Mexican Train
Free online dominoes game · Play the computer · No sign-up
Mexican Train in a nutshell
Mexican Train is a dominoes game where everyone builds a line of tiles out from a double in the centre. You add to your own train, to the shared Mexican Train, or to any train with a marker on it. Play your last tile to end the round, and after 13 rounds the lowest score wins.
- Set out the engine. The round starts with a double in the centre, called the engine. The first round uses the double 12, the next the double 11, and so on down to the double blank.
- Take your tiles. With 2 to 4 players, everyone takes 15 tiles. The rest go face down in the boneyard, the pile you draw from.
- Match the numbers. On your turn, play one tile so that its end matches the open end of a train. Your own train always starts from the engine.
- Use the Mexican Train. There is one shared Mexican Train that anyone may start and play on, as long as the tile matches.
At a glance
- Players
- 2 to 4 players you plus 1 to 3 computer players
- Length
- 13 rounds about 5 minutes a round
- Equipment
- Double-12 set 91 dominoes
- Learn it in
- 5 minutes match the numbers
Mexican Train questions
How many dominoes do you start with in Mexican Train?
With a double-12 set, each player takes 15 tiles for 2 to 4 players, 12 tiles for 5 or 6 players, and 11 tiles for 7 or 8 players. On this site you play with 2 to 4 players, so you get 15.
Can you play on the Mexican Train at any time?
Yes. The Mexican Train is shared, so on any turn you may start it or add to it, as long as your tile matches. The only exception is when a double is waiting to be covered.
What happens if nobody can cover a double?
The player who played the double tries first, drawing one tile if needed. If they still cannot cover it, their train gets a marker and the next players must cover the double before playing anywhere else.
Can you end the round on a double?
Yes. If a double is your last tile, playing it ends the round straight away. It does not need to be covered.
How much is the double blank worth?
On this site the double blank counts as 0 by default. Some families count it as 50 points, and you can choose that in the settings.
What is the marker for?
When you cannot play, a marker (often a small train) is placed on your train. While it is there, anyone may play on your train. It comes off as soon as you play on your own train again.
