Rules

Revised July 12, 2012

This version of rules for Mexican Train is based on the original, “official” rules by Roy & Katie Parsons ©1994 and copyrighted by Puremco, Inc. in 2005. They were written by David Bauguess in 2007 for ease of use. These rules use a popular alternative rule for playing doubles that adds strategic interest to the game. Mexican Train can be played with various size domino sets (double-6, double-9, double-12, etc.). These rules assume you are using a double-12 or double-9 set. (For a faster game with 2 to 4 players, use a double-9 set, or remove the 36 tiles with 10 or more pips from a double-12 set.)

Object of the Game

Be the first to play all of your dominoes, or at least as many high-point dominoes as possible, in each round. The lowest total score at the end of all rounds wins the game.

Preparation

Depending on which domino set you are using, find and set aside the double-12 or double-9 domino. Turn the other dominoes face down and shuffle them. Each player then draws the number of tiles shown in the chart below. The remaining tiles are gathered into one or more "train yards" or "bone piles" that are used for draws during play. Place the starting double-12 or double-9 domino on the table, centered between the players in a centerpiece or hub designed for holding the double and starting the trains, if you have one.

Next, each player uses his drawn tiles—hidden from view by the other players—to form a personal train. Do this by matching the denominations, beginning, if possible, with a domino that matches the double domino in the center, called the engine. (If there is no tile in the hand that matches the engine, formation of the train may have to wait.) Dominoes that do not fit in the personal train remain in the player’s hand as “extras.”

Starting 

Designate a player to start the game. Thereafter, rotate the starter of each round in clockwise order.

• If you are the starter and you have a domino that matches the denomination of the engine tile, you have two play choices: either start your personal train or start the Mexican train—a line of end-matching dominoes that must begin with the same denomination as the engine tile. Once the Mexican train has been started, it is normally an eligible train for all players. If desired, a marker (explained below) can be placed and left on the Mexican Train to indicate it is an eligible train for play. If you are unable to play, see Unable to Play & The Marker below.

• After you have played a tile, play moves clockwise to the next player. The subsequent players start their play in a similar manner. If the Mexican train hasn’t been started, any player can start it during their turn. Other play options are covered in the next section.

Play

With the exception of playing doubles (covered below), you are allowed to play one playable (end-matching) tile during each turn, if you can. Assuming you have one or more playable tiles, the usual “eligible” trains you can play on are: your personal train, the Mexican train, or any train with a “marker” (explained below). If you do not have a playable tile, draw a tile from the bone pile and play it if possible. If you have a playable tile, you must play, even if the playable tile has to be taken out of your personal train line-up in your hand. It is not an option to not play, say, for a strategic reason!

• Unable to Play & The Marker  If you are still unable to play after drawing a tile, place a marker (e.g., a penny or small train marker, if included in your domino set) on your personal train near the end or where the train will begin, if it hasn’t yet been started. Your turn then ends and play goes to the next player. A marker on a train signifies the train is eligible to be played on by the other players. While there is a marker on your train, you can still play on any eligible train during your subsequent turns.

• The End of Play  To avoid any question as to when a turn is completed, it behooves the players to agree on a “rule” that defines the end of play. For example, once the player’s hand has been removed from the played tile, the turn is over and the play cannot be changed.

• Removing a Marker A marker on your train remains there until you play on your personal train during a subsequent turn. Once you have played, you are obligated to remove your marker, making your train ineligible to the other players.

• Double Dominoes There are rules pertaining specifically to the play of doubles. 

Ending a Round

• When there are no more tiles in the bone pile, a player must pass if he does not hold a playable tile, and then place a marker on his train.

• When a player has only one tile left, he must notify the other players by tapping it on the table. (In addition to or instead of tapping, you might want to require that it be announced verbally and/or indicated in some other way.) 

• A round ends when a player has “dominoed” (played his last tile, even if it is a double), or when the bone pile is depleted and no one can play and the game is completely stalled.

Subsequent Rounds

Each new round begins with the double that is one number lower than the engine in the last round (12, then 11, then 10, etc.). Find and set aside the double before shuffling the dominoes. All trains, including the Mexican train, must begin by matching that double. The blank double is the engine in the last round, meaning that a full-length game with double-12 dominoes consists of 13 rounds.

