How Mexican Train scoring works
Mexican Train is a dominoes game played over one round for each double in the set, in which every pip left in your hand at the end of a round counts against you and the lowest total after the last round wins.
The set and the rounds
The usual set is double-12, 91 dominoes, played over thirteen rounds. The first round starts from the double 12, the next from the double 11, and so on down to the double blank. A double-9 set plays ten rounds, and double-15 and double-18 sets are used for big groups. Many tables play fewer rounds for a shorter game.
Starting a round
The engine double for the round goes in the middle, often in a hub with a slot for each player, and everyone draws a hand from the face-down dominoes. With a double-12 set, two to four players commonly take 15 each, with fewer each for bigger groups; the rest stay in the boneyard.
Trains
Each player builds a personal train out from the engine, matching numbers end to end, and there is one Mexican Train that anyone may play on. A player who cannot play draws one domino from the boneyard; if they still cannot play, they put a marker on their own train, and anyone may play on it until they play on it themselves.
Doubles
A double must be satisfied: the player who plays it then plays another domino on it, and if they cannot, the next players must cover it before anything else can be played.
The end of a round
A round ends when a player plays their last domino, or when nobody can play and the boneyard is empty. The player who went out scores 0, and everyone else scores the total of the pips on the dominoes left in their hand.
Winning and ties
After the last round the lowest total wins. A common tiebreak gives the win to the tied player with the most rounds scored at 0, and if that is level, to the one with the lowest round other than 0.
The double blank and other house rules
Blanks count 0 under the basic rules, but many tables make the double blank worth 50 when it is caught in a hand, and some count every blank end as 25. Another variation turns the scoring around: whoever goes out scores the pips left in everyone else's hands, and the highest total wins.
What Score All does with these rules
Pips at the end of each round
When a player plays their last domino, or nobody can play, the round ends. Tick whoever went out (they score 0) and enter the pips left in everyone else's hand. A blocked round, where nobody went out, is fine too: leave everyone unticked.
The engine double, round by round
The console says which double starts the next round, for example "Round 4 of 13 · Engine: double 9". A double-12 set plays thirteen rounds, from double 12 down to the double blank, and a double-9 set plays ten. Double-6, double-15 and double-18 sets work too, and you can count up from the double blank instead.
Lowest total wins, ties broken properly
After the last round the lowest total wins. If two players are level, the usual tiebreak gives it to the player with the most rounds at 0, then to the one with the lowest other round, and the app checks both. You can choose a shared win instead.
House rules
Many tables charge 50 for being caught with the double blank: switch it on and each row gets a box for it. Some count every blank end as 25. A shorter game stops after any number of rounds, and the high-score variation gives whoever goes out everyone else's pips.
Two to eight players
Every player gets a row, the standings sit on top, and the sheet is on a live link or a TV for the whole table. Tap an earlier round to fix it and every total after it updates.
Mexican Train scoring FAQ
How many rounds are in Mexican Train?
One for each double in the set: thirteen with double-12 dominoes, ten with double-9.
What happens when Mexican Train is blocked?
If nobody can play and the boneyard is empty, the round ends and every player counts the pips left in their hand. Nobody scores 0 for going out that round.
Does the lowest score win Mexican Train?
Yes, in the standard game. Every pip left in your hand counts against you, so the lowest total after the last round wins.
Is there a free Mexican Train score sheet app?
Yes. Score All keeps Mexican Train score for free on any phone: the pips each round, running totals, the engine for the next round and a live standings link.
How much is the double blank worth in Mexican Train?
It depends on the table. Counted by its dots it is 0, but many families make it 50 points when it is left in your hand. Score All lets you choose either, or count every blank end as 25.
Can I use a double-9 set?
Yes. Choose double-9 and the game plays ten rounds, from double 9 down to the double blank.