Mexican Train Dominoes

Mexican Train Dominoes

The objective of Mexican Train is to be the player with the lowest score after someone runs out of dominoes to end each of 13 rounds of play.

With 2-4 players, each player draws 15 dominoes; with 5-6 players, 12 dominoes; and with 7-8 players, 11 dominoes are drawn.

The player with the highest double starts the play. In subsequent rounds, the highest double that has not already been played, with the objective being to use all the doubles by the end of the game. If no one has a double that has not been played, players draw in turn until one is found. This player opens the station by placing this double in the center as the engine, then starts their own train on one of the eight sidings of the station by placing a domino that has one half matching the central double domino. Each subsequent player follows suit. Any player who is unable to play must draw a domino, which may then be played if one half matches the central domino. If they cannot start their train, they must place a marker on their siding so others may play on their “public” train.

Dominoes may be placed on the player’s own train, on the Mexican train, or on the “public” trains of other players who could not play on their own train. A player may not play on the Mexican train or any other train until their own train has been started, either by them or by another player.

When a player initially starts their own train, they may play as many dominoes as they can string together. On subsequent turns, players are only permitted to play one domino at a time, unless playing a double. They may not play a string of dominoes on a public train or on the Mexican train; they may only play one domino on those trains unless playing a double.

When a double is played, it is placed perpendicular to the train, then that player must make another play on that double if they can. If they cannot, the player draws a domino and plays this on the double if possible. Otherwise, their train must be marked as “public” and play passes to the next person able to play on the double. If the next player is unable to finish the double, they too must draw a domino and play this on the double if possible. If not, their train likewise becomes “public.” Play carries on in this way until the double is finished. Normal play resumes with the player whose turn follows whoever finally finished the double.

Exceptions to the doubles requirement: (1) if there are no more matching dominoes for that double the round ends; (2) If the double is your last domino, you still need to play an additional domino. In other words – you cannot end the round by playing a double

Scoring - As soon as one player runs out of dominoes, play for that round ceases and the remaining players total up the sum of their remaining dominoes. Any player left with the double zero domino at the end of a round adds an additional 50 points to their score.