Mexican Train Rules: What is the "Tapping Rule" and how does it work?
The cardinal rule of Mexican Train is “always cover the double”. No matter what variation you play, from Chickenfoot to Double-18 dominoes, you always cover the double and get a free play after laying a double domino. Everyone knows that one.But among Mexican Train rules that often goes unnoticed is the “Mexican Train tapping rule”. The tapping rule says once you’re down to one playable tile you must tap the domino or table loudly enough people can hear it.
- Alternatively, you can say “uno” to indicate you have one tile.
- Sometimes this is referred to as the “End of Play” rule, and many prefer their own house rules requiring players to announce their last tile and tap the table.
And like the classic Uno card game, if another player notices you failed to announce you have one domino left, you must draw two tiles from the remaining dominoes in the bone pile (unless it’s empty. If there’s only one tile left, then draw that.) You lose a turn and cannot play until your next round.
The tapping rule exists to give other players a chance to lower their score by unloading as many dominoes, higher-numbered tiles, and double tiles they may be holding. Since the object of the game is to maintain the lowest score, your final tile announcement sets off a race to second place.
Mexican Train objective
We've got extensive rules on Mexican Train available anytime here. Start here if you're new to Mexican Train or need a refresher on starting, ending, matching double dominoes, and more.
The Tapping Rule
The tapping rule is a crucial aspect of Mexican Train Dominoes. When a player is down to only one tile, they must tap the table or their domino loudly enough for others to hear. This action signals to the other players that they are about to lay down their last tile. The rule prevents players from laying down their final tile without warning, ensuring fair play and giving others a chance to adjust their strategies accordingly.
When to tap out
A player must tap out when they have only one tile remaining in their hand. This tap serves as a clear signal to the other players that they are on the verge of laying down their last tile. If a player fails to tap out and places their final tile without this warning, they may face penalties. This rule ensures transparency and fairness, keeping the game competitive and exciting.
House variations may require a person to draw as many as two or three dominoes, but typically you lose a turn and must draw one domino from the boneyard.
FAQs about the Mexican Train tapping rule
No, you can play only one domino on any open player’s train, your personal train, or the Mexican Train.
If your last domino happens to be a double, so be it. In some scoring systems, a double-blank domino is worth 50 points, adding a unique twist to game variations. Once you lay the last of your hand, the game is over. Other players do not have to cover the double.
If another player notices you didn’t tap or announce, you have to draw two tiles from the bone pile and mark your player's train as open. However, if there are no remaining tiles, you still lose your turn but don’t have to draw. If one tile is left, you still draw the last one.
You still have to announce your uno, but like every other turn, you’ll put a train marker on your personal train if you cannot play. Play moves clockwise and rules for covering doubles stand. In some variations, known as the 'private train' rule, players can lay down as many playable dominoes as they want on their personal train from the very start of the game, enhancing the pace and strategy of gameplay.
At the end of the game, one common situation might be players laying multiple dominoes and two or more doubles they can’t cover. You and several players may have to repeatedly announce your uno until someone can cover the double tile or the boneyard has no more tiles.
If you didn’t tap or announce you’re on your final tile, and no one notices, the window for someone to make you draw two tiles expires once the next player plays or draws a tile. Remember, only one Mexican train can be active during a game, so it's crucial to follow the rules closely.
Play free online where tapping is just part of the game
Dilly Dally’s Mexican Train Dominoes game is free to play online with no download required. Play it directly in your browser at mexicantrain.com. You can also download iOS, Android, and Kindle apps to play free there.
Unlike analog gameplay, the digital versions give new meaning to taps and double taps!