Your train
Only you can play on it while it is closed. Its locomotive stands flat at the station.
Classic games
Mexican Train Dominoes
Build your own train out of the station, slip awkward tiles onto the shared Mexican Train, and cover every double before it becomes everybody’s problem.
1–7 computer players, or 2–8 people online · phone, tablet or computer · no sign-up
- PlayersYou and 1–7 computer players, or 2–8 people online with optional computer players
- DevicesPhone, tablet or computer, with touch, mouse or keyboard
- TimeAbout 15–25 minutes for the free 4 rounds, about an hour for all 13 (estimates)
- Free and At Yours Plus4 complete rounds free. At Yours Plus adds the 13-round game, 7-round games and a private series
In shortMexican Train is a dominoes game for 2–8 players played with a double-twelve set. Each round starts from a double in the central station; on your turn you add one matching tile to your own train, to the shared Mexican Train, or to any train with a marker on it. Doubles must be covered, the first player to empty their hand ends the round, and after the last round the lowest total wins.
Rooms, phones and privacy
Your tiles stay yours
Each screen only receives its own hand. Draws stay private: everyone sees how many tiles you hold and every tile that is played, never the tiles in your hand.
The room checks every moveTurn order, matching ends, markers, the boneyard and doubles that must be covered are all enforced by the room. Out-of-turn and illegal plays are refused.
Computer playersIn the lobby the host can add Relaxed or Sharp computer players to fill seats, up to eight in all. They play straight away, and every screen replays their moves one at a time.
RoomsRooms last two hours, and the host can add time in the final 30 minutes. Reopen your invitation in the same browser to get your seat back, or save your private recovery code from Room options. Room data is removed when the room closes or expires.
How do you play Mexican Train dominoes?
You match tiles to open ends, one tile per turn, trying to empty your hand before anyone else. These are the common rules we use at this table; families often have their own house rules.
- The round’s double goes in the station in the middle: 12–12 in round 1. Shuffle the other 90 tiles and deal 15 each for 2–4 players, 12 for 5–6 or 10 for 7–8. The rest are the boneyard.
- On your turn, play one tile whose number matches an open end: the end of your own train, the shared Mexican Train, or any other train that has a marker on it.
- If you can’t play, draw one tile from the boneyard and play it if it fits. If it still doesn’t, pass and put a marker on your train. Your train is now open to everyone until you play on it again.
- Doubles must be covered. Play a double and you play again, on that double. If nobody can cover it, each player in turn draws, then passes and marks their train, until someone does.
- The round ends when someone plays their last tile, or when the boneyard is empty and nobody can play.
- Everyone counts the pips left in hand and adds them to their score (the 0–0 counts 50). The next round starts with the next double down. After the last round, the lowest total wins.
How many tiles does each player get in Mexican Train?
Fifteen tiles each for two to four players, twelve for five or six, and ten for seven or eight. The starting double sits in the station, so 90 tiles are dealt from.
| Players | Tiles each | Left in the boneyard |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 15 | 60 |
| 3 | 15 | 45 |
| 4 | 15 | 30 |
| 5 | 12 | 30 |
| 6 | 12 | 18 |
| 7 | 10 | 20 |
| 8 | 10 | 10 |
What happens when you play a double in Mexican Train?
You play again straight away, and that tile must cover the double. If you can’t cover it, draw one tile; if that doesn’t fit either, pass and put a marker on your train. The next player must then cover the double, and so on round the table: no tile may be played anywhere else until it is covered. The table rings the waiting double, locks the other trains and tells you which number is needed.
How do train markers work?
A marker means a train is open to everyone. You get one on your own train whenever you have to pass, and it comes off the moment you play on your own train again. While it is there, any player may add tiles to your train. The Mexican Train is always open.
An open train
The locomotive tips up and the train is marked open. Anyone may play on it until its owner plays there again.
The Mexican Train
The shared train with the gold star. Anyone may start it, once per round, and anyone may extend it.
How do you score Mexican Train?
When a round ends, every player adds up the pips on the tiles left in their hand, and that number is added to their total. The player who went out scores nothing for the round. The 0–0 counts 50 points, a common house rule that makes the blank double a tile to get rid of. If the round is blocked, everyone still counts their hand. After the last round (round 4 in the free game, round 13 in the full game, ending with the 0–0 engine), the lowest total wins.
Mexican Train questions
What is the Mexican train?
The Mexican Train is the shared train in Mexican Train dominoes. Anyone may start it from the central station on their turn, once per round, and after that anyone may add to it. It is a safe place for a tile that doesn’t fit your own train. On our table it is the ivory track with a gold star on its locomotive.
What happens when you play a double?
You play again, and your next tile must cover the double: it goes on the double’s open end. If you can’t cover it, draw one tile and play it if it fits; if it still doesn’t, pass and put a marker on your train. Until someone covers the double, every player must play on it and nowhere else. A double played as your last tile ends the round.
How many players can play Mexican Train?
Two to eight. Against the computer you play with 1–7 computer players. In a private online room 2–8 people join on their own devices, and the host can add computer players to fill empty seats, up to eight players in all.
Which domino set do you use?
A double-twelve set: 91 tiles with ends from 0 to 12. Each round takes its starting double out of the set and puts it in the station: 12–12 in round 1, 11–11 in round 2 and so on. With 2–4 players everyone gets 15 tiles, with 5–6 players 12, and with 7–8 players 10.
How long does a game of Mexican Train take?
It depends on the group, so treat these as estimates. Against the computer, the free 4-round game usually takes about 15–25 minutes and the full 13 rounds about an hour. Online with friends, allow a little longer for each round. There is no turn timer.
Is Mexican Train free to play here?
Yes. A complete 4-round game (12–12 down to 9–9) is free against the computer and in a private room, with no account or download. At Yours Plus adds the full 13-round game down to 0–0, 7-round games and a private game-night series. At Yours Plus is $4.99/month or $29/year (USD); in a room only the host needs it, and guests join free.
Can I play on a phone or with a keyboard?
Yes. Tap a tile, then tap a glowing end on the table or in the Open ends row; there is no dragging. Every open end shows its number in large type. On a keyboard, use the arrow keys and Enter to pick a tile, number keys to choose a train, D to draw and P to pass. A flat table appears if your device can’t show 3D, and reduced-motion settings are respected.
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Family gathering coming up? Mexican Train seats up to eight, so it suits Thanksgiving games and Christmas games nights too.