Mexican Train Dominoes Rules

How to Play Mexican Train Dominoes

Objective

Mexican Train Dominoes is related to Chicken Foot Dominoes game and can be played by 2 or more players with aim to score lowest points at the end of all rounds. The game can be played with any of the domino sets such as double-six, double-nine, double-twelve etc.

Gameplay

Domino Set: Double-nine dominoes
The game is played in rounds. Each round starts with a double. The game played with double-nine domino set has 10 rounds. The double domino required to start a round is taken out at the beginning of the round and placed at the center. In first round 9-9 is set aside. Remaining domino tiles (also called bones) are shuffled and each player is dealt 10 tiles in four player game. Remaining tiles are kept in the boneyard and can be drawn later on in the game. Each player has a personal train which they own and can play their tiles on it anytime. There is one additional special train (Mexican Train) which can be used by any player to place a tile.

First Round and First Turn

The first round starts with highest double which is 9-9 and then subsequent rounds start with next lower double (8-8, 7-7.. etc in sequence). The last round starts with double blank. The starting double for the round is taken out and placed at the center at the begining of each round before players are dealt tiles. Each round is started by the player who gets the highest tile (sum of both ends in the tile). Remaining players take turn clockwise.

In the first turn players can only play on their personal train. Each train can only be started with the rank of starting double for that round. Players can play as many tiles as possible in the first turn as long as it makes a valid sequence of connected tiles. "Doubles Rule" is not applicable in the first turn so players can also end their train with a double in the first turn. If players can not play a valid tile in the first turn then they put a marker on their train which simply means the train is open for any other player to play a tile from second turn onwards.

Subsequent Turns

From second turn onwards players are allowed to only play one tile in each turn except when doubles are played. Players can play on their own train, or any other player's train which has a marker placed on it, or the additional Mexican train. Mexican train is also started with the rank of starting double for that round and can be started by any player from second turn onwards. If players have a valid move on their turn, then they must play it else, they must draw a tile from the boneyard. If the tile drawn from the boneyard can be immediately played, then it must be played. If player has no valid tile to play and tile drawn from the boneyard can also not be played then player must place a marker on their train which means that train is available to be played by rest of the players on their respective turns. As soon as owner of a train plays a tile on his personal train which had a marker, marker is removed from that train and it again becomes available only to the owner of that train.

Doubles Rule

Whenever player plays a double on any train (his, or someone else's, or Mexican Train), he must play one additional tile with it. Player can play additional tile on any train which is open at that point including just played double. If player can not play another tile, then he must draw and play immediately. If drawn tile can not be played then player passes the turn and puts a marker on his train to make it open for play to other players. Player can play more than one double in one turn. After each double player must play an additional tile. Once a player has played a double and has left the double open, it must be closed by other players before any other move can be made. If players on their turn can not close a double, then they must draw a tile and play it on the double if possible. If not then they should pass their turn and put a marker on their personal train to make it available to other players for play. If there are multiple doubles then each player can close one double on his turn.
The first turn does not follow doubles rule so players dont have to play an additional tile even if a train was left with a double at the end. Rest of the players play their turn according to the first turn rule. If a train was left with a double at the end of the first turn, then from second turn onwards doubles must be closed (meaning a tile played at the end of it) before any other move can be made.

End of Round

The round ends as soon as a player has played all his tiles. The round also ends in case none of the players has a matching tile to play and there was no tile left in the boneyard to draw. If a player is able to play all tiles in the first turn itself, then all players get to finish their first turn and then only the round ends. After end of the round all tiles are moved to the boneyard and shuffled and dealt similar to first round. The rank of starting double decreases by one in each subsequent turn.

Scoring

At the end of each round, pips are counted for remaining tiles (if any) for each player which becomes player's score for the round. After all 10 rounds, the player with the lowest points wins the game.