What You Need to Play

• A double-12 domino set

• One marker per player, plus a marker for the Mexican Train (e.g., a quarter or small object)
  

Objective

The goal of Mexican Train Dominoes is to be the first player to play all your dominoes by creating trains that connect to the central “hub” (station). Players also aim to achieve the lowest score after three rounds by strategically managing their tiles.

Game Setup

1. Prepare the Dominoes: Turn all dominoes face down and shuffle them.

2. Determine Starting Player: Each player draws one tile, and the player with the highest total pips goes first. Return the tiles and reshuffle.

3. Draw Tiles: Each player draws tiles based on the number of players:

   • 2–4 players: Draw 15 tiles each

   • 5–6 players: Draw 12 tiles each

   • 7–8 players: Draw 11 tiles each

4. Set Up Your Tiles: Stand your dominoes on edge so only you can see them. The remaining dominoes form the boneyard.

5. Start the Station: The first player places the highest double tile (e.g., double-6) in the center to set the station number. If no one has a double, players draw from the boneyard until someone finds one.
   

General Rules

1. Play a Tile: Dominoes must be played end-to-end with matching numbers.

2. Play Doubles: Doubles have special rules:

   • Playing a double grants an extra turn.

   • Doubles must be “closed” by playing another tile on them before playing elsewhere.

   • If you can’t close a double, draw a tile from the boneyard. If still unable to close, play passes to the next player.

3. Start Your Train: Each player begins their private train by playing a tile that matches the station number. If you can’t start your train, draw one tile from the boneyard. If still unable to play, place a marker on your train.
   

Mexican Train

The Mexican Train is a shared train that any player can play on. It starts when a player places a tile matching the station number on an empty line from the hub. The Mexican Train can be played on at any point after the first round of turns.

Playing Your Turn

• Each turn, you may:

  1. Play a tile on your own train. If your train has a marker, remove it once you play.

  2. Play on the Mexican Train.

  3. Play on another player’s train if it has a marker.

• If you can’t play, draw one tile from the boneyard. If still unable to play, place a marker on your train.
  

Ending a Round

• A round ends when a player plays all their tiles or no more moves can be made.

• Players tally the pips (dots) on their remaining tiles. The player with no tiles scores 0 for that round.
  

Scoring

• Each pip on unplayed tiles counts as a point.

• After three rounds, the player with the lowest total score wins the game.
  

Strategies and Tips

1. Plan Ahead: Keep your train diverse to maximize playable options.

2. Use the Mexican Train Wisely: It’s a shared resource but can be a powerful way to discard high-value tiles.

3. Close Doubles Quickly: Avoid leaving doubles open, as it can block your play and others’.

4. Watch Opponents: Pay attention to other players’ moves to anticipate their strategy.

5. Block Strategically: Use your tiles to limit opponents’ options by forcing them to draw more tiles.
   

Frequently Asked Questions and Variations

1. What happens if a player has only one tile left?

   • They must announce “uno” or double-tap the table.

2. Can a player play on the Mexican Train with one tile left?

   • Yes, but they must announce, “only one tile.”

3. What happens if the boneyard is empty?

   • If no tiles are left to draw, the player must pass and place a marker on their train.

4. Are there variations?

   • Yes! Popular variations include Chicken Foot, which features unique rules for playing doubles.