Mexican Train Dominoes

What You Need: The Dominoes

Mexican Train Dominoes is typically played with a double-twelve domino set. This set contains 91 dominoes in total, with pip values ranging from 0 (blank) up to 12. Knowing how many dominoes are in Mexican Train Dominoes is key to understanding the game's scope. Each unique combination of numbers appears on one domino (e.g., a 12-5, a 6-6, a 0-3).

Dealing the Dominoes: How Many Do You Start With?

Before you ask "how do you play Mexican Train Dominoes?", you need to know how many dominoes you start with in Mexican Train. This depends on the number of players:

• 2 to 4 players: Each player draws 15 dominoes.
• 5 to 6 players: Each player draws 12 dominoes.
• 7 to 8 players: Each player draws 10 dominoes.

The remaining dominoes are placed face down to one side, forming the "boneyard" or "draw pile". Players keep their dominoes standing on edge, hidden from opponents.

Game Setup: The Engine and Trains

The game begins with the highest double domino from the set (e.g., the double-12 in the first round) being placed in the center of the playing area. This is called the "engine" or "station." Each player has their own personal "train" line that will start from this central engine. The "Mexican Train" is an additional, public train that can also be started from the engine.

How to Play Your Turn in Mexican Train Domino Game

The player who placed the engine (or a player determined by drawing highest domino, or the player who won the previous round) starts. On your turn, you attempt to play one domino. To play, you must match one end of a domino from your hand to the open end of a valid train. You can play on:

• Your Personal Train: This is your primary train to build upon.
• The Mexican Train: Once started by any player (by matching a domino to the engine), anyone can play on it.
• Opponents' Public Trains: If an opponent was unable to play on their last turn and had to mark their train with a marker (e.g., a coin or small train token), their train is "public," and you can play on it.

Drawing from the Boneyard

If you cannot make a legal play on any available train with the dominoes in your hand, you must draw one domino from the boneyard. If this newly drawn domino can be played, you must play it immediately. If it cannot be played, your turn ends. You must then place a marker on your personal train (if it's not already marked), signifying that it is now "public" and open for other players to use until you can legally play on it again (at which point you can remove your marker).

Special Rules for Playing Doubles

Playing a double domino (e.g., a 6-6) has special rules:

• Play Again: After playing a double, you MUST play another domino immediately. This second play can be on any valid train.
• Unable to Play After a Double: If you play a double but cannot make a second play, you draw from the boneyard. If you still cannot play, your turn ends. If the unsatisfied double was played on your personal train or the Mexican train, that train is now "open" and the next player *must* attempt to "satisfy" or "close" that double by playing a domino matching its value before making any other move. If they cannot, they draw, and if still unable, their train becomes public, and the responsibility to satisfy the double passes to the next player.

Doubles are often played perpendicular to the train to make them stand out.

The Mexican Train

Any player can start the Mexican Train on their turn if they have a domino whose end matches the engine. This train is communal, and once started, any player can add to it on their turn, provided their domino matches the open end of the Mexican Train. It does not require a marker to be played on.