Victor Hugo Padilla Jimenez

What Are the Rules for Mexican Train Dominoes?

Fast, friendly, and a little spicy: the simple way to play Mexican Train.

Ready to turn a pile of dots into big laughs and quick wins? Mexican Train is easy to learn, fast to play, and perfect for family or friends. You match numbers, build little “trains,” and race to run out of tiles first. Let’s get you rolling in minutes.

Quick answer (so you can start now)

The rules for Mexican Train Dominoes are: match numbers end to end, start your own train from the “engine,” you may also start a shared “Mexican Train,” cover any double right away (play one more tile if you can), draw one tile when you can’t play, mark your train “open” if you still can’t play, the round ends when someone goes out or no one can play, and the lowest total dots at the end of all rounds wins.

What you need (very little!)

A double set of dominoes (many groups use Double-12; smaller groups can use Double-9).
Table space with a center “engine” spot.
One marker per player (a coin or penny works) to show an “open” train.
A face-down pile called the “boneyard.”

Set up the round in two steps

Pick the engine: Use the highest double in your set for the first round (with Double-12, start with double-12). In later rounds, step down (11s, 10s… all the way to double-0).
Deal hands: Give each player a small hand of tiles (groups use different counts; just agree before you start). Put the rest face down as the boneyard.

How a turn works (the tiny loop you’ll repeat)

Play if you can: Lay one tile that matches the open end of one train: your train, another player’s open train, or the shared Mexican Train.
If you can’t play, draw: Take one tile from the boneyard. If it fits, play it now. If not, place your marker on your train—your train is now “open” for others.

The doubles rule (important and fun!)

If you play a double, you must immediately play one extra tile (on any train you’re allowed to use) to “cover” that double.
If you can’t cover it, draw one tile. If it still doesn’t cover, your turn ends and your train stays open.
Play continues, but the table tries to cover that double as soon as possible.

Your train vs. the Mexican Train

Your train: Starts from the engine and matches its number. It’s closed to others unless you mark it open (because you couldn’t play).
Mexican Train: Anyone can start it by placing a tile that matches the engine. It’s always open to all players.

Open and closed trains (the tiny sign that changes everything)

Closed train: No marker. Only the owner can play it.
Open train: Has a marker. Anyone may play on it until the owner removes the marker by playing on it again.

Ending a round (and a full game)

A round ends when a player uses all tiles or when nobody can play.
Score: Add the dots on tiles left in each hand. Lowest score is best. (Some groups give the double-blank a big penalty—agree before you start!)
Play all engine numbers from high to low (for example, 12 down to 0). Lowest total score wins the game.

House rules you can choose (pick before you play)

Draw one only: On a dead turn, draw exactly one tile and stop.
Must-cover doubles: The table must cover a double before any other play.
Start Mexican Train anytime: You can launch it as soon as you have a matching tile for the engine.
Double-blank value: Count it as 0, 25, or 50—agree first.

Fast examples (see the flow)

Example 1: Engine is 12-12. You have 12-9. You start your train with 12-9. Next time, you can add 9-something.

Example 2: You play 10-10 (a double) on the Mexican Train. You must play one more tile right now that connects to a 10. If you can’t, draw one; still can’t? Your turn ends and the table tries to cover that 10-10 soon.