Mexican Train

Mexican train is a version of dominoes, most often played with a double twelve set. A double fifteen set can be used for games with more than 4 players. Coins are used as markers as well. The entire set of dominoes is shuffled and players pull tiles from the boneyard according to how many players are in the game. Up to 4 players take 15 dominoes each, 5 or 6 take 12, 8 take 10 and 9 or 10 take 8 tiles each. The remaining dominoes are left face down in the boneyard.

In the first round of a double 12 set, the player with the double 12 plays first by placing it in the center of the table. The second game will start with the double 11 and so on. If no one has the double to start, players draw from the boneyard until someone finds it. Beginning with the player who started the round, and continuing clockwise, each player starts a train, a single row of tiles starting from the double in the center, each played tile's numbers matching up the end tile in the train. This number would be 12 in the first round. A single train might look like this:

12:3 - 3:4 - 4:7 - 7:9 - 9:1 etc..

In the first turn only, the player may play as many dominoes as they wish, as long as they form a valid train. If any player ends their first turn's train with a double, this has no effect until all players have played their first turn. When the first player begins their second turn, the exposed double will have to be rectified. If a player is unable to start a train because they do not initially have the required match for the center tile, they must place a penny marker on their train. This means that until they can play on their own train, any player may play on theirs. No player, however, is allowed to play on another's in the first round.

After everyone has played their first turn, the rules change. Players place only one domino per turn, unless they have a double. Players may play on their own train, on a player's open train, or on the Caboose, a side train that is opened by another player. Any player who has another tile that matches the center tile can create the Caboose. Only one Caboose is allowed per game.

If a player cannot play on any open train, they must draw one tile from the boneyard. If they still cannot play, they must place a penny marker on their own trains, opening it up to everyone. Once a player is again able to play on their own train, they may remove the marker, closing the train to open play.

If a player plays a double on any train, they must close the double by playing an extra tile after it. If the player does not have a tile to play on the double, they must draw from the boneyard. If they still cannot play, they place a marker on their train and play continues. However, the double must be rectified and players are required to attempt to play on the double, even at the risk of their own trains.

Play ends when one player runs out of dominoes or the layout becomes blocked and there are no more plays. Players then count the number of pips left in their remaining tiles. Play begins again with the next lower double and continues to double blanks and the player with the lowest score wins.

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