Ticket to Ride is a fun and easy to learn board game for 2-5 players. The goal is to collect train cards and claim routes on the map to build your railroad empire. Here is a simple guide on how to play Ticket to Ride in 5 easy steps:
1. Set Up the Board
Unfold the board map and place it in the center. The board shows a map of North America with various cities connected by gray railroad routes. Sort the train cards into 5 color decks and place them beside the board along with the Train Car cards. Each player randomly selects a set of 45 Train Cars in one color and places the rest back in the box. The youngest player goes first.
2. Draw Train Car Cards
On a turn, each player must draw 2 Train Car cards or they may draw blind cards. Drawing blind means drawing the top 5 cards from the deck and keeping at least 1 of them. Train Car cards each show a set of train cars in colors matching the route colors on the board. These cards allow you to claim routes. Make sure to draw 2 cards even if you cannot hold them. Over the course of the game, you are working to collect sets of same colored train cars to claim routes.
3. Claim Routes
After drawing cards, you can use your Train Car cards to claim railroad routes on the board. Look at the available routes between cities – each is colored for the set of cards you must turn in. For example, a blue route from Miami to Houston may cost 3 blue train cars. To claim it, turn in 3 blue cards and place your train cars on the route. You can claim 1 route per turn if you have the matching set of cards.
4. Score Points
You score points for the routes you claim. The number of points is shown on the route. Longer routes are generally worth more points. Grey routes can be claimed by turning in cards of any 1 color. As players start claiming routes, the board will fill up. Try to claim longer continuous routes and block other players.
5. Complete Tickets
Each player gets 3 Destination Ticket cards showing 2 cities they must connect. To complete a ticket, you must claim a continuous path of routes between those cities. Completed tickets add more points at the end of the game. Make sure to draw more tickets as you play and keep only the ones you think you can complete.
The game ends when a player is down to 2 or fewer Train Car cards or when the card deck runs out. Players then get points for completed tickets minus points for incomplete ones. The player with the most points wins!
Setting Up the Game
To set up a game of Ticket to Ride, follow these steps:
- Unfold the board map in the center of the table
- Separate the Train Car cards into 5 color decks and place them by the board
- Each player takes a set of 45 Train Cars in their color
- Shuffle the Destination Tickets and deal 3 to each player
- Randomly determine a starting player
Make sure each player has space for their cards and train cars. Now you are ready to play!
On Your Turn
On your turn in Ticket to Ride, you must:
- Draw 2 Train Car cards (or take blind cards)
- Claim routes if possible by playing card sets
- Draw new Destination Tickets if you want
You can claim 1 route per turn if you play the matching set of cards. Grey routes can be claimed with any 1 color. Make sure to draw cards first even if you have to discard down to a hand limit of 7.
Claiming Routes
To claim a route between two adjacent cities, you must:
- Play a set of Train Car cards matching the color and length of the route
- Pay the cost by discarding the cards
- Place your colored trains on the route
For example, to claim a blue route of length 3 between Miami and Houston, you would play 3 blue cards from your hand and place 3 of your blue trains on that route. Gray routes can be claimed with any cards of 1 color.
Scoring Points
In Ticket to Ride, you score points in two main ways:
- Claiming Routes: You score the number of points shown on each route you claim.
- Completing Tickets: Destination Tickets completed at the end score full points. Incomplete ones lose you points.
Try to claim continuous routes across the map for more points. The longest ones will typically score the most points. Completing difficult tickets to faraway cities will also boost your score.
Destination Tickets
Destination Tickets show two cities you need to connect. To complete a ticket and get the points, you must:
- Claim a continuous path of routes between the two cities
- The path must be unbroken by other players’ routes
You get to keep 3 or more tickets during the game, trying to complete as many as possible. Draw new tickets whenever you want to replace old ones. Any uncompleted tickets lose you points at game end based on their length.
Ending the Game
The game ends immediately when either:
- A player has 2 or fewer Train Car cards after their turn
- There are no cards left in the draw pile when someone tries to draw
At that point, players calculate their final scores by:
- Scoring completed Destination Ticket points
- Losng points for incomplete Tickets based on their length
- Adding up points from all claimed routes
The player with the highest total score wins the game! In case of a tie, the player who claimed the most routes wins.
