What is a Mexican Train Domino Game?
A Mexican Train domino game is a popular variation of the traditional game of dominoes. It is played with a standard set of double-six dominoes and is suitable for two to eight players. The objective of the game is for each player to play all of their dominoes and score the fewest points possible.
How to Play
The game starts with each player receiving a certain number of dominoes, depending on the number of players. The remaining dominoes are placed face-down in the center to form the “train.” The first domino played in the center of the table is called the “engine” and determines the starting double for the round.
Players take turns to play a domino that matches the open ends of the train. If a player cannot play a domino, they must draw from the boneyard until they have a playable tile. If the boneyard is empty and a player still cannot play, they “pass” and the next player takes their turn.
If a player cannot play a domino on their own train or the Mexican Train (the open-ended train that anyone can play on), they can choose to start a new “personal train” by playing a domino sideways. This train can only be played upon by the player who started it.
The game continues until one player has played all of their dominoes, or no player can make a legal move. At this point, points are scored based on the sum of the pips on the remaining dominoes in each player’s hand. The player with the fewest points wins the round, and the game can be played over several rounds to determine the overall winner.
Strategies and Tips
There are several strategies and tips that can help improve your chances of winning a game of Mexican Train dominoes:
- Focus on playing your own dominoes first, rather than blocking other players. This can help you get rid of your tiles sooner and avoid accumulating points.
- Try to keep your personal train as short as possible. This reduces the likelihood of other players being able to play on it and forces them to start their own trains.
- Pay attention to the dominoes played by other players and adjust your strategy accordingly. If you notice that a certain number is being heavily played, it might be wise to hold onto your dominoes with that number to prevent other players from playing on your train.
- Keep track of the dominoes played by other players to gauge which ones are likely to be in their hands. This can help you make more informed decisions when choosing which dominoes to play.
- If possible, try to play your higher-value dominoes early in the game to minimize the points you accumulate.
Variations
There are many variations of the Mexican Train domino game, each with their own unique rules and gameplay mechanics. Some popular variations include:
- Countdown: In this variation, players start with a predetermined number of dominoes and must play all of them before anyone else. The first player to play all of their dominoes wins the round.
- Team Play: In team play, players form teams of two or more and work together to play their dominoes. The team with the fewest points at the end of the round wins.
- Poison: In this variation, certain dominoes are designated as “poison” and cannot be played until someone plays a domino with the corresponding number. Players accumulate points for holding onto these poison dominoes.
Where to Play
Mexican Train domino games can be played in person with friends or family. Many online platforms and mobile apps also offer Mexican Train domino games for virtual play. Some popular online platforms for playing Mexican Train dominoes include Dominomexicantrain.com and Playdrift.com.
