Mexican Train Rules

Mexican Train is a dominoes game for 2 to 8 players. Everyone builds a line of matching tiles, called a train, out from a center hub. There is also one shared train, the Mexican Train, that anyone can add to. The goal is to get rid of your tiles. When a round ends, the dots left in your hand count against you, and after 13 rounds the lowest total wins.

These rules follow the most widely used version of the game (as written up by Pagat). No two rule sheets agree on everything, so the common variations are listed at the end and on our house rules page.

1. What you need

• A double-12 set of dominoes (91 tiles). Every number from 0 (blank) to 12 is paired with every other number once, including the doubles 0|0 to 12|12. Large groups sometimes use a double-15 set (136 tiles).
• A hub, also called a centerpiece or station: a round piece with a slot for the starting double and room for up to 8 trains around it. You can play without one by laying the double in the middle of the table.
• Markers: one small marker per player (many sets include little plastic trains). Coins or buttons work too.
• A score sheet and pencil. You can print a large-print score sheet or use the free "Score my table" scorekeeper in the Roundhouse app.

2. Setting up and hand sizes

Put all the tiles face down and mix them. Each player takes the number of tiles shown below and stands them on edge so others can't see them. The tiles that are left are the boneyard (the draw pile).

Rule sheets that come in the box often give different numbers. Any of them works, as long as everyone agrees before the deal.

3. The hub and the engine double

Each round starts from one double, called the engine, placed in the hub. Round 1 uses 12|12, round 2 uses 11|11, and so on down to 0|0 in round 13.

There are two common ways to get the engine into the hub:

• Set it aside first. Take the engine double out before mixing, put it in the hub, and deal from the rest. The first player then moves one seat to the left each round. This is the simplest way, and it is how the Roundhouse app deals.
• Find it after the deal. Whoever holds the engine double places it in the hub, and play begins. If nobody has it, players take turns drawing from the boneyard until someone finds it.

Every train starts from the hub, so the first tile of every train must have the engine number on one end. In round 1, that means a tile with a 12.

4. The first turn

On the first turn of each round, every player in turn may lay as many tiles as they can in a line on their own train, starting from the hub. Each tile must match the open end of the one before it, like 12|5, 5|9, 9|3. Nobody plays on the Mexican Train or on another player's train during this first turn.

Building a long train at the start is a big advantage, so take your time. A player who can't start their train at all puts their marker on it (see below).

Some families skip this step and play just one tile per turn from the very start. See "First turn" on the house rules page.

5. Trains and markers

Each player has a personal train: the line of tiles running from the hub toward their seat. From the second turn on, you play one tile per turn (doubles are the exception, below). You may add it to:

• your own train,
• the Mexican Train, or
• any other player's train that has a marker on it.

When you can't play on your turn, you put your marker on your own train. A marker means "open": while it is there, anyone may play on your train. The marker comes off when you play a tile on your own train again.

6. The Mexican Train

The Mexican Train is a shared train that belongs to nobody. Any player can start it, after the first turn, by playing a tile that matches the engine number onto the hub. Once started, anyone can add to it on their turn. It is always open, and it never takes a marker.

There is only one Mexican Train per table. Some families only allow you to start or play on it after you have started your own train; see house rules.

7. Doubles

Doubles, like 7|7, are where Mexican Train gets interesting.

1. Play again. When you play a double, you then play one more tile anywhere you are allowed to play. That can be on the double itself.
2. The double must be covered. If the double is still uncovered when your turn ends, it must be covered next. Until it is, nobody may play anywhere else. Each player in turn must play a matching tile on the double. A player who can't do so draws one tile; if that tile doesn't cover it either, they pass and put their marker on their own train.
3. Can't play after your double? Draw a tile. If it plays, play it. If not, pass, put out your marker, and the next player must cover your double.
4. Several uncovered doubles (this can happen when someone plays two doubles in one turn) are covered in the order they were played.

Some families play doubles "open", meaning they never have to be covered. See house rules.

