Istanbul Game Guide

Welcome to the wonderful world of Istanbul! In this game, I’ll guide you through the rules step-by-step so that you can become a master merchant in no time.

The Basics

In Istanbul, players take on the role of merchants navigating the bustling streets of the city. Your ultimate goal is to be the first to collect five rubies and become the best merchant in all of Istanbul.

As you explore the city, you’ll need to manage your resources wisely. Each player starts with a player board, a stack of wooden discs representing your assistants, a wheelbarrow, and some money. Your goal is to efficiently move around the city, visiting different locations, and conducting various actions to gather resources and trade goods.

Turn Structure

The game is played over a series of rounds, and each round consists of turns. On your turn, you’ll do the following:

1. Choose one of your assistants to move to an adjacent tile.
2. Perform the action associated with the location.
3. If you have completed a full round, return your assistants to your player board.
4. Pick up any assistants left on your last visited tile.
5. Move your wheelbarrow to any adjacent tile.

Location Actions

There are many locations to visit in Istanbul, each offering different actions. Here are a few examples:

• The Tea House allows you to gain one Lira or to draw a mosque tile.
• The Fountain gives you one water token or allows you to heal a wounded assistant.
• The Gemstone Dealer lets you buy or sell gems.

As you gain resources and trade goods, remember to plan your moves strategically. Take advantage of the available actions to maximize your efficiency and progress towards collecting those precious rubies.

Strategy Tips

Istanbul requires clever thinking and adaptability. Here are some tips to improve your chances of success:

• Plan your route carefully to optimize your movements.
• Establish a trade route for buying and selling goods.
• Upgrade your wheelbarrow to carry more goods.

By following these tips and exploring the wonderful world of Istanbul, you’ll soon become a formidable merchant. Good luck!

Here’s what you’ll find in the box:

– 16 Place tiles (places)

– 5 Wheelbarrows (player boards)

– 15x Wheelbarrow extensions

– 7x Stickers for the Governor, Smuggler, and Merchants

– 26 Bonus cards

– 16 Mosque tiles

– 10 Demand tiles

– Coins (30 x 1 lira, 15 x 5 lira, 12 x 10 lira)

– 4 Mail indicators

– 5 Overviews

– 1 Starting player marker

– 1 Governor and Smuggler

– 32 Rubles

– 2 Dice

Let’s set it up!

Alright, let’s get started! Here’s what you need to do to set up the game:

Take the 16 Place tiles and lay them out in a 4×4 grid. This will be your game board. If you’re playing for the first time, we recommend using the “Short paths” layout. This means you’ll arrange the tiles according to the blue numbers shown below.

Quick note: If you’re playing a 2-player game, put the Merchant discs from the unused colors on the Mosques numbered 14 and 15, as well as the Gemstone Dealer marked 16.

Now, it’s time to determine who goes first. Randomly choose a Start player. They will receive 2 Lira and the Starting player marker. Then, going clockwise, each player after the Start player will get 1 more Lira than the player to their right. Finally, each player draws a Bonus card from the top of the stack.

Next, let’s sort the Mosque tiles. Arrange them by color and then by the number of goods symbols they have. Create 4 stacks with the top tile of each stack showing 2 symbols. Place these stacks on the Mosques numbered 14 and 15. Finally, put 1 Ruby per player on each of the Mosques.

Note: When playing with 5 players, we will only need to place 4 Rubies on each of the Mosques. For 3 players, the tiles with 5 symbols should be removed from the game. And with 2 players, remove the tiles with 3 and 5 symbols from the game as well.

For each player, let’s start by placing 1 Ruby and 3 Wheelbarrow extensions on the Wainwright 1. Next, we’ll place Rubies on the Gemstone Dealer 16 and the Sultan’s Palace 13, starting from the top space on the right.

Now, let’s move on to the spaces designated for the appropriate number of players. Each space will receive 1 Ruby, and the remaining spaces will be left empty.

In the top row of the Post Office 5, we’ll place the Mail indicators. And don’t forget to shuffle the 5 dark Demand tiles and place them face-up in a stack on the Large Market 10. The same procedure should be repeated for the Small Market 11, but this time using the light Demand tiles.

Let’s start by figuring out where the Governor and the Smuggler will begin. We’ll roll both dice and put the token on the Place tile with the matching number.

Next, we’ll shuffle the Bonus cards and put them face-down in a stack, along with the coins and dice next to the game board. Each of us will choose a color and take the wooden pieces in that color.

Don’t forget to grab a Wheelbarrow and an Overview card and place them in front of you.

Put the 4 Goods indicators on the gray spaces of your Wheelbarrow and place your Family members on the Police Station 12. Stack your 4 Assistant discs and put your Merchant disc on top of the stack. Then, place these stacks on the Fountain 7. Make sure to keep the 5th Assistant of each player within easy reach next to the game board.

