Setting up a round
Each round starts by placing one double in the middle of the table. That is the station (some people call it the engine). Round 1 uses the 12-12, round 2 the 11-11, and so on down to the 0-0 in round 13. The rest of the dominoes are shuffled face down, hands are dealt, and what is left is the boneyard.
| Players | Tiles each |
|---|---|
| 2 to 4 | 15 |
| 5 or 6 | 12 |
| 7 or 8 | 10 |
From the station, every player has a personal train: a line of dominoes that starts at the station and grows from your side of the table. There is also one shared train, the Mexican train, which anybody can add to.
How a turn works
On your turn you lay one domino, matching its half to the open end of a train. You may play on:
- your own train,
- the Mexican train, or
- another player's train, but only if it has a marker on it.
The first tile on any train has to match the station's number. After that, each domino must match the open end of the train it goes on.
No play? Draw once
If none of your dominoes fit anywhere, draw one from the boneyard. If it fits, you may play it. If it does not, you pass.
Markers
When you pass, put a marker on your own train. That is your signal that your train is now open: anybody may play on it. The marker comes off again when you next play a tile on your own train.
Doubles
A domino with the same number on both halves is a double. The usual rule:
Some families play it more relaxed: a double earns a bonus play anywhere and never blocks the other trains. Agree on the rule before you start.
Common house rules
- Mexican train timing. Standard: anyone can start the Mexican train at any turn. Stricter: you may start it only once your own train has a tile.
- Draw when you can play. Standard: you draw only if you cannot play. Looser: you may draw even when a tile fits.
- Opening run. On your first turn of a round you may keep adding tiles to your own train.
- Double blank is 50. Left in your hand at the end of a round, the 0-0 counts 50 instead of 0.
Ending a round and keeping score
A round ends when someone plays their last domino. That player scores zero. Everybody else adds up the pips on every domino still in their hand (a 5-3 is 8) and that is their score for the round.
A round can also be blocked: the boneyard is empty and nobody can play, so every player passes in turn. Then everyone counts their hands.
Add the round scores into a running total. After all rounds the lowest total wins. Low scores are good; a perfect game, which almost never happens, is zero.
Free score sheet
Pick your set and number of players, then type the pips left in each hand after every round. Totals update as you type, and the leader is highlighted. Use Print for a paper copy; nothing you type leaves your browser.
Quick answers
Who goes first?
Many tables let the player holding the station double, or the highest double, start; others rotate the lead each round. Caboose rotates the lead each round.
Can I play on someone's train that has no marker?
No. You may only play on another player's train once it carries a marker, which means they could not play on their last turn.
How many dominoes are in a double-12 set?
91. Each pair of numbers from 0 to 12 appears once, including the 13 doubles.
What if the boneyard runs out?
If you cannot play and there is nothing left to draw, you pass and put your marker out. If every player passes in a row with the boneyard empty, the round is blocked and everyone counts their hand.