Download the Mexican Train Score App for iPhone & iPad

Mexican Train Score App makes tracking scores for every round easy — no need for pen and paper. It’s intuitive, family-friendly, and built for serious and casual players alike.

Digital Scorekeeping: Replace paper score sheets with a convenient app.
Multi-Player Support: Track up to 8 players per game.
Game History: Review past scores and round-by-round breakdowns.
Offline Friendly: Play anywhere—no internet required.

If this page has helped you learn or share the game, please consider supporting us by downloading the app. It helps us keep creating tools like this.

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Mexican Train Rules

🎲 1. Setup

This game is designed for a standard Double‑12 domino set, but you can also play with Double‑9 by adjusting your starting round and hand size.

Before shuffling, remove the highest double (e.g., 12‑12) and place it in the center. This is the "engine" tile for the round.
In each new round, use the next-lower double (e.g., 11‑11, 10‑10...) until you reach double‑0 or double-blank.
Players may agree to play fewer rounds, especially when using larger sets.
Shuffle the remaining tiles and deal the following number of dominoes:

Double‑12 Set:
- 2 to 4 players: draw 15 dominoes each
- 5 to 6 players: draw 12 dominoes each
- 7 to 8 players: draw 11 dominoes each
Double‑9 Set:
- 2 to 3 players: draw 15 dominoes each
- 4 players: draw 10 dominoes each

Any leftover dominoes form the "boneyard" for drawing during the game.

🎯 2. Objective

Play all of your dominoes and finish each round with the lowest possible total. At the end of all rounds, the player with the lowest cumulative score wins.

🔄 3. How Turns Work

On your turn, you may play one tile on:
- Your personal train (private unless marked otherwise)
- The Mexican Train (always public)
- Another player's train (only if it's marked public)
If you can play, you must. If not, draw one tile from the boneyard:
- If you can play it, do so.
- If not, your train becomes public so others can play on it.

✳️ 4. Doubles

Play doubles perpendicular to the train.
When you play a double, you must immediately follow it with another tile ("cover" it).
If you can't cover it:
- Your train becomes public.
- Responsibility to cover the double passes clockwise until it’s covered.

🚂 5. Mexican Train

Any player may start the Mexican Train once the engine is in play.
Once started, the Mexican Train remains public and available to all players.

⬇️ 6. When No One Can Play

Since the engine tile is set at the start of each round, play will always begin. If all players pass and the boneyard is empty, the round ends immediately and scores are tallied.

🏁 7. Ending a Round

A round ends when:
- A player empties their hand, or
- No one can play and the boneyard is empty.
Scoring:
- The winner of the round scores 0.
- All other players total the pips on their remaining dominoes and add to their score.

🏆 8. Winning the Game

The game continues round by round, descending from your chosen starting double. At the end of the final round, the player with the lowest total score is the winner.

🔄 9. Optional Variations

First-turn flexibility: allow players to play multiple tiles when starting.
Partnerships: teams of 2 or more players can play cooperatively.
Doubles as forks: require covering with 2+ tiles (like Chicken Foot).
Some house rules allow skipping doubles with no penalties.
You may choose to play a shorter game (e.g., from 12 down to 6).

Mexican Train Score App FAQ

Q: What is Mexican Train?: Mexican Train is a classic domino game where 2 to 8 players compete to be the first to play all of their tiles. Players take turns building their personal train and can also add to the shared "Mexican Train" once it’s been started.
Q: What does the Mexican Train Score App do?: The app simplifies keeping score — tracking rounds, scores, and totals for every player. It also saves game progress so you can resume unfinished games anytime.
Q: How many players can use the app?: The app supports 2 to 8 players, making it perfect for small and larger groups alike.
Q: Can I see scores from past games?: Yes! Every completed game is saved automatically. View detailed history for each game including all rounds and total scores.
Q: Does the app calculate scores for me?: Yes. Just enter the scores at the end of each round and the app will automatically add them up, highlight the leader, and track rounds for you.
Q: Does the app work without an internet connection?: Absolutely. Mexican Train Score App works fully offline — perfect for game nights at home or wherever you play.
Q: Does it support both iPhone and iPad?: Yes. The app is optimized for both iPhone and iPad so you can enjoy a great experience on any device.
Q: How can I report an issue or provide feedback?: We’d love to hear from you! Please contact us at [email protected] with questions, bugs, or suggestions.

History of Mexican Train Dominoes

Mexican Train is thought to have evolved from traditional domino games like "Chicken Foot" and other draw-style variants, becoming especially popular in the mid-1990s. Played with a standard double‑12 or double‑9 set, the game allows each player to build a personal train while sharing a common "Mexican Train," making it more collaborative and accessible to all skill levels.

Its popularity spread by word of mouth across family gatherings, community centers, and game clubs, especially in North America. The game’s straightforward setup, flexible number of players, and mix of strategy and luck have made it a favorite for casual play and competitive game nights alike.

With the rise of smartphones and tablets, the Mexican Train Score App was created to simplify keeping score and tracking rounds. Whether you’re just learning or you’ve been playing for years, our app lets you focus on the game, knowing the scoring and history are safely taken care of.

Screenshots

Add players and get the game started in seconds.

Quickly enter scores for each player.

See final scores and the game winner at a glance.

Game rules are just a tap away.

Review past games and scores easily.

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Quick Guide to the Rules and Gameplay of Mexican Train