How to Learn to Play Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a board game. It's a classic! Andreas Seyfarth designed it. It's known for being tricky and making you think. In the game, you want to build the best colony on the island. It might seem hard at first. But it's fun once you get the hang of it. I'll show you the rules, some tips, and how to play if you're just starting out.

Why Should You Play Puerto Rico?

Why is Puerto Rico still so popular? Here's why:

• It makes you think! You have to plan carefully. You need to use your resources wisely. And you have to guess what other players will do.
• It's fun! You get to pick a new role each round. This makes the game interesting. It's never boring.
• You can play it again and again! There are lots of ways to play. Each game is different. You'll want to play it many times.
• It's award-winning! People love this game. It even won a big award called Spiel des Jahres.

What's in the Box?

First, let's look at what comes with the game:

• The Island Board: This is the main board. It shows the island with places to build and get resources.
• Role Cards: There are seven role cards. Each one lets you do something different. The roles are: Settler, Mayor, Builder, Craftsman, Trader, Captain, and Prospector.
• Plantation Tiles: These show what crops you can grow. Like indigo, sugar, corn, tobacco, and coffee.
• Building Tiles: These are buildings you can build. They give you points and other good stuff. There are small buildings (violet) and big buildings (gray).
• Doubloons (Money): This is the money in the game. You use it to buy buildings and pay workers.
• Colonists (Workers): You need workers to run your plantations and buildings. They help you make resources and get points.
• Goods Barrels: These are barrels of goods you make. Like indigo, sugar, corn, tobacco, and coffee.
• Victory Point Chips: You get these for doing well in the game. Whoever has the most at the end wins.
• Governor Marker: This shows who gets to pick the role first each round.

How to Play: The Round

Each game has many rounds. Each round has a few steps. Here's what you do:

1. Pick a Role: The Governor picks a role card. Then, everyone gets to do what that role says. The Governor gets a bonus!
2. Do the Action: Everyone does the action from the role that was picked. The person who picked the role gets something extra.
3. Next Round: The Governor marker moves to the next player. Then, you start a new round.

What Each Role Does

Each role lets you do something different. This changes how the game works. Here's a closer look:

• Settler:
  • What you do: You can pick a plantation tile. You can get indigo, sugar, corn, tobacco, or coffee. Or, you can give up the plantation for 1 doubloon.
  • Bonus: The Governor gets to pick first. And they get a free plantation.
  • When to use it: This is good for getting the stuff you need to make things. At the start, get cheap plantations like indigo and sugar. Later, get coffee and tobacco for more money.
• Mayor:
  • What you do: New colonists come to the island. The number depends on how many people are playing. You get to put these colonists on your plantations and buildings.
  • Bonus: The Governor gets one extra colonist.
  • When to use it: You need this to get workers. Make sure you have enough workers for your plantations and buildings. Put workers where they will help you the most.
• Builder:
  • What you do: You can build a building tile by paying for it.
  • Bonus: The Governor gets a discount of one doubloon on the building.
  • When to use it: This is how you get points and special abilities. Pick buildings that help your plantations or give you something special. Think about how much each building costs and what you get for it.
• Craftsman:
  • What you do: You make goods from your plantations and buildings. Like indigo, sugar, corn, tobacco, and coffee.
  • Bonus: The Governor gets one extra barrel of goods.
  • When to use it: This is how you make things to sell and ship. Pick plantations and buildings that work well together. Make sure you have enough workers to run everything.
• Trader:
  • What you do: You can sell one type of good for a set price.
  • Bonus: The Governor can sell one good for an extra doubloon.
  • When to use it: This is how you get money. Sell the good that is in demand. Don't sell something that everyone else is selling.
• Captain:
  • What you do: You can ship goods to Europe for points. Each ship can only hold one type of good.
  • Bonus: The Governor gets one extra point.
  • When to use it: This is how you get most of your points. Ship goods and trade them to get the most points and money. Try to fill up the ships to get the most points.
• Prospector:
  • What you do: You get one doubloon. Or two, if nobody picked this role this round.
  • Bonus: The Governor gets one doubloon too. Or two.
  • When to use it: This is how you get money when the other roles aren't good for you. Pick this at the start if you need money. Or pick it later if nothing else helps.

Tips for New Players

Here are some tips to help you win:

• Start with Production:
  • At the start, get plantations and buildings that make goods. Indigo and sugar are good to start with because they are cheap.
• Mix It Up:
  • As you play, get different plantations and buildings. This helps you make more things and be more flexible.
• Get Points at the End:
  • At the end, focus on getting points. Build buildings that give you points. Ship goods. Do whatever gets you the most points.
• Watch Other Players:
  • This game is all about what other people are doing. Watch them! Guess what they will do next. Change your plan based on what they do.
• Use Your Workers Wisely:
  • Put your workers where they will help you the most. Don't waste workers on things that don't make much.
• Pick the Right Buildings:
  • Some buildings are better than others. Think about how much they cost and what they give you. Pick buildings that help you win.
• Know How to Ship:
  • The Captain role is important for getting points. Ship goods to get the most points. Fill up the ships to get more points.
• Be Ready to Change:
  • You might need to change your plan. Be ready to do something different based on what happens in the game.

Don't Do These Things

New players make some mistakes. Don't do these things:

• Forget the Bonus:
  • The Governor gets a bonus for picking the role. Remember that! It can change what you want to do.
• Don't Manage Workers:
  • If you don't have enough workers, you won't make anything. Make sure you have enough workers for your plantations and buildings.
• Only Make One Thing:
  • If you only make one type of good, you might be in trouble. Make different things so you are not stuck if something bad happens.
• Ignore Other Players:
  • If you don't watch other players, you might miss something. Pay attention and change your plan if you need to.
• Forget Point Buildings:
  • Buildings that give you points are very good at the end of the game. Don't forget to build them!

How to Be a Pro

Once you know the basics, try these tips:

• Block Other Players:
  • Pick a role that you don't need, but that will hurt other players. This can be a good trick.
• Make a Machine:
  • Try to make a system that makes goods and points all by itself.
• Control the Game:
  • Speed up or slow down the game. This can help you win.
• Use Special Buildings:
  • The Hacienda and University are special buildings. They can help you get more plantations and use your workers better.

Where to Learn More

Need more help? Here are some places to look:

• The Rulebook: This is the main book that tells you how to play. Read it!
• Online Videos: There are videos online that show you how to play.
• Forums: Websites like BoardGameGeek are good for asking questions.
• Play with Pros: The best way to learn is to play with people who know the game well.

Have Fun!

Puerto Rico might seem hard at first. But be patient and keep playing. You'll get better. You can build a great colony and win the game! Remember to change your plan, watch other players, and keep learning. Have fun!

I hope this guide helps you learn Puerto Rico. Whether you are new to board games or have played many games, these tips will help you. Get your friends, set up the board, and have fun building the best colony on Puerto Rico!