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. 👍
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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 !
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?
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?
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.
My family and I play Mexican train, though with more simplified house rules (I made a video on my RUclips 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.
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?
Thanks for the video. What if I have 2 doubles, can I put both at the same time on different trains (which are public)? Should I close both or just one to end my turn? If there are 2 open doubles, should the next player close both or just one?
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?
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?
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!
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.
We play a little differently. If it's the start of the game and nobody has the double 12s, we'll see if anybody has the double 11s, then 10s...once we find somebody who has the highest available double, we start the game there and cross out that selection for future rounds. There's always a communal Mexican train which can be started right away. If someone has the double 12, the place that as the engine, the can place another 12 for the start of their private train, and, if they have another 12 (and choose to use it) they can start the communal train. If somebody places a double and satisfies it on a communal train, that double is a "must" for the next player, if that player doesn't satisfy the "must", they pick up, if the pickup isn't a number to satisfy the double placed by the previous player, that player put up the train to change it from private to communal and the next player needs to satisfy the double. Once satisfied, the player can play one domino on each communal train (unless double, then two).
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
@@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.
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.
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.
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!!
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.
@@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 😎
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
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.
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.
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.
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. 👍
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
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!
@@TripleSGames that is true. Certainly can be variations
@@TripleSGamesThank you so much for your kind words!
Cool!
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.
Me who knows how to play dominoes: THIS IS LITERALLY DOMINOES BUT EVERY RULE IS JUST GONE AND I LOVE IT
The tiles are sometimes refered to as "bones". That's where the name "boneyard" came from
👏
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
Pips
Bones we called them
Some of the world's oldest dominoes were actually carved from animal bones. Ox in particular was a common one.
This video saved my family christmas
I had gotten a simple insert like that with a set of dominoes. Thanks for teaching me how to use it!
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.
My family was introduced to this game at Thanksgiving last year and now we’ve fallen in love with it
Oh, this is so SIMPLE and EASY to learn! What a GREAT tutorial. This is such a FANTASTIC lesson!!!
Here in Mexico we call this game "Cuban Dominoes."
Strange but interesting
That's funny, what's Cuba call it?
Always wondered about that…thanks for sharing.😎
Funny how that works… Cubans what do y’all call it?
They also call Mexican Food… food. 🤓
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
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)?
I guess go to next lowest and so on, until there is a winner.
@@gcubing_4064 but what if that doesnt work? is it a tie at that point
@@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.
Then you see who can out drink one another with shots
Chances are too small for a 100% tie
They should call this game, Mexican argument. We had so much fun playing, but we argued about the rules constantly, which is probably normal.
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
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!
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?
Hi great tutorial. Where did you get the wooden station ?
So when do I make a cool pattern and knock them down
4:14 the double:
I MUST BE SATISFIED
I love mexican train
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 !
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?
7 comments down answers your question nicely🙃
Where can we get a complete pdf of the rules? Yours cuts off above.
Really excellently explained! Thank you so much!
Can you go in two separate directions of a double or you have to continue in one “constant line?”
One constant line
@1:15 Who starts? Even if all the players draw from bone yard to get 6/6, they don’t get 6/6. Do everyone draw again until one of them get 6/6?
Can you do How To Play Nim? I don't think you need to purchase any additional materials.
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?
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.
Thanks. Just got a set, and this was so easy to follow.
My family and I play Mexican train, though with more simplified house rules (I made a video on my RUclips 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.
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
I swear you could watch 10 videos and get 11 different sets of rules.
What set is best if playing with 7 players?
What if there is still a tie? Like 5-7 and 8-4
Can you do 42? (Texan sorta-bridge with dominoes; I keep forgetting the rules)
Very well explained. Thank you for taking time to make this excellent tutorial!!
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?
3:45 Is that where the term, "On the double" comes from?
If my train is public, do I have to play on my own train before I can play on anyone else’s public train?
is i have a double 5 is it 10 points?
Great variation of dominoes.
well explained, thanks
Thanks for the video. What if I have 2 doubles, can I put both at the same time on different trains (which are public)? Should I close both or just one to end my turn? If there are 2 open doubles, should the next player close both or just one?
