In Mexican Standoff, the players — western heroes that they are — aim to take as many tricks as possible during the eleven rounds of the game, in addition to collecting as many points as possible.

Unlike most games, lower-valued cards are worth more as the deck contains fewer of them. The players can challenge each other, as well as the sheriff, to the Mexican standoff. After a duel, only one player is left standing, and this player takes several tricks at the same time. The player who fights a duel at the most appropriate time and collects the largest points — as well as the highest number of special bandit cards — will be the final one standing when the game ends.