How to play Mexen

Mexen (also called Mex) is a fast Dutch dice game for two or more players. It is a close relative of the dice game known in English as Mexico: two dice, open throws, and the lowest score of the round loses. Unlike Mia, nobody bluffs. Tables have their own house rules; below are the rules as the Mexen app plays them.

Players

2 or more

You need

2 dice

A round

a few minutes

Playing for sips

18+ only

Reading a throw

The higher die is the tens, the lower die the units: a 6 and a 4 make 64, a 5 and a 3 make 53. From high to low:

1. Mex (2 and 1) is the highest throw.
2. Doubles count as hundreds: double 6 is 600, double 5 is 500, down to double 1 = 100.
3. Ordinary throws: 65, 64, 63 and so on, down to 41.
4. 32 is the lowest throw.
5. 31 is not a score: you hand out a sip and roll again.

Your turn

• You get three throws and the last one counts. You can't stop early; only a Mex or a 32 ends your turn sooner.
• After a throw you may keep one die, but for one throw at most; after that it has to roll again. Keeping a 1 gives you a shot at Mex. You can keep a 2 as well, but then you risk a 32.
• The dice stay on the table during a round: the next player may also keep a freshly rolled 1. A new round starts with an empty table.
• If the first player of the round rolls Mex in one or two throws, everyone after them gets only that many throws.

Mex, 32 and 31

• Mex (2 and 1): your turn ends at once and 3 sips go into the pot.
• 32: the lowest throw. Your turn ends at once and this is your final score.
• 31: you hand out a sip to anyone you like. The throw doesn't count and you roll again, as often as it happens.

The pirate

Roll double 1 and you become the pirate. Every double 2 to 6 rolled after that, by anyone, is a sip for the pirate. If the pirate rolls double 1 again, they become pirate ×2: two sips per double (and so on). If someone else rolls double 1, they take over. The pirate stays on from round to round.

End of the round: the pot

• When everyone has played, the lowest score loses and takes the pot: 1 sip, plus 3 for every Mex in the round.
• If two or more players tie for the lowest, they each roll one die: the highest roll loses. Tied again? Only they roll once more.
• The loser starts the next round.

Playing for points instead of sips

Rather play without drinks? Play for points: wherever it says "sip", read "point". The loser of a round adds the pot to their points; whoever has the most points at the end is last. In the app you choose this at the first start, and later in the settings.

Variant: extreme

• Everyone always throws exactly three times, even after a Mex; only the third throw counts.
• No keeping dice: you always roll both.
• The pot starts at 1. Mex and 65 double the pot, and every double adds its pips (double 3 = +3, double 1 = +1). Everything in the order it is rolled.
• 31 doesn't count: just roll again, no sip to hand out. The pirate works as in the normal game.
• The lowest takes the whole pot; on a tie, those players roll one die each, as above.

Play responsibly

Playing for sips? Only if you are 18 or older; drink in moderation and never drive afterwards. Or simply play for points.