Mexican Train Dominoes is a captivating game enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. Its blend of strategy and luck makes it a perennial favorite for family gatherings and game nights. Whether you’re a complete novice or looking to refine your understanding, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know about Mexican Train Rules, ensuring you can confidently jump into your next game.
What You’ll Need to Play Mexican Train Dominoes
Before you start laying down tiles and building trains, gather these essential components:
- A Double-Twelve Domino Set: This is standard for Mexican Train, providing a wide range of tiles for gameplay.
- Markers for Each Player: Small, distinct markers (like coins or tokens) are needed for each player to identify their private train and the Mexican Train.
- A Central Hub (Optional but Recommended): While not strictly necessary, a central hub or starting piece can help organize the game and clearly designate the starting station number.
Understanding the Objective and Basics of Mexican Train
The primary objective in Mexican Train Dominoes is simple: be the first player to empty your hand of all dominoes. Players achieve this by strategically building “trains” of dominoes emanating from a central hub. These trains must adhere to domino-matching rules, connecting end-to-end with matching numbers of pips (dots).
Each player has a personal train, and there’s also a communal “Mexican Train” open to everyone. Success in Mexican Train hinges on a mix of strategic tile placement, anticipating opponents’ moves, and a touch of luck in the draw.
Setting Up Your Mexican Train Dominoes Game
Follow these steps to get your game of Mexican Train Dominoes underway:
- Shuffle the Dominoes: Place all dominoes face down and thoroughly shuffle them to ensure a random distribution.
- Determine the First Player: Each player draws one domino. The player with the highest pip count on their drawn domino goes first. Return the drawn dominoes face down and reshuffle all tiles.
- Distribute Dominoes: Each player draws their initial hand from the shuffled dominoes. The number of dominoes dealt varies based on the number of players:
- 2-4 Players: Each player draws 15 dominoes.
- 5-6 Players: Each player draws 12 dominoes.
- 7-8 Players: Each player draws 11 dominoes.
- Arrange Your Hand: Stand your dominoes on their edge, facing you, so your opponents cannot see your tiles.
- Form the Boneyard: The remaining face-down dominoes become the “boneyard,” from which players will draw additional tiles during the game.
- Gameplay Direction: Play proceeds clockwise around the table.
- Rounds and Winning: Mexican Train is typically played over multiple rounds, often three. The player with the lowest total score across all rounds is declared the winner. The goal in each round is to have the fewest pips remaining in your hand when a player goes out.
Playing the Game: Turns, Doubles, and Train Management
Understanding the gameplay mechanics is crucial to mastering Mexican Train. Here’s a breakdown of how to play:
Starting the Round: Setting the Station Number
The first player initiates the round by starting the public Mexican Train. They attempt to play their highest double domino in the center of the playing area. This double sets the “station number” for the round. For example, if the first player plays a double-6, the station number for this round is 6.
If the first player doesn’t possess a double, play passes clockwise to the next player. This continues until a player can play a double to start the station. If no player has a double in the initial pass, players take turns drawing one domino from the boneyard until someone draws a double and can start the station.
Opening Personal Trains: Your First Move
Once the station number is established with the initial double, each player begins building their own private train. Starting with the player who placed the initial double, and moving clockwise, each player must attempt to start their train by playing a domino that matches the station number.
For example, if the station number is 6, each player must play a domino with a 6 on one end to begin their personal train. If a player cannot start their train because they don’t have a matching domino in their hand, they must draw one domino from the boneyard. If they still cannot play a matching domino after drawing, they place a marker (like a coin) at the starting point of their train to indicate it is “publicly open.” Play then passes to the next player.
Understanding Doubles and Their Impact
Doubles are dominoes with the same number of pips on both ends (e.g., double-3, double-12). Playing a double in Mexican Train has special implications:
- Extra Turn: When you successfully play a double, you earn an immediate second turn.
- Closing Doubles: A double played on any train (your own, another player’s marked train, or the Mexican Train) must be “closed” on your subsequent turn. This means you must play another domino that matches the number of the double onto that double before you can play elsewhere.
- Drawing to Close: If you play a double but cannot close it on your next turn (you don’t have a matching domino), you must draw a domino from the boneyard. If you draw a domino that can close the double, you must play it. If you still cannot close the double after drawing, your turn ends, and play passes to the next player. The double remains “open” and must be closed by the next player who can play on that train.
