Mexican Train Dominoes
Played with Double Twelve Domino Set or 91 dominoes
No. of Players: 3-10 players (if less than 3 players are playing it is suggested that only the double blank through double nine (double nine set of dominoes is used).
1. Place all dominoes face down and move them around to "Shuffle".
2. Determine the number of dominoes to be drawn by each player
2 to 4 players.......15 dominoes
5 to 6 players.......12 dominoes
7 to 8 players.......10 dominoes
3. The remaining dominoes are set aside in a "pile" to be used as a "draw pile
4. The game starts by finding the double twelve domino and placing it in the center of the table. (The next round would start with the double eleven domino, next would be double ten, until you get to the double blank domino) There are 13 rounds to a game
5. There are two ways to start the game
1. After the players take their designated number of dominoes for the round, the double twelve (or correct double for the round) can be found by each player drawing a domino from the "draw pile" until it is found if it wasn't in the dominoes chosen or
2. For the first round just finding it in the pile before the game is started and to determine who will start each draw from the draw pile a domino and the highest count will start. After the first round is played the winner of each round will be the starter of the next round played. The double domino for the next round should be found before turning all of the domino over and "shuffling.
3. Arrange the dominoes into a "train" always starting with the correct domino number Make sure the number of spots on the first domino is correct (12 spots if you are playing with the double twelve as your starting domino.) Line up as many of your drawn dominoes as possible...the " train" are the dominoes you can play for sure....after you have built your train....keep these in order and place all of the "rest" of the dominoes in your "extra" pile. These extras should be played first....if possible. NEVER..never...play your train out of order.!!!! Whenever you can play your extra dominoes on the Mexican Train or other players trains make sure that you don't make a mistake and play one of your extras on your own train. It will make your train unplayable in the order that you have placed them.
7. Play begins when all of the players have had time to put their trains in order. The play is radiated from the center double domino. Each player has a space on which the domino should be played. Usually right in front of the marker which the player has chosen.
8. If possible the players that can and should play on the MexicanTrain an extra train which runs all over the table). This is started the same way as individual trains. The Mexican Train has to start with the same number of dots as the double in the middle of the table. This is a good way to get rid of your extra dominoes
9. Each player has the option of playing on his own train, the Mexican Train or on other players trains who have put their markers on their last domino played. .
10. Any time a player cannot play anywhere on the table, he must draw a penalty domino from the "draw pile". If the drawn domino will play on the table he can do so and it will count as a legal play. But if that domino doesn't play he must put his marker on the last domino played on his train. This indicates that anyone can play on his train. The marker will be taken off only if the player whose marker is out can play anywhere on the table.....at this time his marker can come off the train and he can start to build his own train again and no one else can play on his train.
11. If any player plays a double (these are always placed sideways on the board), he is required to play another domino on the same play. The second domino can be played anywhere on the table. If he cannot play the second domino, he must pick a penalty domino from the draw pile. He may play the drawn domino if he can but if he can't he has to put his marker down
12. IMPORTANT When a player get down to ONE domino left he must tap the table to indicate he only has one. If he doesn't and gets caught before the next player plays, he is required to draw a domino from the draw pile
13. .When a player has played the last domino, the game ends. If the last domino played is a double, the player doesn't have to play the second domino.
14. At the end of the game, all players count the dots on the dominoes left un-played. This score is recorded by the scorekeeper
15. The player with the lowest score at the end of 13 rounds wins.
Variations
A player playing a double may follow up with a play anywhere on the board. If the double played on the next player "must" satisfy the double with the correct number of dots, if that player cannot satisfy the double he must put his marker on his train (This makes it very complicated because then anyone can play on his train and it ruins the train that he has made for himself). The play continues around the table until the double is "satisfied". If more than one double has been played and not satisfied by the player...the same rule applies with the 1st domino being satisfied and then the second double being satisfied in the right order.
In order to remove your marker from your train, the normal rule is that if you play on the table you can move the marker off. The variation is that you must be able to play on your own train before you can remove your marker
Mexican Train Gambling Schedule
Players Ante $ paid $lowest game score $highest score (Per game) ( per round) (per hand) (end of game) (end of game)
3 $1.00 $.20 $ .35 $ .05
4 $1.00 $.25 $ .60 $ .15
5 $1.00 $.30 $ .85 $ .25
6 $1.00 $.35 $1.05 $ .40
7 $1.00 $.40 $1.25 $.55
8 $1.00 $.45 $1.45 $ .70
9 $1.00 $.50 $1.65 $ .85
10 $1.00 $.55 $1.85 $1.00
The schedule is figured on a 13 round game. If you haven't got time to play that many rounds the schedule may not work out right. The way you can make your money back would be by winning rounds. The small amount at the end just adds a little bit. That way everyone has a chance to get some of their money back.