How to play Mexican Train Dominoes

Learn the rules to the domino game Mexican Train Dominoes quickly and concisely - This video has no distractions, just the rules.
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0:00 - Objective
0:15 - Setup
1:00 - Who Starts
1:18 - Starting Train
1:56 - Public Train
2:15 - Private Train
2:40 - Out of Dominoes
3:00 - Doubles
4:51 - Mexican Train
5:35 - End Game/Points
5:52 - To Win
RULES:
The object of the game is to have the lowest score by getting rid of as many dominoes as possible. Lay out the train hub in the middle of the table. The domino that goes in the center is called the engine. The first hand of play begins with the double twelve domino, then each subsequent hand uses the next highest double in turn: double 11, double 10, all the way down to double 0, for a total of 13 hands.
Mix up all the dominoes face down on the table and each player draws dominoes to create their “hand” based on the number of players. 15 dominoes each in a 2 to 4 player game, 12 for 5 to 6 players, and 11 for 7 or 8 players. Players look at their own dominoes by standing them on their edge or on a rack, but keep them hidden from their opponents.
The leftover dominoes are kept face down and placed to the side which is called the “boneyard”. The player who drew the correct engine for the round places that domino in the center of the hub. That player is the starting player for that hand. If no one has the required engine, then each player simultaneously draws 1 domino from the boneyard until it is found, and a starting player is determined.
Beginning with the starting player and continuing clockwise, a domino or string of multiple dominoes, known as the player’s “train”, is built coming out of the train hub towards the player. The first domino in the train must have an adjacent side that matches the engine and each domino after that one must have an adjacent matching end to each domino preceding it. The train can be any number of dominoes long.
Dominoes can be placed parallel to each other to save space so long as they don’t block anybody else’s train. This is known as “bending” the train and is entirely optional.
If a player does not have a domino that matches the engine to create a train, a train token is placed at the point in the hub marking where their train would have extended out. The train token marks this spot as a “public” train.
Any player can add dominoes to public trains, except during their first turn. A train that is not marked is “private” and only the player who started that train can add to it. A player who has marked their train public may change their train back to a private train and remove the marker in subsequent turns when they are able to play a matching end.
After the first round, each player may only play one domino from their hand per turn and they may only add that domino to their train or a public train. If you are unable to legally play a domino, then you must draw one domino from the boneyard and play that domino immediately if you are able. If not, you must mark your train public with a train marker. If there are no more dominoes in the boneyard to draw, player’s no longer draw dominoes but instead just marks their train public.
A domino with the same number of pips on both ends is called a “double”. A double is placed perpendicular to the preceding domino on the train. After you play a double, you must immediately play another domino from your hand adjacent to the double or any public train. This is called “satisfying the double”. During the first round, if a player ends their train with a double, then everyone continues finishing their first turn normally, then, on the second turn for that player, they must satisfy the double before any other type of play can be made.
Whenever a player is unable to satisfy the double by playing another domino, they must draw one domino from the boneyard. If that domino is playable, they must play it on the double or any public train then they end their turn. If the drawn domino is a double that can be played, then the...

[@goombanr3411]

I love how this channel just gets straight to the point. its perfect for discovering new games, and when I dont know what to do.

[@Grimm_Sleeper]

Me who knows how to play dominoes: THIS IS LITERALLY DOMINOES BUT EVERY RULE IS JUST GONE AND I LOVE IT

[@sassyghost_8]

Came to this video because the instructions that came with the game my family got were so vague that when I followed them in a trial game, I found out I was playing almost entirely wrong even though I followed the instructions to the letter. Glad I found a simple and in-depth tutorial. 👍

[@donnythedingo]

I never learned "satisfy the double" and it's probably because the family who taught me don't have enough patience. They'll be happy to know you can place your entire "train" of eligible dominos down on the first turn as well. That would make things go so much quicker.

[@Tomek1949]

The tiles are sometimes refered to as "bones". That's where the name "boneyard" came from

[@goobershead]

👏

[@trippymain4644]

They were made out of Ivory elephant tusks basically bones but as it became illegal to hunt elephants became illegal to own ivory Domino’s But the lingo never changed

[@jeffmasters2608]

Pips

[@corrinsorensen8882]

Bones we called them

[@transferendum_nomen_meum]

Some of the world's oldest dominoes were actually carved from animal bones. Ox in particular was a common one.

[@SunGodKevin]

I had gotten a simple insert like that with a set of dominoes. Thanks for teaching me how to use it!