Strategy Tips
Here are some helpful strategy tips for winning at Ticket to Ride:
- Claim longer routes for more points whenever possible
- Try to block opponents with your routes
- Save enough Train Car cards to complete your tickets
- Draw extra tickets to have more options to complete
- Focus on completing shorter tickets first for easy points
- Don’t take too many super long tickets that are hard to finish
2-Player Rules
For a quick head-to-head game, use these rules for 2 players:
- Remove the grey routes from the board
- Each player only gets 32 Train Cars in their color
- Deal each player 5 Destination Tickets instead of 3
With fewer Train Cars and more tickets in hand, players have to be more strategic in a 2-player game. You’ll need to plan carefully to block and outmaneuver your opponent.
Final Tips
Here are a few final tips for enjoying Ticket to Ride:
- Draw cards first on your turn before taking routes
- Keep your completed tickets secret until the end
- Don’t forget to draw new Destination Tickets during the game
- Try different strategies and routes each time you play
- Accommodate new players by giving them advice
- Have fun traveling across the country!
Following this guide, you now know how to play Ticket to Ride! Gather some friends and start building railroad empires across North America. This exciting board game is easy to learn but challenging to master. With fun gameplay and colorful maps, Ticket to Ride is perfect for game nights and family fun!
Number of Players | Recommended Age | Time to Play |
---|---|---|
2-5 players | 8+ | 30-60 minutes |
Here is a quick reference table reviewing the key specs for Ticket to Ride:
Ticket to Ride supports 2 to 5 players ages 8 and up. Games typically last around 30-60 minutes depending on the number of players. This makes it a great mid-length game for a fun family activity or game night with friends.
With easy to learn rules but challenging strategy, Ticket to Ride works well for casual gamers and more serious players alike. The colorful USA map also provides a fun theme as players compete to build railroad empires across North America. If you enjoy board games, trains, maps, or just friendly competition, Ticket to Ride is sure to entertain!
So gather your fellow conductors and start playing this classic train adventure. With a little practice, you’ll be building routes and connecting cities across the country in no time. All aboard for Ticket to Ride!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get Destination Tickets?
At the start of the game, each player gets 3 Destination Tickets. You can draw more tickets on your turn by discarding a set from your hand and drawing new ones. Keep the ones you want and discard the rest. Try to collect tickets you think you can complete.
When does the game end?
The game immediately ends if a player only has 2 train car cards left on their turn or when the deck runs out. Then players calculate their final scores.
Can you claim multiple routes in one turn?
No, you can only claim 1 route on your turn by playing a set of cards. You can draw and play more cards on later turns to claim additional connected routes.
What are the rules for using grey routes?
Grey routes can be claimed by discarding a set of train car cards all in the same color. They are not linked to a specific color. This provides more flexibility when claiming routes.
How do you block other players?
You can block opponents by claiming routes in between cities they need to connect for their tickets. This forces them to take longer ways around.
Here are some examples:
- Claim the Los Angeles to New York route to block an opponent’s ticket between those cities.
- Claim routes from Montreal to New Orleans to block paths across the east coast.
- Claim key central routes like Denver to Oklahoma City early to divide the map.
What’s the best strategy for winning?
Good strategies include:
- Focus on claiming longer routes for more points.
- Complete your shorter Destination Tickets first.
- Save key cards and don’t over-commit on routes.
- Block opponents from completing tickets when possible.
- Draw extra tickets to create more options.
Balance route claiming with completing tickets to maximize your points from both.
Conclusion
Ticket to Ride combines simple rules with engaging strategy for the perfect introductory board game experience. With colorful maps, cool trains, and cross-country adventure themes, it provides fun for all ages. The tips in this guide will help you master route planning, blocking, and point scoring.
The best way to learn is to just play the game! Draw cards, claim routes, complete tickets, and see how the board evolves. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new approaches each time. As your skills improve, try advanced versions like Ticket to Ride Europe. All aboard for endless map conquests!