Mexican Train Dominoes Rules — How to Play

Mexican Train is the go-to domino game for parties, family gatherings, and anyone who wants to play with a large group. It uses a double-twelve set, features personal and communal trains, and inverts the usual scoring so that the lowest score wins. This guide covers everything you need to set up and play.

What You Need

• Double-twelve domino set (91 tiles).
• A center hub — many sets include a plastic hub with slots for trains. A flat surface works too.
• Train markers — small tokens (coins, figurines, or the markers included in many sets) to indicate open trains.
• 2–8 players (best with 4–6).
• Pen and paper for scoring.

Setup

1. Find the Starting Double

The first round starts with the double-twelve tile placed in the center of the hub. Each subsequent round uses the next double down (double-eleven, double-ten, etc.) through double-blank.

2. Deal Tiles

Distribute tiles based on player count:

Place remaining tiles face-down as the boneyard.

3. Build Initial Trains (Optional Starting Play)

Before the first turn, each player may lay down a sequence of matching tiles extending from the hub as their initial personal train. This is optional — some groups skip this and play one tile per turn from the start.

Key Concepts

Personal Trains

Each player builds a line of tiles extending from the central double. You play on your own train on your turn by matching the open end.

The Mexican Train

A communal train that any player can add to on their turn. It starts empty. A tile matching the central double can start it. It is typically marked with a special token.

Open and Closed Trains

• Closed train: Only you can play on it.
• Open train: Marked with a train marker — any player can play on it. Your train becomes open if you cannot play on your turn.

How to Play

Play proceeds clockwise. On your turn:

1. Play on Your Own Train

Place a matching tile on the open end of your personal train.

2. Or Play on an Open Train / the Mexican Train

If you cannot (or choose not to) play on your own train, you may play on:

• The Mexican train (always available).
• Any opponent’s open train (marked with a marker).

3. If You Cannot Play Anywhere

Draw one tile from the boneyard. If it plays, play it. If not, place a train marker on your personal train (it is now open to all players) and your turn ends.

4. Close Your Train

If your train is open and you successfully play on it on a future turn, remove the marker — your train is closed again.

The Double Rule

Doubles have special handling in Mexican Train:

1. Play a double on any eligible train.
2. You must immediately “close” the double by playing a second tile on it (the second tile must match the double’s number on one end).
3. If you cannot close it: Your turn ends, and the double remains open. Every subsequent player must attempt to close the open double before doing anything else.
4. If a player cannot close it: They draw from the boneyard. If the drawn tile closes the double, they play it. If not, they mark their train and play passes to the next player.
5. If the double goes all the way around unclosed: The player who laid it draws and attempts to close it. If they cannot, the double is “dead” and play resumes normally.

Ending a Round

A round ends when:

• A player goes out by playing their last tile. They score 0 for the round.
• The boneyard is empty and no one can play. All remaining players count their pips.

Scoring

Each player adds their remaining pip count to their cumulative score. Double-blank (0-0) counts as 0 or 50 (agree before playing — 50 is the tournament standard).

Rounds and Game Length

A full game of Mexican Train has 13 rounds (double-twelve through double-blank). After all rounds, the player with the lowest total score wins.

For shorter games, play a subset of rounds (e.g., double-twelve through double-six for 7 rounds).

Strategy Tips

• Play doubles early — Holding doubles is risky because the forced-closure rule can leave you stuck.
• Start the Mexican train if you can — it gives everyone (including you) an extra outlet.
• Watch opponents’ trains — When an opponent’s train opens, play on it with tiles that are hard for them to close.
• Balance your suits — Keep a variety of numbers to avoid drawing.
• Manage your pips — Since low score wins, shed high-value tiles as a priority.
• Count remaining rounds — In later rounds with lower doubles, tile values decrease, so earlier rounds matter more.

Quick Rules Summary