[@DRoche911]

They should call this game, Mexican argument. We had so much fun playing, but we argued about the rules constantly, which is probably normal.

[@joshhalverson4159]

This video saved my family christmas

[@honeyjuice219]

4:14 the double: I MUST BE SATISFIED

[@spencerjacobsen329]

My family was introduced to this game at Thanksgiving last year and now we’ve fallen in love with it

[@michaelmorrissey1052]

Oh, this is so SIMPLE and EASY to learn! What a GREAT tutorial. This is such a FANTASTIC lesson!!!

[@sewaprolo]

Here in Mexico we call this game "Cuban Dominoes."

[@alexanderharrison7421]

Strange but interesting

[@irok1]

That's funny, what's Cuba call it?

[@phantomcruizer]

Always wondered about that…thanks for sharing.😎

[@weldonmartin6786]

Funny how that works… Cubans what do y’all call it?

[@2tallB]

They also call Mexican Food… food. 🤓

[@tysonthomas7094]

Played this with my family and friends in Arizona... now about to play it for New Years! Glad I saw this video because I forgot how to play!

[@aldencoley6841]

Thank you SO MUCH!! I love your explaining because it is straight to the point, yet also detailed. After surfing the web for a bit, I came across this and I do believe it is the only helpful advice I’ve seen

[@wendydembeck1035]

Thanks. Just got a set, and this was so easy to follow.

[@ranul2]

the way we play it is if no one draws we use the highest double that has been drawn to start the round and once the double has been used to start the hand it can not be used to start the round again

[@margaretburkett3132]

I love mexican train

[@duckolodeonn9284]

And if still a tie, they both win.

[@greenwillow5404]

Really excellently explained! Thank you so much!

[@MichaelDaniels]

Thanks! I really appreciate your clear explanation of the rules. One thing in the paper rules it says when you have only one tile left you have to knock on the table. If caught not doing that you pick up 2 tiles

[@TripleSGames]

Thanks!! I think there are some slight variations to the game out there, but the rules I had didn't include that one, good catch!

[@MichaelDaniels]

@@TripleSGames that is true. Certainly can be variations

[@user-vq7mm6yt4x]

@@TripleSGamesThank you so much for your kind words!

[@user-vq7mm6yt4x]

Cool!

[@williamwilting]

I understand that there are actually hundreds of different variations, if you count the house ruled ones. But the commercial versions are different here and there as well. Most of them have the most (important) parts of the ruleset in common, like the engine system in which the doubles always go down from double-12 to double 0. My version is from Goliath, however, and this one implies that you play either only one hand, an agreed number of hands, or the full 13 hands. It's not even clear, to be honest. And in this case the hands are not played with doubles in descending order as engines. Instead, players check their hands if they have doubles. One player counts down from 12 until one player has the matching double, which they play as the engine tile (so theplayer with the highest double places the engine and goes first. Also, when a double is played on a private train, the rules say you can't play the tile to satisfy the double on a public train, including the mexican train. The train with the double becomes public, but the owner can only play tiles on their own train if that train ends in a double. I honestly don't like this ruleset from Goliath very much, because A) it seems the least common to most other versions and B) the way in which satisfying doubles is implemented limits your tactical choices when you play a double. I understand that the ruleset from a version published by a company called TACTIC is much closer to the common variations that people play this game with.

[@danik0011]

6:08 If it's still a tie?.. Maybe a tiebreaker round with 0-0 starting and no boneyard (all dominoes given to tied players)?

[@gcubing_4064]

I guess go to next lowest and so on, until there is a winner.

[@Humulator]

@@gcubing_4064 but what if that doesnt work? is it a tie at that point

[@gcubing_4064]

@@Humulator Do you think it's possible? Just check the sub total after 6 rounds. If it's somehow still a tie then you scored wrong.

[@Madanth0ny]

Then you see who can out drink one another with shots

[@L1M.L4M]

Chances are too small for a 100% tie

[@astrocat88]

Very well explained. Thank you for taking time to make this excellent tutorial!!

[@samanthalebaron2113]

My family are all yelling and fighting over the rules as we speak.... even though he is literally telling us in this video lol so thank you for this

[@CJ-ec7iq]

I swear you could watch 10 videos and get 11 different sets of rules.

[@LeotheTiger1234]

Great variation of dominoes.

