doggystyle
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Setup: Use a standard double-12 or double-9 domino set depending on desired game length. Shuffle the tiles face down and each player draws their starting hand — typically 15 tiles each for a double-12. fewer for smaller sets. The highest double (for example, double-12) is placed in the center as the engine and becomes the starting value for all trains.
Starting the trains: Each player begins their own personal train from the engine. There is also a communal "Mexican Train" that any player may start on their turn if they cannot (or choose not to) play on their own train. On your turn you may play one tile on any legal train (your own, the Mexican Train, or another player's train if it is marked open).
Betting
Playing order and turns: Play proceeds clockwise. If you can play, you must place a tile that matches the open end of the train you choose. If you cannot play, you must draw one tile from the boneyard: if the drawn tile can be played immediately, you may play it; otherwise you place a marker on your train to indicate it is open to others.
Rummy
Opening other players' trains: A player's train is closed to others unless that player has placed a marker (indicating they could not play) or the rules allow playing on any train under certain circumstances. The Mexican Train is always available once started.
Ending a round and scoring: The round ends when a player plays all their tiles or when no one can play and the boneyard is exhausted. Each player's score is the sum of the pips remaining in their hand; lower score is better. Typically several rounds are played, beginning each round with the next lower double as the engine (for example, double-11 after double-12).
Rummy
Strategy tips: Hold onto tiles that give you flexibility (doubles and connectors), watch opponents' open trains, and consider starting the Mexican Train early if it creates more opportunities to shed tiles. Above all, focus on reducing your pip total to minimize your score at round end.
Starting the trains: Each player begins their own personal train from the engine. There is also a communal "Mexican Train" that any player may start on their turn if they cannot (or choose not to) play on their own train. On your turn you may play one tile on any legal train (your own, the Mexican Train, or another player's train if it is marked open).
Betting
Playing order and turns: Play proceeds clockwise. If you can play, you must place a tile that matches the open end of the train you choose. If you cannot play, you must draw one tile from the boneyard: if the drawn tile can be played immediately, you may play it; otherwise you place a marker on your train to indicate it is open to others.
Rummy
Opening other players' trains: A player's train is closed to others unless that player has placed a marker (indicating they could not play) or the rules allow playing on any train under certain circumstances. The Mexican Train is always available once started.
Ending a round and scoring: The round ends when a player plays all their tiles or when no one can play and the boneyard is exhausted. Each player's score is the sum of the pips remaining in their hand; lower score is better. Typically several rounds are played, beginning each round with the next lower double as the engine (for example, double-11 after double-12).
Rummy
Strategy tips: Hold onto tiles that give you flexibility (doubles and connectors), watch opponents' open trains, and consider starting the Mexican Train early if it creates more opportunities to shed tiles. Above all, focus on reducing your pip total to minimize your score at round end.