Exceptions to the Double Closing Rule:
- Last Domino of a Number: If the double you play is the very last domino in the entire game with that pip number (e.g., the last 6 in a double-6), you do not need to close it.
- Last Domino of the Game: If playing a double is your last domino, and it ends the round for you, you do not need to close it.
- Removing a Marker: If you play a double on your own train to remove a marker that was previously placed there (indicating it was publicly open), you still must close the double according to the standard rule.
The Mexican Train: A Shared Opportunity
The Mexican Train is a public train, started on a separate line, and is open to all players. It’s initiated with a domino matching the station number. The Mexican Train can be started at any point after the first round of initial train openings.
Playing on Trains: Your Options Each Turn
On each of your turns after the initial train openings, you have several options for playing your dominoes:
- Play on Your Own Private Train: You can extend your personal train by playing a domino that matches the open end of your train. If your train has a marker on it (meaning it was previously open for others to play on), playing on your own train removes the marker, making it private again (unless you play a double that isn’t closed).
- Play on the Public Mexican Train: You can play on the Mexican Train if you have a domino that matches its open end.
- Play on Another Player’s Marked Train: If another player has a marker on their train (indicating they couldn’t play and opened it to the public), you can play on their train. This can be a strategic move to help yourself or to disrupt another player.
Drawing from the Boneyard and Marking Your Train
If, on your turn, you are unable to make a legal move on any available train (your own, the Mexican Train, or a marked train), you must draw one domino from the boneyard. If you draw a domino that you can play immediately, you must play it. If you still cannot play after drawing, you place a marker on your own train to indicate that it is now publicly available for other players to play on. If your train already has a marker, you leave it marked.
Scoring a Round of Mexican Train
A round of Mexican Train concludes immediately when a player successfully plays all of their dominoes. This player is awarded a score of 0 for the round. All other players then count the total number of pips (dots) on their remaining dominoes. This pip count becomes their score for the round.
After scoring, players reset, reshuffle the dominoes, and begin the next round, starting with the next player in clockwise order to initiate the station number. Mexican Train is typically played for three rounds. After the agreed-upon number of rounds, players tally their cumulative scores from each round. The player with the lowest total score at the end of all rounds is the winner.
Strategies and Tips for Excelling at Mexican Train
While luck plays a role in the draw of dominoes, strategic play is essential for consistent success in Mexican Train. Consider these tips to enhance your game:
- Observe Played Tiles: Pay close attention to the dominoes that have already been played, particularly the station number and common numbers. This can help you deduce what tiles your opponents might be holding and anticipate their potential moves.
- Diversify Your Train: Aim to build a personal train that incorporates a variety of numbers, rather than focusing on just one or two. This increases your flexibility and the chances of having playable dominoes as the game progresses.
- Strategic Use of the Mexican Train: The Mexican Train is a powerful tool for emptying your hand quickly. Utilize it when advantageous, but be mindful of not depleting your hand to the point where you have no playable tiles for your own train.
- Blocking Opponents: Consider playing dominoes that might limit your opponents’ options. For example, if you know an opponent is heavily invested in a particular number, playing a domino with that number on the Mexican Train might hinder their progress.
- Adapt Your Strategy: Mexican Train is dynamic. Be prepared to adjust your strategy as the game unfolds, based on the tiles played, the size of your hand, and the state of other players’ trains.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mexican Train Rules
- What if a player has only one domino left? They should announce “domino!” or “last tile” to alert other players.
- Can I play on the Mexican Train with my last domino? Yes, you can play your last domino on the Mexican Train to go out and end the round.
- What if the boneyard runs out of dominoes? If a player cannot play and the boneyard is empty, they simply pass their turn and must place a marker on their personal train if it isn’t already marked.
- Can I play a double on my own train? Yes, you can play a double on your own train, and it follows the standard double rules: you get another turn and it must be closed.
Mexican Train Dominoes is a game that combines simple rules with engaging strategy. By understanding these rules and incorporating strategic thinking, you’ll be well-equipped to enjoy and excel at this popular domino game. Gather your friends and family, set up your trains, and get ready for hours of fun!
