Mexican Train Station

Equipment:

• A set of double-twelve dominoes. (The game may be played with any domino set including double-fifteen, double-nine or double-six sets). Sets with colored dots make the game easier to play.
• A set of train car tokens that are small enough to sit on half of a domino. A stack of small coins or similar objects is acceptable.
• A "train station" starting board is optional.
• A pencil and paper for scoring.
• Three or more players.

Game Overview

Mexican Train Station is a multi-round domino game. The number of rounds in a game is determined by the size of the domino set used. For example, when a double-twelve domino set is used, a game consists of thirteen rounds. The players begin each round by drawing a specified number of dominoes. Play starts by calling and playing down the appropriate double domino for that round. This domino is the "train station". Players form "trains" of dominoes that begin with the lead domino. The length of the trains is not limited. The first time a player plays down dominoes, all of the dominoes in the train may be played down at once. Subsequent turns consist of playing down dominoes to extend existing trains or to start new trains. The draw pile is used is used when a play cannot be made, and when penalties are imposed for failing to follow the rules. Points are scored at the end of the each round. The total unplayed points are awarded to the winner of the round. Players holding dominoes at the end of the round are penalized the number of points they still hold. The game winner has the most points at the end of the final round. Game play is enhanced by rules that require players to make various railroad sound effects when plays are made.

Starting a game round:

• At the beginning of each round, all of the dominoes are placed upside down into a draw pile. The pile is scrambled.
• Each player draws a hand of dominoes and organizes them so that the other players cannot see the dots. The number of dominoes drawn is based on the size of the domino set being used (largest double). The following formula is recommended:

  For three or four players: Number of dominoes to draw = Set size - 1

  For more than four players: Number of dominoes to draw = Set size - Players + 3

• When all players have drawn and organized their dominoes, a call for the starter domino is made (highest double down to the lowest).
• If no one has the round's starting domino, all players draw one more domino. This continues until one of the players plays down the starting domino. (All players must end up with the same number of dominoes.)
• The starter domino is played down into the center of the train station. If no train station board is used, simply build trains off of this starter domino in a hub and spoke fashion.
• The player who laid the starting domino in the train station takes the first turn, and play continues around the table in a clockwise direction.

Rules of play:

• In order to start, a player must have a domino that matches the starting double-domino that forms the train station.
• If the player has a starting domino, he tries to build a train of dominoes that can be played down all at once. A simple strategy is to make the train as long as possible, leaving as few unlinked dominoes as possible. The entire train may be played the first time a player lays down dominoes. This is the player's "private train". Once the train is laid down, the turn ends. (This beginning turn is the only time that an entire train of dominoes can be played at one time.)
• If the player does not have a starting domino, one domino must be drawn from the draw pile. If the drawn domino matches the train station number, a train may be formed and played down immediately, but otherwise, game play passes to the next player. Until players have played down a private train, they must draw a domino from the draw pile at the beginning of each turn. Trains need not consist of more than a single domino.
• After a player's private train has been built, each turn consists of one of the following plays:
  
  
  • The player may extend his private train by one domino.
  • A new "public train" may be started by playing down a matching domino next to the station domino. The player places a train car token on the played domino. The token is a signal that indicates any player may freely play down on the train. Train station accessories provided with domino sets only have spaces alloted for a total of eight trains, but the allowed number of public and private trains is not restricted.
  • A single domino may be added to any pre-existing public train.
  • A domino may be taken from the draw-pile. The drawn domino may be played if possible. If the player does not play down a domino, he must place a "signal" on the end of his train. This token indicates that other players may play down on the private train.
  • One domino may be played down on a private train that is marked with a "signal" token. When a domino is played on a signalled private train, the signal is removed from the private train - preventing any player other than the owner from playing another domino down on that train.

  An exception to the "single domino" rule exists: When a "double" domino is played down, if the player has another domino that matches it, both dominoes may be played down together.