[@brendanlepeska4295]

Awesome info

[@ThatNotSoAznKid]

I've been playing this game with my family for YEARS and I've never seen that engine rule (Starting with the double 12 and working down.) Before the game stats we always draw a single domino and the highest one goes first. Hands are drawn and that player's highest double is used as the engine, then rounds go clockwise as normal. Also, keeping track of public and private tracks is much easier if you just have your own personal track marked by a train/token. If it's open to be played on the train goes down to the bottom. If it is private it starts at the top near the engine. This can be reversed if it's easier for the current group of players to recognize what tracks can be played on. Otherwise, if there is no train on the track then it is public. Also also, no matter how many players are in the game there is no limit to how many tracks can be started, even if all 8 starting spaces are taken. If it matches the engine than it can be used to start a new track.

[@mattman291]

Thanks!

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

My family and I play Mexican train, though with more simplified house rules (I made a video on my KZbin channel many years ago, though its not very good due to it's length...and cussing (I apologize in advance if you want to watch it). Been thinking of redoing it recently.

[@WackoMcGoose]

...I always wondered what the colorful plastic trains were for. I think ours ended up mixed into mom's beads, somehow.

[@ericfrechette1386]

Yay ! Thank you so much. Been searching for the special rule where a first turn ends up with a double for a while ! That rule seems to never be written down on the instructions !

[@briannova627]

We just learned about the double rule … if the player puts down a double and can not satisfy putting another tile to match the double .. the train is considered locked … then the next player needs to put down a tile to unlock that train .. if not he/she needs to draw a tile .. and then to the next player and so forth

[@dangonda7304]

If another player satisfies your double does the train stay public?

[@williamwilting]

​@@dangonda7304As I understand the rules, the answer is yes. Only when the train's owner places a tile in their own train, it becomes private again. But it remains public if a player not being the owner places a tile there.

[@jeffreyweaver9854]

There are hubs for Mexican Train dominoes that allow for 9 to 12 players to participate in a single game.

[@Tomek1949]

You can play with 9 or more players with a double 15 or double 18 set!

[@FXFGamer]

Twins playing this game waiting to be the double so they can be satisfied: 👀

[@sebastiaankuijs8912]

Hi great tutorial. Where did you get the wooden station ?

[@FourOf92000]

Can you do 42? (Texan sorta-bridge with dominoes; I keep forgetting the rules)

[@PUDDI1986]

Are you able to play a double on your last domino? Or do you have to pick up for the bone yard to see if you can satisfy the double before going out?

[@AnathexAdventurer]

Can you do How To Play Nim? I don't think you need to purchase any additional materials.

[@mindyourcube7932]

Cool game

[@phantomcruizer]

Chicken Foot is similar but less complicated !

[@aidenmiller3295]

What if there is still a tie? Like 5-7 and 8-4

[@rand0mguy755]

"And if there i *still* a tie after that, someone is probably cheating"

[@sidneyvalmain9997]

This is a modified version of the game, I've been interested in it. You missed the end of the game, most people knock on the last domino or you pull an extra domino. What do you do?

[@user-xw4xu1wi3g]

This is just uno but with dominos

[@hoangvulevan5207]

This one is awesome! How about Farkle Dice Game,can you do it?

[@TripleSGames]

I will look into it

[@Bsnsobscuregames]

@@TripleSGames extremely simple... it’ll be like you are taking a very nice break.

[@SheriCapurso]

If my train is public, do I have to play on my own train before I can play on anyone else’s public train?

[@gsas]

If you play a double on your train and then play a tile on another public train, does your train still become public or do you have to satisfy the double on your next turn?

[@theadamcalebshow7045]

Anyone that plays me. Train regularly this guy made this entirely complicated for no reason

[@brianzambotti4510]

Can you go in two separate directions of a double or you have to continue in one “constant line?”

[@jeanetteshawredden5643]

One constant line

[@quoccuongtranle2328]

YELLOW MOUNTAIN IMPORTS

[@honeyjuice219]

didn't knew before there's a lot of fun domino games. I only know stacking dominos on a line untill I watched tsg

[@Bsnsobscuregames]

I have a couple of neat domino games on my channel. Got an addictive domino solitaire called 7 pi’s. Very tough to get all dominoes into the 7 pi shapes.

[@honeyjuice219]

@@Bsnsobscuregames you know tripple s games has a discord server with a bunch of people to talk so you can chat with people who like tsg content too. get advertised advertiser 😎

[@Bsnsobscuregames]

@@honeyjuice219 already on there.

