Thanks to Robert Gauen of Oregon who sent these to me for all
of you folks out there...
The latest Dominos rage among RVers in the Northwest is Cardinal
Mexican Train (TM). I have played with several groups and, of
course, each group has its variations of the rules. Cardinal,
the company that puts out the dominoes sold at Camping World and
Toys R Us, has another differing set of rules.
Equipment for the game can be simple or slightly more elaborate.
We use a jumbo color coded set of double 12s, a set of small 1/2
inch colored trains (beads) as markers and a two inch electronic
(on a key chain) "WOO WOO LOCOMOTIVE" to signal when
another train is started at the station. When a doublet is played
you must click two tiles together as a signal. All part of the
fun.
You may start the game with 12's. From 2 to 8 may play. For 2
to 4, draw 15 tiles, with 5 or 6 players draw 12, and for 7 or
8 draw 11 each. If you choose to play with a set of 9's, then
draw fewer, so there is a boneyard to draw from.
Object: to play off all your dominoes. You play onto your own
train, onto the Mexican train ( marked by the WOO WOO LOCOMOTIVE),
onto other trains starting at the station (marked with the tiny
trains), or onto other players marked trains.
After drawing the tiles each person then takes time to set up
his train as he hopes to play it. Any tiles that do not fit on
the his train, empties, may be played later on others' trains,
on the Mexican train or on marked sidings that all may use.
Begin by placing the highest double in the center of the station.
The first player then places 1 matching tile in the notch nearest
himself. If he does not have one he may draw, or the nearest person
to his left may offer him one, if he has an extra. Play continues
in this fashion around the circle to the left. When a player cannot
play he draws one. If he cannot play this one he then puts a marker
on his train as a signal that it may be played on by others. A
marker may be removed when a player is able to play on his own
train.
When a person plays a double, he must "satisfy" the
double by playing the next matching tile. If he cannot, he must
draw. If this does not give him the right tile, he must put up
a marker on his train if it does not already have one. This signals
that anyone may play on this train. No other train may be played
on, however, until the double has been honored. Each player must
play from his bone pile or draw one tile. If he cannot satisfy
the double, he must put up his marker. When the double has been
honored play continues as usual.
Exceptions: if there are no more dominoes matching the double:
if the double is the last one in your hand, thus ending the game.
Anyone who does not have a tile to play on his own train may play
on other marked trains, or, if he has a tile matching the number
of the train in the staion, he may start another train on a siding.
Each time a new train is started on a siding the WOO WOO LOCOMOTIVE
is sounded. and a small train is placed on it as a marker.
Each time a player puts down his second to the last tile, he must
quickly say "Down to one", or else another player may
say " Draw one", or "How many do you have?".
He must then draw onother tile.
When a player goes out, everyone counts their tiles at face value
except for the double blank, which counts 50.
The next round then begins with the next lower double. A scorekeeper
keeps track of the scores until the game is over. The lowest score
wins
Mexican Train Dominoes
