How to play Mexican Train

Get rid of your tiles. When a round ends, every pip left in your hand counts against you. After the last round, the lowest total wins.

A double-12 set (91 tiles). Each round starts from a centre engine double: 12-12 in the first round, counting down in later rounds. Players get 15 tiles (2–4 players), 12 (5–6) or 10 (7–8); the rest form the boneyard.

Everyone builds their own personal train out from the engine. There is also a shared Mexican Train that anyone may start or extend. Each tile must match the open end of the train it joins.

• Play one tile on your own train, the Mexican Train, or any train with an open marker (a locomotive).
• Can't play? Draw one tile. If it fits, play it. If not, you pass and your train becomes open to everyone.
• Playing on your own train closes it again.

• After playing a double you go again, and your next tile must cover the double.
• Can't cover it? Draw one tile. If that doesn't fit either, your train gets a marker.
• A double left uncovered must be covered by the next players before anyone plays elsewhere — even on a private train. It glows gold on the table.
• Laid several doubles in one turn? They are covered in the order they were laid.
• If every tile of that number is already on the table, the double can't be covered and no longer blocks play.
• You may finish the round by playing a double as your last tile.

The round ends when someone plays their last tile, or when the boneyard is empty and nobody can play. When a player is down to one tile, everyone is told — the digital version of tapping your last tile on the table.

Some families let everyone lay as many tiles as they like on their own train on their first turn of a round. It's off by default — hosts can switch it on in the lobby.

• Drag tiles in your hand to plan a run, and tap a tile then Flip to line up the ends.
• Arrange lines up the longest run you can lay on your own train.
• Tap any train on the table to see all of its tiles.
• Dump high tiles on other trains early — they cost the most if someone goes out.