[@honeyjuice219]

everybody has different names on different platforms this days

[@Bsnsobscuregames]

@@honeyjuice219 except for me. Lol

[@ffmedic1638]

Where can we get a complete pdf of the rules? Yours cuts off above.

[@quandaledingle2107]

nice

[@radickd2]

Do I understand correctly that in the first round multiple tiles can be played to start the train? It is not explicitly stated in the video, but that appears to be the way the players put down tiles in the first round. Follow on question: If a player cannot play on their train in the first round, do they get to play multiple tiles on the first round that they can start their train by matching the engine?

[@troyjones1976]

The paper rules I have say that multiple tiles can be played in the first round, but not everyone plays MT that way. That rule makes the game go a lot faster, but on the other hand can be complicated to explain what's going on to a new player. If it is your first time playing MT, I recommend playing the first turn as a regular turn, except that you can't start the Mexican Train yet. For the follow-on question, assuming you go with the rule that you can play multiple tiles on the first turn, then no, if you can't play any tiles on that first turn you are just out of luck. Your train is public and you will be laying only one tile per turn henceforth.

[@frankwu4747]

3:45 Is that where the term, "On the double" comes from?

[@rosamiranda4676]

Lets say the next hand is double sixes and you have it and play it but have no more sixes to start your train, what do you do? I know you put a train to mark your spot, but on your next turn do you draw one? If there are no public trains to play off?

[@crystalkinson4915]

7 comments down answers your question nicely🙃

[@jeannelyon9397]

We've been playing that a double played has 3 playable points. Is that totally wrong or just an adapted rule I've picked up somewhere? Also, what happens when a "dead" double is played and is impossible to satisfy? Does it just get ignored or does the game end?

[@CMeyer-ut3dd]

I think you can bend the rules if you want as long as everyone agrees. We also play the double with 3 playable points. The dead double must be satisfied, and each person has to draw one and if it doesn’t match then has to make his train public, then the next player has to satisfy and so on around until that double is SATISFIED!

[@williamwilting]

I think that what is meant by 'dead double' is that there is no possible tile left in the game for any player to be able to satisfy that double, while according to the rules everyone must satisfy the double before anything else may be played (which is not possible, because none of the remaining tiles in the boneyard nor the players' hands have a matching number of pips to satisfy the 'dead double'). What happens in that case? I'd think the hand ends immediately, because no legal placement can be done in this scenario.

[@robbynhubbs]

Three playable points would make that more like chicken foot dominoes, which is another variation. There is another video for that.

[@shakeyfly]

you can play as many dominoes as you want for the first turn?

[@Hgames_RBLX]

Request: How to play Ka-Blab

[@ninimo1048]

2:53 peploe:WHAT? Guys:whay?

[@levidavis1093]

So... doubles can ONLY be played on a PUBLIC train? Also, there's different kinds of trains due to their color?... lol sorry.. it's a lot to take in and remember and FULLY understand :P

[@TheZzmel]

Hi: Am I allowed to download this game to show how to play Mexican Train Dominoes in our senior community center? I am heading up a Mexican Train game to help them learn the game as easy as possible. I do want to thank you for having😅 this great video to show in detail what this game entails.

[@nif4345]

6:10 what if there is STILL a tie?

[@speedy62]

is i have a double 5 is it 10 points?

[@NikitaGamer64]

I heard about Domino Five-Up or something

[@IShouldHaveKnown-ww8fm]

but what about blanks? are they wildcards?

[@codybrown9946]

Great video, I love me some dominos!

[@jeevameiyalagan5816]

Pls put monopoly voice banking

[@user-nq1hx4zi4i]

I feel like this game takes a long time to fully complete. How fast would you say a 4 person game would be for all 13 rounds considering some people may take longer too make sure they are seeing their bones right. I feel dyslectic seeing this!!

[@AuthorBarbaraLWright]

Where can you download a copy of the scorecard? I have an old game with no scorecards or little trains, just the dominos.

[@DateTwoRelate]

This contraption just starting called G-O-O-G-L-E might be able to help.

[@thellamaking7248]

Can you do sushi Roll Please

[@djwrld]

What happens if 3 players end their 1st turns with double tiles that they cannot satisfy?

[@The_Magical_Cat__]

Then the double god would come from the sky and destroy the world because his children wasn't satisfied.

