How To Play: Colorado

Overview

If you’re anything like me, you’ve played Colorado with friends and wondered why Dave always wins (I blame luck, but he claims it’s skill). This post holds the secrets! I’ll break down an outline of the rules, show you exactly How To Play colorado, and share the best strategies for winning. Get ready to outplay Dave, or at least annoy him with your new expert moves!

What’s in the box

• 44 cards
• 5 summary cards
• 1 rulebook

How To Play Colorado: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, shuffle the deck of Colorado cards. Don’t drop them like I did, or you’ll spend more time crawling on the floor than playing.
2. Deal a hand of 13 cards to each player. Place the rest in a draw pile.
3. Give each player one summary card, because everyone needs a friendly reminder.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, draw a card from the deck.
2. Next, decide: add the card to your row or place it on one of the display piles in the center. Sometimes it’s tough—no judging if you sigh loudly.
3. If you take a display pile, add all the cards to your row. I once took a pile with three wilds and thought I’d discovered gold.
4. You can only collect up to three different colors in your scoring row. After that, extra colors are worth negative points, so don’t get greedy.
5. Turns move clockwise. Repeat until the deck runs out!

Winning

1. When the last card is drawn, finish out the round so everyone has had the same number of turns.
2. Each player scores points for their three best colors. Every card from a fourth or fifth color scores negative points. Ouch.
3. The player with the highest score wins. If it’s a tie, do what my group does—have a snack-off.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Wild cards can be any color, but once you pick, you can’t change it. Like getting a tattoo—choose wisely.
2. If a display pile gets too big, don’t panic—sometimes it pays off to grab a huge pile (mostly for the thrill).
3. Use your summary card if you forget the scoring. I use mine as a miniature fan during tense moments.

Once you get the hang of things, “How To Play colorado” becomes second nature—and a bit addictive. At least that’s been my experience. Good luck and may your piles always have wilds!

Best Colorado Strategies

Master Card Management to Crush Colorado!

Pick the Right Color, Not Every Color

First, pick a few colors to focus on. You cannot win by spreading too thin! Stick to these colors throughout the game for easy points.

1. Choose two or three colors early.
2. Ignore tempting cards that mess up your plan.

Play Your Wild Cards Wisely

Wild cards can save your skin, but only if you use them at the right moment. Don’t waste them too soon!

1. Save wilds for desperate times.
2. Avoid using wilds on a color you barely collect.

Keep Your Hand Open for Options

If you clutter your hand, you’re stuck. Instead, always keep at least one free spot by passing now and then.

1. Pass when you see trouble brewing.
2. Watch opponents—don’t let them force you into a bad pick.

Walking the Colorado Tightrope: Risk vs Reward

Know When to Pass

If you grab every card, you’ll soon get stuck. Sometimes, it’s smarter to skip a turn. But when do you do this?

1. If the row has too many risky colors, let someone else take the hit.
2. When you already have three of a color, passing avoids negative points.

Taking Risks for Big Points

You can’t always play it safe. If you’re feeling bold, snagging tricky rows can sometimes pay off. Just remember:

1. Go for color sets if the row has more good than bad.
2. Consider grabbing extra wild cards early—they’re rare!

Reading the Table

Watch your friends. If everyone avoids certain rows, maybe there’s a secret win in there for you. Don’t play chicken with them unless you’re ready for spicy arguments.

Master the Mind Game: Outsmart Your Opponents in Colorado

Spot Their Favorite Colors

1. Watch which colors your friends keep grabbing—especially early in the round.
2. Notice if they avoid certain colors, hinting at what they don’t want.

Predict Their Next Move

1. Pay attention to their facial expressions; some folks can’t hide disappointment when a good set goes past.
2. If someone hesitates, they may not want the stack or are holding out for a better hand.

Time Your Choices

1. Pounce on sets your rivals avoid, even if they’re not perfect for you.
2. Wait until a key color drops to mess up their strategy.

After playing loads of Colorado, I’ve learned that reading intentions is almost as important as playing your own hand. If you master this, you’ll win more often than not! Now, if only I could convince my friend Dave to stop making victory dances every time he fools me…

By the way, if you need to brush up on How To Play colorado, keep a reference nearby, because a quick rule check can stop sneaky plays!

Ready to Show Off Your Colorado Skills?

Let me tell ya, mastering Colorado is a wild ride. After too many games where I smugly thought I had it all figured out (only to get walloped by my friend Tina, who claims she’s just “randomly picking cards”), I can say the little things really matter. Managing your hand, keeping a poker face, and reading the table can mean the difference between glorious victory and explaining to your dog why you lost again. Now that you know How To Play colorado and some sneaky tricks, grab some friends and see who comes out on top. Just remember: if you win, be gracious. If you lose, blame Tina.

Want to know what we think of Colorado? Read our detailed review of Colorado here