How to play Mexican Train with 2 players

What stays the same

Almost everything! You still put the double-12 in the middle as the engine, and you still play 13 rounds, counting down from double-12 to double-blank. On your turn you play one tile that matches an open end. If you can’t play, you draw one tile, and if that doesn’t fit either, your marker goes on your train. Doubles still have to be covered, and when the round ends, you each add up the dots left in your hand.

If you’re new to the game, start with the standard rules - this page just covers what’s different when there are two of you.

How many tiles each

With a double-12 set, each player draws 15 tiles. That’s the same number most rule sheets give for 3 or 4 players. Groups do vary, though, and some couples like to draw a few more for a longer round. Any number works as long as you both draw the same.

With 15 each, only 30 tiles are in your hands. The other 60 stay face down in the boneyard, so there’s plenty to draw from.

Using a smaller set? With a double-9 set, rule sheets disagree, and anywhere from 10 to 15 each is common for two players. With a little double-6 set, try about 7 each.

What changes with only two of you

You’ll draw more

With most of the tiles still in the boneyard, it’s easy to get stuck on a number and have to draw. That’s normal, so don’t worry about it. It also means rounds almost never end with everyone blocked - someone nearly always goes out.

The Mexican Train matters more

In a big game there are lots of trains to choose from. With two players, it’s your own train, the Mexican Train, and your partner’s train only when their marker is out. That makes the Mexican Train your best friend for the tiles that don’t fit your own train.

Markers make a big difference

When your partner’s marker is out, their train is open to you. It’s almost like having a second train of your own for a little while! The same goes the other way, so try hard to keep your own train closed.

Doubles hit harder

When you play a double, your partner has to cover it before anything else happens. If they can’t, they draw, and if they still can’t, their marker goes out. With only one other player at the table, a well-timed double can really swing a round.

It goes faster

Turns come around quickly when there are only two of you, so a full 13-round game moves along at a nice pace. Short on time? Play a shorter game, like stopping after the double-6 round. The lowest total still wins.

Nobody around for a game? Play Mexican Train free against the computer - it’s a great two-player partner.

Tips for a two-player game

• Plan your train first. Before you play anything, line up the longest train you can make from the engine. Our strategy tips show how.
• Keep track of what’s left. With only two hands, it’s easier to guess what your partner is holding. If they keep drawing on 8s, they probably don’t have any.
• Play on open trains when you can. If your partner’s marker is out, it’s a good time to unload a tile that doesn’t fit your plan.
• Try a house rule or two. A big first turn or a 50-point double-blank can make a two-player game feel brand new. See the most common house rules.

Playing for two on your phone or tablet

The computer makes a good two-player partner when nobody else is free. In Loco Motion you can play the computer on easy, medium or hard, with no account needed. Or you can invite one person - a grandchild, a friend, your sister across the country - and play just the two of you. See how playing online works.

Common questions