How To Play: Pirates

Overview

If you’ve ever yelled, “Avast ye!” at your cat, you’re probably ready to learn How To Play pirates. I gathered my friends, some snacks, and enough pirate voices to scare my neighbors. In this guide, I break down the game rules and throw in the best strategies for winning. Whether you’re a beginner or a scallywag pro, grab your eyepatch—this will help you plunder your way to victory!

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 5 Pirate Ships
• 35 Crew Tokens
• 60 Gold Coins
• 24 Treasure Cards
• 20 Event Cards
• 5 Player Reference Cards
• 5 Captain Pawns
• 10 Cannon Markers
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Pirates: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Lay out the game board in the center of the table.
2. Give each player a ship, matching crew tokens, and starting gold.
3. Shuffle the treasure cards and place them face down at the marked spot.
4. Scatter resource tokens randomly across the islands (no peeking!).
5. Place ships on their starting ports—you don’t get to pick the one closest to all the treasure. I checked.

Gameplay

1. Start your turn by moving your ship up to its maximum movement points. But watch for storms—they don’t care about your plans.
2. Take one action per turn: search for treasure, fight another ship, trade, or recruit new crew.
3. Draw an event card at the end of your turn if you’re on the open sea. Brace yourself, because the ocean does not mess around.
4. Pass play to the left. Repeat until someone smells victory or you run out of snacks.

Winning

1. Collect three treasures and return safely to your home port to claim victory.
2. If your ship sinks, you must respawn at your port and lose one treasure. Hard lesson, learned the soggy way.
3. You can also win instantly if you bankrupt all your opponents. I am still waiting for my moment of glory.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If you fight another player and win, you can steal a treasure or half their gold. It feels as petty as it sounds.
2. Some islands have curses—draw a curse card if you land there. Trust me, these almost never mean you get extra gold.
3. If an event card says ‘Kraken Attack,’ all ships in open water must fight the Kraken. Hope you brought some extra cannons.

That’s it! With these rules and a bit of luck, you’ll be sailing like a pro. For more, check out my post on How To Play Pirates—my friends still haven’t forgiven me for last game night.

Best Pirates Strategies

Pirate Gold Rush: Snagging Treasure Like a Pro

Scout Before You Sail

1. First, send your fastest crew member to scout hidden spots.
2. Next, mark the closest treasure islands to avoid wasted moves.

Chain Your Moves

1. Always plan your route to hit two or more treasures in one loop.
2. Grab nearby treasures early to keep others from stealing them!

Watch Your Rivals

1. Always keep an eye on your friends’ ships. Block them if they are heading your way!
2. Switch your route if they get too close. Stay sneaky.

During my last game, I nabbed three treasures before anyone else left the port. My friends thought I had a pirate’s sixth sense! How To Play pirates well? Always think three moves ahead and laugh like a villain.

Blast Your Enemies to Bits: Ship Combat Tactics in Pirates

Pick Your Battles Wisely

If you want to win, don’t attack just anyone. Instead, pick the ships that look weak or are loaded with loot.

1. Scout before you engage.
2. Avoid ships with stronger cannons.

Use the Wind

Position your ship to attack while keeping an escape route open. Wind is your best friend or worst enemy.

1. Move with the wind to boost attacks.
2. Turn broadside for more firepower.

Repair and Reload Fast

After battles, act quick! Repair your ship and reload cannons so you’re not caught with your pants down.

1. Keep a lookout for repair spots.
2. Stock up on ammo between fights.

Playing with friends, I learned these tips save you from a watery grave. For more tips, check out my How To Play pirates guide!

How To Play Pirates: Mastering Crew Management for Victory

Recruit the Right Crew

1. Focus on picking crew with skills that match your pirate ship’s goals. A fast ship needs sailors; a battle ship wants fighters.
2. Mix it up. Never stack your crew with only one type. Versatility wins games (and arguments with friends).

Keep Morale High

1. Pay your crew well. Nothing tanks a game like a mutiny—trust me, I’ve seen my friend Dave turn a ship around faster than a seagull spotting chips.
2. Throw in some treasure now and then. Motivation matters.

Plan for Surprises

1. Keep a backup for every job. The sea is cruel and random. When your lookout gets seasick, you’ll wish you had another!

By using these crew management tricks, you’ll make the most out of every turn, and find yourself closer to pirate victory—and maybe some grudges from your friends, too.

Set Sail and Steal the Show!

Alright mateys, that’s a wrap on my hard-won wisdom for Pirates. After lots of cursing (mostly at my own luck) and stealing treasure from my own sister, I can tell you: smart moves matter. Plan your routes, crew up right, and don’t start a fight you can’t finish—unless you like long spells in Davy Jones’s Locker.

Try out these tips next time, and soon your friends will ask you for advice on How To Play pirates. Then you can cackle and send ‘em overboard, just like I do. Happy plundering, and watch out for sneaky parrots!

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