Playing Mexican Train – Dominos Rules
Mexican Train Dominos is a great game that we’ve recently been introduced to, but we found the rules in the game we bought to be a little confusing.
The dominoes rules we learned work better for our family because it allows the little ones to play Mexican Train.
The Mexican Train Dominos start at double 12′s. You can also purchase these dominos with actual numbers on them to replace the dots. This might work better if you have a young counter as you will see later on, they will need to be able to count the dots in their remaining tiles. To start – each person takes a set number of tiles (determined by the number of players) and the person who has the highest set of doubles starting with 12 begins. The next round starts with the next lower doubles. The play goes clockwise with each person starting their leg – looks like a spider – with the same number as the double or picking one tile which they can play if it is a playable. From there you play on your leg each turn with a couple of exceptions.
1st – You can play on another person’s leg if after they have picked, they cannot. You know it is open to play on because they must place a plastic train – which comes in the set – on their leg when they can’t play. Then when they are able to play on their leg again, they can remove the train. We like to use M&Ms as the train marker, then eat them when you get to remove it!
2nd – Start a Mexican Train. If you have a another tile that matches the double played to start the game, you can start another leg, that is independent of the main body and legs. Then any player can play on the train too. There is only one Mexican Train started per round.
A few nuances – if you play a doubles tile during the round (like 3′s), the doubles tile must be “satisfied” before regular play can continue. How this is accomplished is that either the person who plays the doubles tile must play another tile with the same number or it goes around the table for each person’s turn until someone can satisfy it. You must draw if you can’t play. You can however play the drawn tile if it matches. This can mess up the best laid plans! Also, it is not uncommon for someone to get stuck for the whole round without getting their leg started. The upside here is if you play rounds down to double 1′s, this evens out.
The object of each round is to be the first to get rid of all your tiles. All other players add the total dots (or numbers) on the tiles they have left. You use this number for their score. Adding the score for each round, the winner is the person at the end who has the lowest points.
That is a fun and easy way to play Mexican Train Dominoes. The dominos rules can be followed by pretty much anyone. This fun family game makes for a great Christmas gift too!
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