Watch the Tutorial Video

Let’s Play the Game

So, here’s how it works: I start as the Start player, and then we take turns in clockwise order. Simple enough, right? But here’s the thing – the game only ends when the first player has collected 5 Rubies (or 6 Rubies in a 2-player game) on their Wheelbarrow. Once that happens, we complete the current round and the game is over.

Let’s Talk About Turns

A turn consists of 4 phases, but most of the time we only play the “Movement” and “Action” phases. The other phases, known as “Encounters” (that’s the ones with the blue background), only happen when our Merchant encounters other tokens on the board.

During your turn, you have the freedom to use any number of Bonus cards you have and the special abilities of your Mosque tiles. The key is to make the best use of them!

Now, here’s the important part – you must always go through the following phases in the given order, whether you go through all of them or not!

Phase I: Movement

Hey there! Let me break down how you can move your Merchant and his Assistants in Istanbul. It’s pretty simple, really!

First off, you can move them together by 1 or 2 Places. Just remember, no diagonal moves allowed, and you have to end up on a different Place than where you started.

Once you’ve made your move, you’ll find yourself at the Merchant’s Target Place. Here are the three options you have there:

Option 1: Pick up an Assistant

If one of your Assistants is already at the target place, you can just put your stack on top of that Assistant. Take a look at the image on the right to see how it’s done. That Assistant will then be a part of your stack for the next Movement phase.

When I’m playing the game, “Istanbul,” I have some important things to remember. Let me share them with you.

First, if I want to leave an Assistant behind, I need to make sure that none of my other Assistants are already at that place. If they’re not, then I can take the bottommost Assistant from my stack and place them next to the target place. During the next Movement phase, that Assistant will stay behind at that place.

On the other hand, if I can’t or don’t want to pick up an Assistant or leave one behind, then my turn ends immediately. There is one exception to this rule, though. If I’m at the Fountain 7, then my turn doesn’t end even if I can’t or don’t want to perform any actions.

Oh, and here’s a bonus tip! If I have the yellow Mosque tile, I can pay 2 Lira to take an Assistant back from another Place and add them to my Merchant stack. That’s a handy way to bring an Assistant back to my side.

Now, let’s move on to encounters with other Merchants. That’s the second important thing to understand. When I come across another Merchant, I need to follow certain rules. But don’t worry, they’re not complicated.

To start with, I need to make sure that I have at least one unused Assistant left in my stack. If I do, then I can carry out an Encounter action by placing one of my Assistants on the target place. This represents me and the other Merchant having a meet-up.

During this encounter, we can exchange Goods, take cards from each other, or even swap tiles. It’s a chance for us to help each other out and make some beneficial trades. But keep in mind that these encounters are optional. If I don’t want to or can’t carry out an Encounter action, that’s totally fine. I can still continue with the game.

That’s it for now! Remember these two important aspects when playing “Istanbul” and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful Merchant.

If there are any other Merchants at the Target Place, each of them will ask you for 2 Lira. You have to decide if you want to pay them or not. Remember, if you can’t or don’t want to pay, your turn ends right away!

There’s a special rule, though: at the Fountain 7, you don’t have to pay any other Merchants.

Now, let’s talk about a special case in a 2-player game. If you come across a neutral Merchant, which means it’s a Merchant of a color that no one is using, you still need to pay them the 2 Lira, but this time you put it into the general supply. Then, grab both dice and roll them to find a new spot for this neutral Merchant. Finally, place the Merchant at the new spot you rolled.

III. Action

Now it’s time for the action that the Target Place offers! You have the option to take this action, but if you can’t or don’t want to, you can move on to phase 4, which is Encounters.

IV. Encounters with Other Family Members

If there are other players’ Family members at the Target Place, you need to catch them and bring them to the Police Station 12, as long as they haven’t been caught already.

When I catch those sneaky individuals, I have the option to choose a bonus card or take 3 Lira from the general supply for each Family member I catch. If I catch multiple Family members, I can choose a different or the same reward for each of them. Unfortunately, there is no reward if I catch someone in the Police Station.

If I catch the Governor

I have the chance to draw 1 Bonus card from the face-down stack and add it to my hand. However, if I decide to take a card, I must either pay 2 Lira or discard 1 Bonus card from my hand.

If I catch the Smuggler

I have the opportunity to gain 1 good of my choice. If I choose to do so, I must either pay 2 Lira or give up 1 good.

If I use the abilities of both the Governor and the Smuggler, I need to roll both dice and place the appropriate token on the Place indicated by the result of the dice roll (according to the large brown number). I need to roll separately if I use both abilities.

Note: You can get rid of the Bonus card or pay the goods you got from the Governor or Smuggler to move them.

Bonus Cards

On your turn, you can play as many Bonus cards as you want. Put every used or discarded Bonus card on the discard pile on the Caravansary 6.