[@Walt80]

We have a house rule no doubles on the first turn

[@Litl_E]

My family's been playing for years, and we've never had the "If you draw another double while trying to satisfy the double" rule. It's either gotta satisfy the double, of you lose your turn. At the start of the hand, we only play one domino on our turns. Otherwise, what's stopping my incredibly lucky little cousin from drawing a perfect hand and clearing his hand before anyone else gets to play? We also always start the Mexican off to the side, using the corresponding pips to the current hand, and you can play on either end of the Mexican, given you have a matching piece.

[@benjaminvlz]

Yeah, I've never played the draw another double rule either. This is the first time I've heard of that.

[@kiraPh1234k]

My rules say you cannot play on your train if your token is there UNLESS its a double

[@silversungaming9451]

Wait, so the double can be left open if you're able to play a second domino anywhere?

[@AmyRush]

Sure seems so according to this video. Not sure what the big deal is if you just can play anything.

[@user-vq7mm6yt4x]

No.

[@islander376]

Every explanation I’ve seen of this has different rules…

[@benjaminvlz]

I don't know what the "official" rules for Mexican Train are (if there are any), but many people play it with slight variations to the rules. For example, some people play it where the player with the highest double goes first, as opposed to going in order from the double 12 to the double blank. Another example, a player who plays a double has to satisfy it if he/she is able. A third example, if a player has one tile left in their hand, they must tap it on the table. If the player doesn't do this, and another player catches him/her before his/her next turn, the player must draw a tile. Ultimately, it's up to you and whoever you're playing with to agree on a set of rules. The basic rules of Mexican Train are the same across the board. When a Mexican Train is started, anyone can play on it at any time, and there can only be one Mexican Train per round. If a player's personal train doesn't have a marker on it, the other player(s) can't play on it. If a player is unable to play a tile on his/her turn, he/she has to place a marker on his/her train, and then the other player(s) can play on it. Once the player is able to play a tile on his/her personal train, the marker can be removed to stop the other player(s) from being allowed to play on it.

[@shawnreinerdavid6848]

Battle royale dominoes how to play

[@gcubing_4064]

No more chess?

[@TripleSGames]

More chess coming :)

[@danielajordao3364]

Please, make a video of 5D chess

[@TripleSGames]

Coming soon… it is currently being reviewed by the 5D chess community for errors…

[@GreaterLondonAnimations]

Chickenfoot kinda

[@markusschumacher5010]

Lol

[@dorisgerin4024]

Explication en français svp

[@Intr0verted_g1yuu]

hey i know this game but im not mexican

[@user-vq7mm6yt4x]

I'm not Mexican too.

[@gregkosinski2303]

Ive been playing this wrong

[@wolfinwool3]

Lot of house rules. Tons of these aren’t in the rules that come with the game

[@AmyRush]

Satisfying the double is just playing anywhere, huh? Sure.

[@CatherineJessicaNatof]

It is not. It is a legal space.

[@CatherineJessicaNatof]

You have to prioritize legal doubles . . . So you might not be able to play on the right double

[@alibowman862]

1'3'5'7'9'11'13'15'17'19'21'23

[@ellydavis1467]

22 n G

[@kimcowan6862]

I think you are playing the double domino wrong. It needs to be covered. Play continues until someone can cover it.

[@angelerror4086]

Are we doing dominoes instead of chess now?

[@TripleSGames]

no, I will be moving back to a bunch of chess soon

[@melonmard4995]

@@TripleSGames nice

[@melvintnh328]

@@melonmard4995 melon

[@trevorjamesconsideracion1982]

@@TripleSGames I don’t mind if you switch to other board games though I came here from chess. :)

[@romanpechorin4798]

So it's pretty much a domino plagiarism

[@Trtlman]

Why play on a public train?

[@alibowman862]

I💗 daddy.

[@alibowman862]

I💗 daddy and I💗 mommy

[@ivyanacaraballo4375]

Por favor poner las reglas del el juego en español no todo el mundo entiende tu idioma

[@alibowman862]

I💗 mommy

[@marcosdavid2087]

Nice video, but you mistake the "how to play" of the doubles, because with each double you make 2 rows. When you play a double in your turn, you have to put one of the pieces that matches the number, and the next player has to put the other row before playing in the own row. If anyone can't put the piece, then put the train in its own row. The responsability desn't end until both two rows are completed

[@pamelaroth2468]

Terrible explanation

[@natheniel]

Love your videos! But maybe consider using singular they for gender inclusivity please!

[@59Alaskan]

🙄

[@sappyjohnson]

What a horrible post

[@Neckoslash]

Oh wow... Sad.

[@Fahrenheit38]

When the right wing death squads start marching you and your kind will only need was/were