Mexican Train Variations

Ask three families how they play Mexican Train and you'll hear three slightly different answers. The game spread from table to table long before anyone printed an official rulebook, so house rules are part of its charm. Here are the differences you're most likely to run into. The ones marked In our game can be switched on in Settings, under House Rules; changes start with your next game.

Game Length: 13 Rounds or Fewer

The full game counts the engine down from the 12–12 to the 0–0, one round for each double. That's 13 rounds, which can take two hours or more with a big group. Plenty of families stop earlier, or play only the even doubles.

In our game: choose the full 13 rounds, or a short game of 7 rounds (12–12 down to the 6–6).

How Many Tiles Each

With four players, some rule sheets deal 15 tiles each and others deal 12. More tiles mean longer trains, more planning and a smaller boneyard, so the game feels tighter. Fewer tiles mean quicker rounds and more drawing.

In our game: 12 tiles (the default) or 15 tiles.

When Nobody Has the Engine Double

With 91 tiles and only four hands, the engine double is often still in the boneyard. There are two common fixes. In one, players take turns drawing a tile until someone pulls it, and that player sets it down; this makes some hands bigger than others. In the other, the tiles are simply searched and the double is put in the middle, and the first player is whoever would normally start.

In our game: take turns drawing (the default), or take it straight from the boneyard. With the second option, the first player moves one seat to the left each round.

Going Out on a Double

What if your last tile is a double? Many tables say you're out, double and all. Others insist that every double must be covered, even the last one, so you have to draw and wait until someone covers it before the round ends.

In our game: by default a double can be your last tile. Turn the option off, and the round only ends once your final double is covered (by you or anyone else).

The First-Turn Train

A popular house rule lets each player, on their very first turn of a round, lay as many tiles as they can on their own train in one go. It speeds the game up and rewards a good plan. A double in that run still has to be covered before you stop. Some families give everyone a few minutes to arrange their line first.

In our game: turn on "Play as many tiles as you can on your own train". You can stop whenever you like by tapping Done.

What the Double Blank Is Worth

The 0–0 has no dots, so by plain counting it's worth nothing. Most families make it a penalty instead: 50 points is the usual amount, which makes it a tile to get rid of early. A few count it as 25.

In our game: 50 points (the default) or 0 points.

Other Rules You May Have Heard

Starting the Mexican Train

Some tables don't allow you to start or play on the Mexican Train until your own train has its first tile. Others allow the Mexican Train to start only after everyone has started their own. Our game lets anyone start it at any time.

Several doubles in one turn

In some homes you may play two or three doubles in a single turn and then cover them in order. Our game keeps it simpler: one double at a time, covered right away.

Calling "one tile left"

Many families require you to tap the table or say "Uno!" when you are down to one tile, with a penalty draw if you forget. Online, everyone's tile count is always shown, so there's nothing to forget.

Smaller sets

You can play Mexican Train with a double-nine or even a double-six set. The engine then starts at the 9–9 or 6–6, and you deal fewer tiles. With a double-nine set, many people prefer Chicken Foot, which was made for it.

Scoring the other way

A few groups give the player who goes out a bonus, or play to a target score instead of a fixed number of rounds. The classic and most common way is the one we use: lowest total after all rounds wins.

New to the game? Start with the full Mexican Train rules, then read our strategy tips.