How to count the pips
In Mexican Train, points are bad. Every pip, or dot, left in your hand when the round ends counts against you. Count both halves of every tile you are still holding.
- A 6-5 is worth 11 points.
- A 12-12 is worth 24 points, the most expensive tile in the set.
- A 3-0 is worth 3 points.
- The double-blank, 0-0, is worth zero in most rules.
A quick way to count is to put tiles together that make 10 or 20, then add the rest. With a big hand, ask a neighbor to check your number. It saves an argument later.
Who scores zero
The player who plays their last tile goes out and scores zero for the round. Every other player scores the pips left in their hand.
If the round is blocked, meaning the boneyard is empty and nobody can play, nobody goes out. Everyone counts their hand, and even the player with the fewest tiles scores their pips.
The double-blank: 0 or 50?
This is one of the most common scoring arguments. In most rule sheets the double-blank is worth zero, because it has no pips. Some families count it as 50 points, which makes it a tile you want to get rid of early. A few give 25 points for each blank half.
None of these is wrong. Write your choice at the top of the score sheet before the first round. More scoring disputes are covered in our Mexican Train house rules guide.
An example round
Four players finish a round. Ann played her last tile. Here is what everyone else was holding:
| Player | Tiles left | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ann | none, she went out | 0 |
| Bob | 12-11 and 4-2 | 23 + 6 = 29 |
| Cara | 9-9 and 0-0 | 18 + 0 = 18 |
| Dan | 5-3, 6-1 and 2-0 | 8 + 7 + 2 = 17 |
If your table counts the double-blank as 50, Cara scores 68 instead of 18. That one house rule can change who wins the game.
Who wins
Write each round's score in a column and keep a running total. After the last round, the player with the lowest total wins.
If two players tie, some families simply share the win. Tournament rules break the tie in favor of the player who went out in more rounds, and after that the player with the lowest single round score above zero.
Playing a shorter game? Some families play only 3 or 6 rounds. Scoring works the same way, you just stop earlier.
Printable Mexican Train score sheet
Free to print, as many copies as you like. It has rows for all 13 rounds, from the double-12 down to the double-blank, and columns for up to 8 players. Write the names across the top.
Mexican Train score sheet
| Round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 | Player 5 | Player 6 | Player 7 | Player 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-12 Round 1 | ||||||||
| 11-11 Round 2 | ||||||||
| 10-10 Round 3 | ||||||||
| 9-9 Round 4 | ||||||||
| 8-8 Round 5 | ||||||||
| 7-7 Round 6 | ||||||||
| 6-6 Round 7 | ||||||||
| 5-5 Round 8 | ||||||||
| 4-4 Round 9 | ||||||||
| 3-3 Round 10 | ||||||||
| 2-2 Round 11 | ||||||||
| 1-1 Round 12 | ||||||||
| 0-0 Round 13 | ||||||||
| Total |
Date: ____________________ Double-blank counts as: ______ Our house rules: ________________________________________________
Tips for the score keeper
- Pick one score keeper for the whole game, so the handwriting stays the same.
- Have each player say their number out loud before it goes on the sheet.
- Write the running total every round, not just at the end.
- Keep the sheet with the dominoes, so it is still there next game night.
Rather not do the math?
The free Android app, Mexican Train: Big Dominoes, has a score keeper for the real table with up to 8 players. You type in each player's pips and it keeps the running totals, so nobody has to add up columns at the end of the night. It also has big tiles, house rule presets with plain explanations, and a daily deal where your family compares scores on the same tiles.
Coming soon to iPhone and iPad
Frequently asked questions
How do you score Mexican Train?
At the end of each round, every player adds up the pips on the dominoes left in their hand. The player who went out scores zero. Keep a running total, and after the last round the lowest total wins.
Is the double-blank worth 0 or 50 points?
In most rule sheets the double-blank is worth zero. Some families count it as 50 points, and a few give 25 points for each blank half. Agree on it before the first round.
What happens to the score in a blocked round?
If the boneyard is empty and nobody can play, the round ends and nobody scores zero. Every player counts the pips in their hand.
Who wins Mexican Train?
The player with the lowest total after the last round. Tournament rules break a tie in favor of the player who went out in more rounds.