Q&A for How to Play Mexican Train Domino Game

No. Doubles only count for face value, except for the double blank, which is generally scored as 50.

The number score is equal to the total of the pips on it.

We have always counted the double blank domino as 50 points. Some others count it as 25 points.

A Mexican train may be played on by anyone having the correct tile. Your personal train can only be played on by yourself unless it has a marker placed on it.

You must back up the double and start your own personal train at your next turn. You can wait as long as you want to start your personal train. (If you choose to wait, you can play other available trains.)

Yes they can start their train whenever they can. Which could be their next turn or whenever they get the starting piece.

The train pieces that come in some sets is used instead of pennies to mark a train that is available to anyone to play on. Each player picks a color to use on their train when they can't play a domino.

No, you can consider a blank as a zero, which must be matched with another zero side of a bone.

Absolutely, that double needs to be satisfied. Once played, that train can return to be non-open to other players. The original player could have satisfied the double by playing a tile somewhere else, therefore his marker did not go up = made the train public. However, if the player who played the double could not satisfy it anywhere and after drawing from the boneyard could not play, then his marker would have gone up, i.e., making his train open until he plays a tile on it.

You always have to play it if you can.

No. The blank tiles represent 0. There are many tiles in the set with a blank end, therefore it is possible to match a 0 to a 0.

Yes, they must be satisfied in the order that they were played. Only one must be satisfied at a time.

There is usually only one Mexican train in a single game. If you are playing a "just for fun" game, however, you can always change the rules and include more Mexican trains.

Yes, the game ends instantly once your final piece is played. The only exception is if you go out on your first turn. In this case, the remaining players play until everyone has completed their first turn and then scoring follows.

If you cannot play on any trains, you put one on your train. Other players can play on your train as long as the caboose is on it. Once you play on your train, you take the caboose off.

You can hold your train as long as you want, you do not have to start it if you have one.

After someone plays a double and is unable to answer to it, each player must either answer it with the corresponding number. If they are unable to, they have to draw one of the remaining dominoes that's not being used and try to respond to it one tile at a time. All players must try for the double on every turn until it's answered to.

People draw from the bone pile, and if they can use that piece on the double they do (or keep it if they can't), then play proceeds to the next person.

You may hold them to use, but you must start your train with another domino with the starter number.

Yes. You can switch in between any and all trains (except others who don't have their train up) while you are playing.

If you have a playable tile, you MUST play it. If you have more than one playable tile, you may play any of them. You MUST play on a double first if you have multiple plays.

Just one side. Obviously, both sides are identical. If it's a double two, for example, the double is satisfied with one more two. The other side can be anything.

Yes. If you run out of all the dominoes in your hand, you can go out regardless of your train's status.

You match them, they count as 0 points each.

Yes, in some other variations of the game. Always set the house rules before starting a game.

Yes, the double must be satisfied. If the player that plays a double cannot satisfy it, then all of the other players must attempt to do it.

Before playing another one, the first double must be satisfied. Even if you satisfy it with a regular, non-double tile, you must wait until your next turn to play the other one.

There should never be any duplicate dominoes on any set. There are 55 dominoes in a double nine set. Any more than that means you have dominoes from another set mixed in, or they are spares. In any case, duplicates should be removed before playing.

Yes. If it comes to a point where there aren't any players left that are able to put a tile down, then add up the total of your remaining dominoes, and the person with the smallest number wins that round.

Yes, if your train is open or public, and you draw a tile from the boneyard that can be played on the Mexican train or any other open or public train, you may play it there. Your train can only be closed or made private again if you play the domino on your own train.