Mexican Train Deluxe Rules & Scoring
How to Play Deluxe Word Dominoes
Derail
Derail is about setting yourself up while throwing everyone else off. The official rule: when Derail is played, every player shifts the open end of their train one space to the left or right. A popular house variation lets each train shift as far left or right as you like, instead of just one space. Our favorite variation plays more like musical chairs — the player who plays Derail decides how many spaces everyone shifts, left or right, and every player picks up their train and moves that many seats before continuing to play.
Wild
The Wild domino plays like a double. You can place it on your own Track, the Mexican Train, or any Track that already has a train on it, then immediately play another domino from your hand right on top of it. You can even play Wild as a double itself, and cover it later with a real double.
Twist
The Twist domino literally adds a twist to game night. It allows you to spin an opponent's track around to block their next move and disrupt their strategy. Play it between the last two dominoes of any train and turn the last domino around.
Draw
Put the Draw domino on the end of an opponent's Track. On their next turn, they draw a domino, then set the Draw domino out of play. Their turn then continues as usual.
Trade
Show the table your Trade domino, then give an opponent one of your dominoes and take one of theirs in exchange. Set the Trade domino out of play — your turn is over.
Skip
Put the Skip domino on the end of an opponent's train. On their next turn, they set the Skip domino out of play — their turn is over immediately, with no play at all.
Reverse
Put the Reverse domino in the center of the depot. Your turn ends and the order of play reverses. If a second Reverse is played later in the round, both Reverse dominoes are set out of play.
Game Rules and Basics
What is the objective of the game?
The goal is to be the first player to play all the dominoes in your hand. The player with the lowest total penalty score at the end of all rounds wins.
How many rounds are played?
A standard Double-12 game consists of 13 rounds. You start the first round with the Double-12 tile in the center station and count down by one each round until the final round (Double-Blank).
Scoring and Penalties
How does a round end?
A round ends immediately when one player 'goes out' by playing their final domino.
How do you score points?
All remaining players count the total number of pips (dots) on the dominoes left in their hands, plus any penalty values assigned to unplayed action dominoes. This number is added to their running penalty score.