- Players
- 2–8
- Time
- 10 rounds (double-9), 1–2 hours
- You need
- Double-9 dominoes (or double-6 or 12)
- To win
- Fewest points after the last round
What you need
- Dominoes. A double-nine set (55 tiles) is the usual choice. Double-six suits two or three players; double-twelve suits large groups. See how many tiles each set has.
- A flat table with room, because the layout spreads out in every direction.
- Pen and paper for the scores.
Setting up
Rounds and the starting double
A game has one round for each double in the set. With double-nine dominoes the first round starts from the 9-9, the next from the 8-8, and so on down to the 0-0, which makes ten rounds. Some groups count up from the 0-0 instead; either works as long as everyone agrees.
The deal
Shuffle all the tiles face down. Each player draws a hand; the rest stay face down as the boneyard. Around seven tiles each is common with a double-nine set for up to five or six players, with fewer for a bigger table. Agree on the number before the first round.
Who starts
The player holding the round's double places it in the center of the table. If nobody has it, players take turns drawing from the boneyard until someone finds it. Play then moves clockwise from the player who placed it.
Playing a round
The six spokes
The center double must have six tiles played against it, three on each long side, before anything else happens. Each of these tiles must match the double's number. Players take turns adding one tile at a time; anyone who can't add a spoke draws one tile, plays it if it fits, and otherwise passes. Some families use only four spokes.
Building the lines
Once all six spokes are down, each spoke becomes a line. On your turn you play one tile on the open end of any line, matching numbers as in ordinary dominoes. There are no private lines: every end on the table is open to every player.
Making a chicken foot
When someone plays a double on a line, it is placed crosswise and becomes a chicken foot. Three tiles must be played on its far side, one straight ahead and one angled out on each side, all matching the double's number. Until those three toes are down, nobody may play anywhere else. Each player in turn must add a toe if they can, or draw one tile and play it if it fits, or pass. After the third toe, every toe is the start of a new line.
Can't play?
Draw one tile from the boneyard. If it fits where you are allowed to play, play it; otherwise your turn ends. If the boneyard is empty, simply pass.
Ending a round and scoring
The round ends as soon as one player plays their last tile. It also ends when nobody can play and the boneyard is empty. Every player then adds up the pips on the tiles left in their hand. The 0-0, if you are caught holding it, counts 50 points instead of zero. Write the scores down; after the last round the lowest total wins.
Chicken Foot vs Mexican Train
| Chicken Foot | Mexican Train | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual set | Double-9 | Double-12 |
| Start of a round | Six tiles around the center double | Each player starts their own train from the engine |
| Whose lines | Every line is open to everyone | Your own train, the shared Mexican Train and marked trains |
| Doubles | Covered by three tiles (the chicken foot) | Covered by one tile |
| Markers | None | A marker opens a stuck player's train |
| Double-blank | 50 points in hand | Zero (50 as a house rule) |
The Mexican Train rules page explains the trains and markers in detail, and you can play Mexican Train online right now.
Tips
- A double you can't cover three times is a risk: it may stall the table while everyone draws, you included.
- Getting rid of the 0-0 early is worth a lot more than its zero pips suggest.
- When you are short of the number on a chicken foot, count who has drawn: they are short too.
- As in Mexican Train, play your highest tiles once anyone is down to a couple of tiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is a chicken foot in dominoes?
When a double is played, it must be covered by three tiles fanning out from its far side, one straight on and one at each angle. The double and its three tiles look like a bird's foot, which gives the game its name.
What dominoes do you need for Chicken Foot?
A double-nine set (55 tiles) is the most common choice. Double-six works for a quick game with two or three players, and double-twelve sets are used for bigger groups.
How many tiles does each player get in Chicken Foot?
It depends on the set and the number of players, and boxes differ. With a double-nine set, around seven tiles each is a common deal for up to five or six players. Leave a good pile in the boneyard so there is something to draw.
Why is the double-blank worth 50 points?
It is the classic Chicken Foot penalty: the 0-0 is easy to forget about because it has no pips, so being caught holding it costs 50 points instead of zero.
Is Chicken Foot the same as Mexican Train?
No. Both start each round from a central double and score the pips left in your hand, but Chicken Foot has no personal trains, no markers and no shared Mexican Train. Its doubles take three tiles instead of one, and the center double needs six.
Can I play Chicken Foot online here?
Not yet. This page has the rules; the game on this site is Mexican Train, which you can play free against the computer or with friends.