone
  • Other players' trains - ONLY if they have a marker on their train (it's "open")

If You Can't Play

  1. Draw One Tile
    Take one domino from the boneyard.
  2. Play It If Possible
    If the drawn tile can be played anywhere legal, you MUST play it.
  3. Mark Your Train
    If you still can't play, place your marker on your train. It's now "open" for others!
⚠️
Removing Your Marker

When you successfully play on YOUR OWN train, remove your marker. Your train is now "private" again!

The Mexican Train

The Mexican Train is a communal train that anyone can play on at any time!

  • It starts from the center hub like personal trains
  • Anyone can start it on their turn (if no one has yet)
  • Anyone can extend it on their turn
  • Great for getting rid of tiles that don't fit your train
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Why "Mexican" Train?

The communal train is often marked with a small train figurine or a special marker. It's called "Mexican" because the game originated in Mexico!

Playing Doubles

Doubles (tiles with the same number on both ends) have special rules!

  1. Place It Sideways
    Doubles are placed perpendicular (sideways) to the train.
  2. Must Be "Satisfied"
    A double must be "closed" or "satisfied" by placing another matching domino on it.
  3. You Get Another Turn!
    If you play a double, you MUST play again. If you can satisfy it yourself, do so. If not, your turn ends.
⚠️
Open Double Rule

If a double remains "open" (unsatisfied), ALL players must try to close it before playing anywhere else! This continues until someone closes it or everyone draws and can't.

Ending a Round

A round ends when:

  • A player plays their last domino ("goes out"), OR
  • The game is blocked (no one can play and boneyard is empty)
🔔
One Tile Warning

When you're down to your last domino, tap it on the table or say "Uno!" (just kidding - but do warn others!)

Scoring Points

At the end of each round, count the pips (dots) on your remaining dominoes. Lower is better!

Counting Pips
Double-12 remaining 24 points
6-4 remaining 10 points
Blank-blank (0-0) 0 points!
Player who went out 0 points!
📝
Double-0 Exception

In some versions, the double-blank (0-0) counts as 50 points to discourage hoarding it!

Full Game (13 Rounds)

A complete game has 13 rounds, starting with a different double each time:

Starting Doubles by Round
Round 1 Double-12
Round 2 Double-11
Round 3 Double-10
... ...
Round 13 Double-0

After all 13 rounds, the player with the lowest total score wins!

First Turn Strategy

  1. Plan Your Chain
    Before playing, arrange your tiles to see the longest possible chain from the starting number.
  2. Get Rid of High Tiles
    Prioritize playing high-pip dominoes (like 12s, 11s) since they hurt more if you're stuck with them.
  3. Keep Flexible Tiles
    If you must stop your chain, try to end on a number you have multiple tiles for.

Train Management

  1. Protect Your Train
    Always try to play on your own train to remove your marker. An open train helps your opponents!
  2. Use the Mexican Train
    The Mexican Train is great for getting rid of tiles that don't fit your train.
  3. Attack Open Trains
    Play on opponents' open trains to change their end number - might force them to draw!
💡
Train Endings

Pay attention to what numbers end each train. Try to keep your train ending on numbers you have tiles for!

Double Strategy

  1. Play Doubles Early
    Doubles are hard to play (need a train ending in that number). Get rid of them early!
  2. Have a Follow-Up Ready
    Before playing a double, check if you have another tile to satisfy it. Otherwise you might be stuck!
  3. Strategic Open Doubles
    Playing a double you CAN'T satisfy forces everyone to focus on that number. This can help if opponents are close to going out!

Common Mistakes

❌
Hoarding Doubles

Doubles are high-risk tiles. Doubles (especially high ones like 12-12 = 24 pts) can really hurt your score!

❌
Ignoring Others' Open Trains

Playing on opponents' open trains can disrupt their plans. Don't always play on your own train!

❌
Forgetting the Open Double Rule

When there's an unsatisfied double, you MUST try to close it before playing elsewhere. This trips up new players often!

Popular Variations

Double-9 Version ▼

Use a double-9 set (55 dominoes) instead:

  • 10 rounds instead of 13
  • Draw 7-8 dominoes per player
  • Faster games, good for smaller groups
  • Same rules otherwise
Chicken Foot Doubles ▼

When a double is played:

  • THREE dominoes must be played on it (not just one)
  • Forms a "chicken foot" pattern
  • Creates three new branches on that train
  • Much more chaotic and fun!
No Boneyard Draw Limit ▼

Instead of drawing just one tile:

  • Keep drawing until you CAN play
  • Makes the game longer but less luck-dependent
  • No one gets stuck unable to play
  • Popular with competitive players
Double-Blank = 50 Points ▼

Special scoring for the 0-0 tile:

  • Double-blank counts as 50 points if caught with it
  • Prevents players from hoarding this "free" tile
  • Makes getting rid of it a priority
  • Can dramatically change end-game strategy
Short Game (Fewer Rounds) ▼

Play fewer rounds for a quicker game:

  • Play rounds 12-6 only (7 rounds)
  • Or just play 3-5 random rounds
  • Great when time is limited
  • Still counts total score to determine winner

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