You can play with 9 or more players with a double 15 or double 18 set!
once my train becomes public, how do i make it private again?
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?
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?
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!
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.
Three playable points would make that more like chicken foot dominoes, which is another variation. There is another video for that.
We play a little differently. If it's the start of the game and nobody has the double 12s, we'll see if anybody has the double 11s, then 10s...once we find somebody who has the highest available double, we start the game there and cross out that selection for future rounds. There's always a communal Mexican train which can be started right away. If someone has the double 12, the place that as the engine, the can place another 12 for the start of their private train, and, if they have another 12 (and choose to use it) they can start the communal train. If somebody places a double and satisfies it on a communal train, that double is a "must" for the next player, if that player doesn't satisfy the "must", they pick up, if the pickup isn't a number to satisfy the double placed by the previous player, that player put up the train to change it from private to communal and the next player needs to satisfy the double. Once satisfied, the player can play one domino on each communal train (unless double, then two).
And if still a tie, they both win.
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
If another player satisfies your double does the train stay public?
@@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.
@@dangonda7304 Yes it does. Only when you put a domino in your own train is when you make it private again.
you can play as many dominoes as you want for the first turn?
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.
but what about blanks? are they wildcards?
I used to consider them zeros
6:10 what if there is STILL a tie?
Where can you download a copy of the scorecard? I have an old game with no scorecards or little trains, just the dominos.
This contraption just starting called G-O-O-G-L-E might be able to help.
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.
This one is awesome!
How about Farkle Dice Game,can you do it?
I will look into it
@@TripleSGames extremely simple... it’ll be like you are taking a very nice break.
Chicken Foot is similar but less complicated !
❤
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!!
didn't knew before there's a lot of fun domino games. I only know stacking dominos on a line untill I watched tsg
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.
@@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 😎
@@honeyjuice219 already on there.
everybody has different names on different platforms this days
@@honeyjuice219 except for me. Lol
I was today years old when I learned why dominoes have numbers on them! I always just stacked them and knocked them over!
Thanks!
...I always wondered what the colorful plastic trains were for. I think ours ended up mixed into mom's beads, somehow.
Wait, so the double can be left open if you're able to play a second domino anywhere?
Sure seems so according to this video. Not sure what the big deal is if you just can play anything.
No.
What happens if 3 players end their 1st turns with double tiles that they cannot satisfy?
Then the double god would come from the sky and destroy the world because his children wasn't satisfied.
We have a house rule no doubles on the first turn
There are hubs for Mexican Train dominoes that allow for 9 to 12 players to participate in a single game.
Awesome info
Twins playing this game waiting to be the double so they can be satisfied: 👀
"And if there i *still* a tie after that, someone is probably cheating"
Pls put monopoly voice banking
Great video, I love me some dominos!
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
I heard about Domino Five-Up or something
This is just uno but with dominos
Request: How to play Ka-Blab
Every explanation I’ve seen of this has different rules…
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.
Cool game
YELLOW MOUNTAIN IMPORTS
Anyone that plays me. Train regularly this guy made this entirely complicated for no reason
Please, make a video of 5D chess
Coming soon… it is currently being reviewed by the 5D chess community for errors…
Can you do sushi Roll Please
Satisfying the double is just playing anywhere, huh? Sure.
It is not. It is a legal space.
You have to prioritize legal doubles . . . So you might not be able to play on the right double
Chickenfoot kinda
A short, easier version! 😊
1'3'5'7'9'11'13'15'17'19'21'23
My rules say you cannot play on your train if your token is there UNLESS its a double
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.
Yeah, I've never played the draw another double rule either. This is the first time I've heard of that.
nice
no way... dominoes 2...
hey i know this game but im not mexican
I'm not Mexican too.
Battle royale dominoes how to play
I💗 daddy and I💗 mommy
Why play on a public train?
No more chess?
More chess coming :)
I💗 mommy
I💗 daddy.
Lot of house rules. Tons of these aren’t in the rules that come with the game
Por favor poner las reglas del el juego en español no todo el mundo entiende tu idioma
I think you are playing the double domino wrong. It needs to be covered. Play continues until someone can cover it.
Ive been playing this wrong
22 n G