How to play Train Dominoes

Train Dominoes, often called Mexican Train, is played with a double-twelve set of 91 tiles. Each round, everyone builds a train of matching tiles from a double in the middle of the table. Play out all your tiles first and you score nothing; everyone else counts the dots left in their hand. After thirteen rounds, the lowest total wins.

The deal and the engine

• The first round starts with the double 12 in the station, called the engine. The next round uses the double 11, and so on down to the double blank.
• With two to four players, everyone draws 15 tiles. The rest stay face down in the boneyard.
• The deal moves one seat to the left each round.

Trains

• Every player has a personal train. It starts with a tile that matches the engine, and every tile after that must match the open end.
• There is also one shared train, the Mexican train. Anyone may start it or add to it on any turn.
• You may play on someone else's train only while it shows an Open marker.

A turn

• Play one tile on your own train, on the shared train, or on any open train. If you have a tile that fits, you must play it.
• If nothing fits, draw one tile from the boneyard. If it fits, play it. If not, pass: your train gets an Open marker.
• The marker comes off as soon as you play on your own train again.

Doubles

• A double is laid crosswise, and the player who laid it plays again.
• The double must be covered before anything else: the next tile played anywhere has to go on that double. Whoever cannot cover it draws, and passes with an Open marker if the new tile does not help either.

Scoring

• A round ends when someone plays their last tile, even a double. It also ends when the boneyard is empty and nobody can play.
• Everyone adds up the dots on the tiles left in hand. The double blank counts zero.
• After all thirteen rounds, the lowest total wins. In Settings you can play 7 or 3 rounds for a shorter game, and pick one, two or three computer players.

Tips

1. Plan a long line. At the start of a round, look for the longest chain you can build from the engine number. That line is your own train.
2. Spend other tiles elsewhere first. Tiles that do not fit your line belong on the shared train or an open train, while your own train waits for you.
3. Drop heavy tiles early. A double 12 stuck in your hand costs 24 points when someone goes out.
4. Play a double when you can cover it. You get the extra turn and keep the others waiting.
5. Keep your train closed. An Open marker invites everyone to block the line you planned.

Today's round

The Daily Round is one round with the double 12, the same tiles and the same three computer players for everyone. The fewer points left in your hand, the better. Your first try of the day is the one that counts.

Questions

Can I undo a tile? No. Like at a real table, a tile you lay stays there. On a phone, the first tap picks the tile up and shows where it can go, and the second tap plays it.

Can I play two doubles in one turn? Not here. After a double you play once more, and that tile has to cover the double. Some families allow more; house rules may come later.

How strong are the computer players? Easy plays almost at random. Normal plans the longest line for its own train and drops other tiles first. Sharp also imagines where the unseen tiles could be and plays out the rest of the round in its head before it picks a tile.

Can I play with my family? Playing with friends over a link, each on their own phone, is coming soon. For now you play the computers.

Do I need an account? No. Your game is saved in this browser, so you can close the page and come back.