Mexican Train and Chicken Foot are cousins. In both games you match tiles out from a center double, and the lowest score after all the rounds wins. The big difference is the doubles: in Chicken Foot, a double has to get three tiles fanned out like a chicken’s foot before anyone can play anywhere else. Chicken Foot also usually has no personal trains, no Mexican Train and no markers, and it’s most often played with a double-9 set.
What’s the same
- Both games start each round with a double in the middle and count down one double each round.
- You match numbers end to end, just like regular dominoes.
- If you can’t play, you draw from the boneyard.
- A round ends when someone plays their last tile, or when the boneyard is empty and nobody can play.
- Everyone adds up the dots left in their hand, and the lowest total at the end of the game wins.
What’s different
| Mexican Train | Chicken Foot | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual set | Double-12 (91 tiles) | Double-9 (55 tiles), sometimes double-12 |
| Rounds | 13 (double-12 down to double-blank) | 10 with a double-9 set (double-9 down to double-blank) |
| Personal trains | Yes, one for each player | No - everyone plays on the same lines |
| Shared train | The Mexican Train | None |
| Markers | Yes, when you can’t play | No |
| Doubles | Covered by one tile | Need three tiles fanned out (the chicken foot) |
| Double-blank | 0 points (50 is a common house rule) | Usually 50 points |
The biggest difference is the doubles. In Mexican Train, one tile covers a double and play moves on. In Chicken Foot, a double isn’t finished until three tiles are fanned out from it, and nobody can play anywhere else until then.
How Chicken Foot is played
Rules for Chicken Foot vary from family to family even more than Mexican Train does, so here’s the most common way to play.
Starting the round
Everyone draws their tiles. In the first round, whoever has the double-9 puts it in the middle. If nobody has it, players take turns drawing until it turns up. Each round after that starts with the next double down.
The center double
Before anyone builds outward, the center double has to get a tile on each of its four sides. Some groups say six tiles go around the center double instead, so check with your table.
The chicken foot
Whenever someone plays a double out on a line, it goes crosswise. Then three tiles have to be played off it, fanned out like the toes of a chicken’s foot. Until all three toes are down, every player must play on that double. If you can’t, you draw.
When you can’t play
Draw a tile from the boneyard. Some groups let you play it right away if it fits, and some say the draw is your whole turn. Either way, there are no markers - you simply pass if you’re stuck.
Scoring
When the round ends, everyone adds up the dots left in their hand. The double-blank is usually worth 50 points (some families say 25). After the last round, the lowest total wins.
How many tiles each
With a double-9 set, one widely shared table goes like this: 2 players draw 20 each, 3 players 14, 4 players 11, 5 players 9 and 6 players 7. Plenty of families use other numbers, and that’s just fine.
Which one should your family play?
Both are great! Mexican Train is a good pick for bigger groups, since a double-12 set handles up to 8 players, and having your own train gives you more to plan. Chicken Foot is a good pick if you have a double-9 set, or if your group likes everyone crowding onto the same few lines. The chicken feet make for some funny moments, too.
Can’t decide? Lots of families borrow the chicken foot idea into Mexican Train. It’s one of the most common Mexican Train house rules: a double needs three tiles on it before play moves on.
Loco Motion plays Mexican Train. Play it free in your browser and see which one your family likes better.