8. Drawing and passing

If you have no tile you can play, draw one tile from the boneyard. If the new tile can be played, you must play it right away. If it can't, you pass and put your marker on your own train.

If the boneyard is empty and you can't play, you simply pass and put out your marker.

9. Going out

The round ends as soon as one player plays their last tile. That player scores zero for the round. It doesn't matter if the last tile is a double: playing your last tile ends the round.

Many tables like to warn the others when a player is down to one tile, by tapping the table or saying so. That is a courtesy rather than a rule; agree on it before you play.

10. Blocked rounds

Sometimes nobody can go out. If the boneyard is empty and no player can add a tile anywhere, the round is blocked. It ends right away and everyone counts the tiles left in their hand.

11. Scoring

At the end of each round, every player adds up the dots on the tiles left in their hand. That total is their score for the round. Write it down and keep a running total.

• A blank half counts 0, so the double blank 0|0 counts 0. A popular house rule makes it worth 50.
• After the last round (the 0|0 round), the player with the lowest total wins.
• Shorter game? Play fewer rounds, for example 12 down to 6. Everyone still plays the same rounds, so the scores stay fair.

A printable score sheet has a row for every round, with the engine double printed next to it.

12. Common house rules

These are the variations people ask about most. The ones marked "In the app" are switches in Roundhouse's Table rules; the house rules page explains each one.

One tile per turn from the start (In the app)

No building on the first turn. Everyone plays one tile per turn from the beginning, which is how many box rule sheets play.

Open doubles (In the app)

Doubles never have to be covered.

A limit on doubles per turn (In the app)

For example, at most two doubles in one turn.

No play again after a double (In the app)

Your turn ends after you play a double.

When the marker comes off (In the app)

Some tables remove the marker as soon as anyone plays on the open train, or when the owner plays anywhere.

Your own train before the Mexican Train (In the app)

You may not use the Mexican Train until your own train has at least one tile.

Double blank worth 50 (In the app)

Getting caught with 0|0 costs 50 points.

Fewer rounds (In the app)

13, 7, 5 or 3 rounds, always counting down from 12|12.

Keep drawing until you can play

Some families draw until a tile plays instead of drawing just one. This makes rounds longer and is not in the app.

Announcing your last tile

A player with one tile left must tap the table or say so, sometimes with a penalty draw if they forget. Not in the app.

13. Questions people ask

How many dominoes does each player get in Mexican Train?

With a double-12 set, a common rule is 15 tiles each for 2 to 4 players, 12 tiles each for 5 or 6 players, and 10 tiles each for 7 or 8 players. Rule sheets differ, so agree on hand sizes before you deal.

Do you have to cover a double in Mexican Train?

In the standard game, yes. After you play a double you play one more tile, and if the double is still uncovered, the next players must cover it before anyone plays anywhere else. Some families play open doubles, where a double never has to be covered.

Can you play on the Mexican Train on your first turn?

In the standard game, no. The first turn is for starting your own train from the hub. From the second turn on, anyone may start or add to the Mexican Train.

What happens when nobody can play in Mexican Train?

If the boneyard is empty and no player can add a tile anywhere, the round is blocked. It ends right away and every player scores the dots on the tiles left in their hand.

How many points is the double blank worth in Mexican Train?

By the standard rules the double blank (0-0) counts 0 points, since it has no dots. A popular house rule makes it worth 50 points to anyone caught holding it at the end of a round.

Who goes first in Mexican Train?

Tables decide this in different ways. Often the player holding the engine double starts the first round, or the starting player is chosen at random. After that, the start usually passes one seat to the left each round.

How long does a game of Mexican Train take?

A full game with a double-12 set has 13 rounds, one for each double from 12-12 down to 0-0. With real tiles it often takes one to two hours. Many families play fewer rounds for a shorter game.

What is the marker in Mexican Train for?

When you cannot play on your turn, you put a marker on your own train. While the marker is there, anyone may play on your train. It comes off when you play on your own train again.