09:50
Faizan
Mexican Train is a slightly more complicated twist on the normal game of dominoes that requires strategic planning and foresight. While any set of dominoes will work, a double-12 set is recommended. Designed for two to eight players, Mexican Train lends itself well to nearly any gaming occasion. The goal of Mexican Train is to be the player with the fewest points after 13 rounds of play.
Setting Up the Game
Step 1
Locate the 12/12 domino and place it face-up in the center of the playing surface. This starting domino is called the "engine."
Step 2
Place the remaining dominoes on the playing surface face-down and shuffle them.
Step 3
Assign each player a certain number of dominoes. For two to four players, each player will draw 15 dominoes, or "boxcars." For five to six players, each player will draw 11 boxcars. For seven to eight players, each player will draw eight boxcars.
Step 4
List numbers one through 13 down a sheet of paper. Write each player's name across the top. After each round, write each player's score under her name and across from the corresponding round number.
Playing the Game
Step 1
Designate one path leading away from the engine as the "Mexican Train." Anyone can play on the Mexican Train. Players can also create their own trains extending from the engine that are only available for play by other players in certain situations.
Step 2
Place one boxcar on the table each turn. You may build on the Mexican Train or you may start your own train. To build on the Mexican Train, one side of your boxcar must match the engine or the most recent boxcar played on the Mexican Train.
Step 3
Start your own train by playing a boxcar with one side that matches the engine. From this point forward, each boxcar you play on your train must match ends with the previous boxcar.
Step 4
Draw a boxcar from the remaining face-down dominoes, known as the "train yard," if you don't have any playable boxcars on your turn. If your drawn boxcar is playable, you must play it to finish you turn. If your drawn boxcar is not playable, place a marker on the end of your personal train, signifying that any player may add boxcars to your train.
Step 5
Remove your marker as soon as you add a boxcar to your personal train.
Step 6
Play a double on any available train to mix things up. You must play on the double after laying it down. If you are not able to play on the double, draw a boxcar from the train yard. If you are not able to play your new boxcar on the double, add a marker to your train and play moves to the next player. Other players must follow the same procedure until a player plays a boxcar on the double.
Step 7
Add boxcars to the Mexican Train or any other available (marked) trains to get rid of your dominoes. This will continue until the train yard is empty.
Step 8
Win the round by playing your final domino. Anytime you play your second-to-last boxcar, you must notify the other players.
Step 9
Win the round by having the fewest points at the end of a "stalled" round. A stalled round occurs when the train yard is empty and no one can play any more boxcars. Add up the pips on your remaining dominoes and give the number to the score keeper.
Step 10
Begin a new round, using the next smallest double as the engine. For instance, the second round will feature the 11/11 as the engine, as so on. The final, 13th round begins with the double-blank.
Step 11
Add up the points from all 13 rounds for each player. The player with the fewest points wins the game.
Setting Up the Game
Step 1
Locate the 12/12 domino and place it face-up in the center of the playing surface. This starting domino is called the "engine."
Step 2
Place the remaining dominoes on the playing surface face-down and shuffle them.
Step 3
Assign each player a certain number of dominoes. For two to four players, each player will draw 15 dominoes, or "boxcars." For five to six players, each player will draw 11 boxcars. For seven to eight players, each player will draw eight boxcars.
Step 4
List numbers one through 13 down a sheet of paper. Write each player's name across the top. After each round, write each player's score under her name and across from the corresponding round number.
Playing the Game
Step 1
Designate one path leading away from the engine as the "Mexican Train." Anyone can play on the Mexican Train. Players can also create their own trains extending from the engine that are only available for play by other players in certain situations.
Step 2
Place one boxcar on the table each turn. You may build on the Mexican Train or you may start your own train. To build on the Mexican Train, one side of your boxcar must match the engine or the most recent boxcar played on the Mexican Train.
Step 3
Start your own train by playing a boxcar with one side that matches the engine. From this point forward, each boxcar you play on your train must match ends with the previous boxcar.
Step 4
Draw a boxcar from the remaining face-down dominoes, known as the "train yard," if you don't have any playable boxcars on your turn. If your drawn boxcar is playable, you must play it to finish you turn. If your drawn boxcar is not playable, place a marker on the end of your personal train, signifying that any player may add boxcars to your train.
Step 5
Remove your marker as soon as you add a boxcar to your personal train.
Step 6
Play a double on any available train to mix things up. You must play on the double after laying it down. If you are not able to play on the double, draw a boxcar from the train yard. If you are not able to play your new boxcar on the double, add a marker to your train and play moves to the next player. Other players must follow the same procedure until a player plays a boxcar on the double.
Step 7
Add boxcars to the Mexican Train or any other available (marked) trains to get rid of your dominoes. This will continue until the train yard is empty.
Step 8
Win the round by playing your final domino. Anytime you play your second-to-last boxcar, you must notify the other players.
Step 9
Win the round by having the fewest points at the end of a "stalled" round. A stalled round occurs when the train yard is empty and no one can play any more boxcars. Add up the pips on your remaining dominoes and give the number to the score keeper.
Step 10
Begin a new round, using the next smallest double as the engine. For instance, the second round will feature the 11/11 as the engine, as so on. The final, 13th round begins with the double-blank.
Step 11
Add up the points from all 13 rounds for each player. The player with the fewest points wins the game.
Posted in: board games