Scoring

Each player counts the number of pips on his unplayed tiles and gives the number to the scorekeeper, who at the end of the final round totals each player's points. The player with the lowest total score wins.

Optional Rules

The rules do not cover infractions, such as drawing a tile when there is a playable one in the hand; or, when a player fails to notify the other players that he has only one tile in his hand. To keep the game moving smoothly, it is suggested the players decide in advance how such situations will be handled when they arise—forgive or penalize. If it is decided there will be a penalty, you might continue normal play without correcting the error, but require the player who broke the rule to draw a tile, keep an already drawn tile, or skip their next turn.

Summary of the Rules of Play   Playing Non-Double Tiles: During your turn you may play one tile. (Playing doubles is an exception covered below.) Any player may start the Mexican train during their turn. If you have a playable tile, you must play. If you cannot play, you must draw a tile from the bone pile and play it if you can. If you are unable to play, you must place a marker on your train. A marked train is eligible for play by all players. The marker remains on your train until you play on it. When there are no unsatisfied doubles, the trains eligible for play are your personal train, the Mexican train, and any marked trains. Playing Double Tiles: During your turn you may play one double or as many doubles in succession as you can play on any eligible trains. Then… After you play your last double, you are required to end your turn by playing a non-double tile. The eligible trains for this play are the Mexican train, the train with the first double you played, and any eligible train that ends with a non-double. If you can’t play a non-double, draw, play it if you can, or mark your train. If you draw a double, play it and proceed with playing a non-double as just described. Repeat if and as necessary. The following rule applies to all subsequent players: Doubles must be satisfied in the order they were played, so if one or more doubles remain unsatisfied, your only eligible play is to satisfy the next unsatisfied double. Of course, the rule to play, draw and play, or mark your train, applies. If a player shows the other players that all the non-doubles needed to satisfy a double have already been played, then at that point, there is no obligation to satisfy it, and that train is no longer playable. Tiles that were drawn in a prior attempt to satisfy the double cannot be returned to the bone pile!

• Take a reasonable, sufficient time to build your personal train, lest the best possibility is lost to a more obvious one. Double check that all tiles are end-matched.

• In building your personal train, consider that it might be best to build a train with fewer tiles but with more pip points, especially toward the front of the train. Using the recommended alternate doubles rule, there is a greater chance you might have to break up your train to satisfy a double. If you have high pip tiles at the back of the train in your hand, you might then have a harder time playing those remaining tiles.

• Arrange the tiles in your hand in such a way that other players cannot easily tell the how many tiles you have in your train.      

• When advantageous to you, use the Mexican Train and other eligible trains to unload high-point tiles. While you might be inclined to make it a priority to rid your hand of all extras (including low-point tiles) early in the round, optimistically assuming your train is a sure play, consider that you could be forced to break it up to satisfy a double. This could leave you with high point tiles that are not a sure play!

• When you have a choice of plays, consider what possible advantage or disadvantage your play will have for other players, especially those who are leading in the scoring. For example, if you play a double and are able to either satisfy it or play a non-double on another eligible train, consider which play will likely be most favorable for you.

• When it is an option, be open to playing off the back end of your train, especially if you can rid your hand of a high point tile, or there is another strategic advantage to doing so.

• Since playing a double from any location in your personal train does not break up the train, be open to playing it at any time it is playable.

• Monitor how close the other players might be to ending the round, and adjust your strategy if needed, e.g., if you can play a double and leave it unsatisfied, they might be forced to draw and put their markers on their trains.

• Open doubles must be satisfied in the order they were played. If you are going to play two or more doubles during your turn and you want to satisfy one of them to end your turn, play that double first.

• If you are obligated to satisfy a double and you suspect that all 13 tiles of the needed denomination have already been played, count before you draw, lest you unnecessarily acquire an extra tile. No need to advise other players to do the same!

• Although it's fun ending a round with your last tile, remember: The low total score wins the game. Too much risk in trying to end rounds can defeat you in the end.

• A good bluff on your part might lead another player to make a poor choice in play. A subtle smile might be all it takes. Use with discretion.