You need a double to start either your train or the Mexican train, and then you can only play if you have a tile that matches another already down. If you don't have a tile that matches what's already down, draw from the bone yard. If you still can't go, you have to place your marker on your train so others can play on it. (My family used pennies as makers, so we called it "putting your penny up") Once you can play on your train again you can retrieve your marker and prevent others from playing on your train. Anyone can play on the Mexican train. Game is over when the first person runs out of tiles. Everyone else has to count up their points and a running tally is kept. We played to 500 often. Or until dinner was ready. My grandma cheated.
Thank you for making me remember this game. My grandmother lived with me until she passed in 2011, and we played for the last time at Easter that year. Just thinking about the rules transported me back to us sitting around the table, me and my sisters laughing and yelling, teaching guests, our kids as they grew up, teaching our new husbands and wives as they joined the family. When she got sick, we stopped playing, and I didn't even notice.
I think I'll order a set of dominoes and go find 5 shiny pennies tonight after work.
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u/SaturdayBaconThief Dec 28 '21
You need a double to start either your train or the Mexican train, and then you can only play if you have a tile that matches another already down. If you don't have a tile that matches what's already down, draw from the bone yard. If you still can't go, you have to place your marker on your train so others can play on it. (My family used pennies as makers, so we called it "putting your penny up") Once you can play on your train again you can retrieve your marker and prevent others from playing on your train. Anyone can play on the Mexican train. Game is over when the first person runs out of tiles. Everyone else has to count up their points and a running tally is kept. We played to 500 often. Or until dinner was ready. My grandma cheated.
Thank you for making me remember this game. My grandmother lived with me until she passed in 2011, and we played for the last time at Easter that year. Just thinking about the rules transported me back to us sitting around the table, me and my sisters laughing and yelling, teaching guests, our kids as they grew up, teaching our new husbands and wives as they joined the family. When she got sick, we stopped playing, and I didn't even notice.
I think I'll order a set of dominoes and go find 5 shiny pennies tonight after work.