How To Play: Venice

Overview

Picture this: you’re gliding your gondola through Venice’s canals, trying not to bump into your mate Dave, who always blocks your route. In this guide, I’ll cover How To Play Venice with an outline of the rules and all the sneaky strategies I’ve used (and sometimes failed at) to win. If you want to outsmart your friends—this is the place to start!

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 12 Location tiles
• 12 Location markers
• 5 Player gondolas
• 5 Player boards
• 15 Assistants
• 5 Councilmen markers
• 5 Score markers
• 50 Coins
• 30 Contract cards
• 30 Mission cards
• 1 Ring of Influence
• 1 Church tile
• 1 Doge pawn
• 1 Intrigue track
• 60 Resource cubes
• 5 Player aids
• Rulebook

How To Play Venice: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, shuffle the board tiles and put them together on the table. There will be canals everywhere, so try not to spill your coffee.
2. Next, each player grabs a set of gondolas, pieces, and money. Pick your color, unless you’re my friend Steve, who always takes blue and never wins.
3. Deal everyone their starting cards. Place the resources and influence tokens within reach. If something is missing, check under the dog.
4. Decide who goes first. You could use age, hair length, or who last ate pizza. We usually argue about it for 10 minutes.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, move your gondola through the canals. Use the movement points, but don’t cut corners unless you want glares from the group.
2. Visit buildings to pick up contracts, gain influence, or grab resources. The earlier you get there, the better the reward.
3. Manage your assistants and money wisely. Send them to buildings, but remember: They’re as lazy as my cat, so plan their route!
4. If you cross paths with another player, you might trigger special events. Most are fun, unless you’re on the receiving end.
5. Keep an eye out for special action spots. They pop up where you least expect it, like socks in a laundry.

Winning

1. To win, collect the most victory points. You get these by finishing contracts, grabbing influence, and impressing the Council. Basically, act important.
2. The game ends when a player completes a big contract or the city runs out of resources, which happens faster than pizza at our game night.
3. Tally up your points. The player with the most points wins, unless Steve is playing, then check the rules again.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Some buildings have unique effects. Read the icons, or just ask the rules expert at the table. (I pretend to know, but really I’m guessing.)
2. If you get caught by the Inquisition, you’ll lose influence. Act like you weren’t paying attention, and hope no one notices.
3. Events can pop up during play. These shake things up, so don’t get too cozy in your strategy.
4. If there’s a tie, the player furthest along the canal wins. Or you can settle it with an arm wrestle, Venetian style.

Now you know the basic rules for How To Play Venice. Practice makes perfect—and don’t forget, yelling “Gondola traffic!” is optional, but highly recommended.

Best Venice Strategies

Mastering Gondola Routes: The Art of Zigzagging Through Venice

Plan Your Path Early

1. Scout the board during setup. I always spot shortcuts before anyone else does, which annoys my friend Ben to no end.

2. Plot key stops ahead of time to avoid wasting moves zigzagging like a gondolier with a caffeine habit.

Block Rivals Sneakily

1. Watch opponents’ routes. If I park my gondola just right, it always gives my rivals a headache.

2. Take routes that force others to detour, slowing them down while you cruise ahead.

Balance Speed and Opportunities

1. Choose longer routes only if they offer juicy rewards. Sometimes a scenic detour pays off!

2. Mix efficiency with flexibility. The real magic of How To Play Venice comes from adapting fast. My group still talks about my wild switchbacks in last week’s game!

Boost Your Venetian Bank: Mastering Resources and Money

Keep Coins Coming

First, never let your pockets dry up. Money buys you options. Here’s how to fuel your wallet:

1. Snag contracts early and complete them fast for the big payouts.
2. Pop in on bonus spaces—even if it’s out of your way—you never know when you’ll need a few extra coins.
3. Upgrade buildings to increase your income each round. Small investments now pay off later.

Trade Smart, Spend Smarter

While it’s tempting to buy everything, think twice. Each coin counts! Use these moves to stretch your money:

1. Only pay for urgent actions—wait if you can get something cheaper next turn.
2. Swap resources with friends (or foes) when it saves coins, but don’t get fleeced!
3. Always keep a cushion for emergencies. You don’t want to beg later.

Resource Rescue

Finally, manage resources like your snack stash—hoard a little, but don’t overdo it. Follow these steps:

1. Collect only what fits your plan. Extra cubes clog up your gondola and strategy.
2. Trade unwanted goods as soon as you spot a market.
3. Keep an eye out for special events that boost your haul or give you bonus coins. Timing is everything!

When you figure out How To Play Venice with cash and resources in mind, you’ll be sailing past your rivals before they know what hit them!

Mastering the Clock and Securing Those Lush Contracts in Venice

Trust me, in How To Play Venice, timing influence and nabbing contracts can make or break your win. My mate Brad once ignored both and ended up with, I swear, fewer points than a soggy meatball. Here’s what you need to nail:

Seizing Influence at the Perfect Moment

1. Watch when rivals will act, then swoop in just before them.
2. Push your assistants up the influence track right when contracts appear.
3. Don’t wait. If you see an opening, go for it. Overthinking means losing!

Chaining Contracts Smoothly

1. Grab contracts with abilities that link together.
2. Complete easy ones early and save the fancier ones for later.
3. Sometimes rushing isn’t worth it. Set up your engine, then cash in.

Timing Contract Completion

1. Finish contracts right before end-of-round bonuses.
2. Time your last contract to avoid nasty penalties or sneak an extra reward.

Remember, in How To Play Venice, good timing with contracts and influence transforms you from canal clown to king of Venice. Now go make Venice jealous of your skills!

Victory in Venice: Are You the Master of the Canals?

So, that’s my full tour through the back alleys and busy waterways of this wild game. If you’re still asking, ‘How To Play Venice?’ well, just remember: block your rivals, keep your gondolas moving, and never, ever trust someone who says they’ll take an easy path. I’ve seen Carlo win the game by pretending he was lost—don’t fall for it!

If you plot routes like a sneaky rat and grab contracts like your life depends on it, you might just hear that sweet sound… of your friends groaning in defeat. Good luck out there—I’ll be the one crashing into bridges while laughing at my own bad moves!

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