• When a play will deplete a players hand down to one domino, the player must "clickety-clack" the dominoes together and then make a train whistle sound (woo-woo) before the domino is placed on a train.
• The round ends when any player plays down his last domino.
• If the draw pile is exhausted before anyone wins, play continues until one player wins, or until nobody can play down any more dominoes.

Penalties:

• A player who does not "clickety-clack" and "woo-woo" before playing down the second-to-last domino must take two dominoes from the draw pile when challenged.
• Players that cannot play down during their turn are required to place a signal on their private train before the next player's turn is complete. If the signal is not played, the player draws one tile from the draw pile when challenged.
• Draw penalties may not be levied against a player once the draw pile has been depleted.

Scoring:

• At the end of each round, all players add up the total number of dots that remain in their hands. The points are subtracted from the player's score. If a player won the round, the winner is awarded the total of all points remaining in the losing opponents hands.
• When all rounds have been played, the player with the largest total score is declared the winner.

Strategy:

• At times it may be advantageous not to play down a private train right away. Since the first play is the only time a long train may be played, one may choose to continue to draw dominoes until it is possible to play down a larger number of dominoes. Of course, there is also the risk that another player may go out - leaving the player stuck with more points.
• A large number of public trains may make it easier for opponents to play down.
• Keeping a public train start domino for the end of the round may make it easier to play down the last domino.
• If a domino may be played to both the player's private train and another train, play dominoes the other trains and save the private train for use when other options to play no longer exist.
• Play dominoes so that as many trains as possible end with the same number of dots to restrict other player's ability to play down. Be aware that this may also prevent one from playing down one's own dominoes.
• Increase the chances of being able to win by playing down dominoes that leave numbers exposed that match the dominoes remaining in one's hand.
• Play higher numbered dominoes early so as to avoid being stuck with a large number of points if another player wins. (This is more difficult in later rounds when the station number gets lower, but consequently gives losing players a better chance to take the lead near the end of the game.)
• Playing down on an opponent's "signaled" train may help him, but, it will also give your other opponents fewer opportunities to play down since a signal will be removed from one train that they might otherwise be able to use.
• Do not end one's own private train with the train station number. Other players will tend not to play on this train and instead form new public trains. This will make it more difficult to play down dominoes.
• Limit an opponent's ability to play by ending their private train's with the train station number or a number that also appears at the end of other trains. This will make it more difficult for that opponent to play down their dominoes.
• As there is no penalty for not playing down when it is possible to do so, a player may avoid revealing the train-station number domino at the start of the round. This results in everyone having to draw more dominoes. This may be advantageous if one is not able to play down a private train right away. Conversely, the more dominoes one's opponents have, the more likely it is that they will be able to play down long private trains for their first play.

Variations:

• A call of "All aboard!" is required when a new train is formed and when a private train is marked. A penalty may be imposed when this is not done prior to completion of the next player's turn.
• An alternative penalty for failing to "clickety-clack" dominoes, sound off with a "woo-woo", call out "all aboard", or is changed from drawing one domino to skipping a turn.
• The penalty for failing to place a signal on a private train is changed from drawing a domino to skipping a turn.
• When a double is played on a private train, and a second "rail car" cannot be played, the train is marked immediately to allow others to play down on it.
• When a double is played on any train, other trains may not be played on until a matching domino is played next to the double. If this occurs on a private train, it is marked to allow others to play on it. Any player, including the one who played the double, that is unable to play down a matching domino draws one domino from the draw pile. The drawn domino may be played down immediately if it matches the double.
• Scoring is modified so that points left in a losing player's hand are added to the winning player's score and not subtracted from that player's score. Only in cases where a round ends without a winner, all players subtract the points left in their hand from their own score.
• When the draw pile has been depleted, domino penalties are be converted to "lose a turn" penalties.
• If the draw pile has been depleted, penalty dominoes are drawn from the challenging player's hand.

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Last edited April 18, 2006 Page maintained by: Kevin R. Bulgrien