When you take a Bonus card, draw it from the face-down pile (exception: Caravansary 6). Shuffle the discard pile to create a new face-down pile as soon as the draw pile is empty. You can keep as many Bonus cards as you want in your hand.

Discovering the Actions Behind Places

Have you ever wondered what makes a place special? Have you ever stopped and thought about what happens there, and how it shapes the atmosphere? Well, let me tell you, places are like little universes with their own unique actions.

Take a library, for example. As you step inside, you immediately feel a certain hush settle over you. The quiet whispers between bookshelves, the soft flipping of pages, and the creaking of chairs create an atmosphere of serenity. It’s as if the books and knowledge present are conversing with you in their own silent language, inviting you to explore and learn.

Now, let’s consider a park. As you stroll through its pathways, you’re greeted by the symphony of sounds that nature provides. The chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the laughter of children playing all blend together to create a jubilant harmony. It’s a place where you can feel the energy of life pulsating through the air, beckoning you to join in the fun.

And what about a cafe? Ah, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee permeates the air, mingling with the murmur of conversation. The gentle clinking of cups and the whirring of espresso machines create an ambiance of warmth and camaraderie. It’s a space where you can savor a moment of relaxation, a chance to indulge in a cup of comfort.

Each place has its own unique actions, weaving a story that adds to its character. These actions shape our experiences, evoking emotions, and creating memories. When we take the time to appreciate and understand the actions that occur within a place, we open ourselves up to a deeper connection with our surroundings.

So the next time you find yourself in a new place, I encourage you to pause and listen. Listen to the actions taking place around you, and see how they make you feel. By immersing yourself in these actions, you’ll be able to fully appreciate the wonders of each unique place.

Wainwright

Hey there! Pay 7 Lira into the general supply, and you’ll get a cool Wheelbarrow extension from the Wainwright. Put it right in your Wheelbarrow, and you’re good to go!

Once you’ve finished building your Wheelbarrow, which means you’ve extended it for the third time, grab a Ruby from the Wainwright. Yes, just one, and put it on your Wheelbarrow. It’s a special bonus, but you can only do it once!

Warehouse of Fabrics, Spices, and Fruits

I’m here to explain how the Warehouse works. You want to make sure that the Goods indicator for each type of good is all the way to the right. Simple, right?

The Post Office

Now, let me tell you about the Post Office. It’s a pretty straightforward place. All you need to do is take one of your own Workers from a vacant shop space and place it on the Post Office. In return, you get to pick up a Lira. Easy as pie!

So here’s how it works: You get the stuff that’s shown on the 4 spaces that are open. Then, you move the leftmost Mail indicator on the top row to the bottom row. If all of the Mail indicators are already in the bottom row, you move them all back up to the top row.

For example, let’s say you get 3 Lira, 1 yellow good, and 1 red good. Then, you move the Mail indicator off the blue good and onto the yellow one.

Caravansary

With this action, you take 2 Bonus cards into your hand and discard 1 Bonus card from your hand.

Note: When you take Bonus cards using this action (and only this one), you can also take them from the top of the face-up discard pile.

Fountain

You can return as many of your Assistants to your Merchant stack as you want.

The Fountain is the only Place where you don’t need to have an Assistant there to do the action, and you don’t have to pay other Merchants if they’re there.

If you send your Family Member to the Fountain, your Assistants will still come back to your Merchant stack.

You might be wondering what happens when you send your Family Member to the Fountain. Well, I’ll tell you. When you do this, your Assistants, who are like your trusty sidekicks, will still make their way back to your Merchant stack. So don’t worry, you won’t lose them. It’s good to know that you can count on your Assistants no matter where you send your Family Member.

Black Market: A Risky Trade

When you visit the Black Market, you have a chance to obtain valuable goods. Roll both dice and see what fate has in store for you. If you roll a 7 or 8, you’ll gain a blue good. If you roll a 9 or 10, you’ll be rewarded with two blue goods. And if you’re lucky enough to roll an 11 or 12, you’ll receive a generous bundle of three blue goods.

But the Black Market is not without its risks. In addition to the potential rewards, you’ll also be faced with a choice. Do you want to roll the dice first and then gain an additional good, or would you rather take the extra good first and then roll the dice? It’s a decision that could greatly influence the outcome of your visit.

If you happen to possess the red Mosque tile, you’ll have an even greater advantage. You’ll be able to manipulate the dice by turning one of them to “4” after the roll or even re-rolling both dice for another chance at success.

Tea House: A Game of Chance

At the Tea House, your fate will be determined by a roll of the dice. But first, you must announce a number between 3 and 12. If your roll equals or exceeds the announced number, you’ll be rewarded with that same number of Lira from the general supply.

However, if your roll falls short of the announced number, you’ll only receive a meager 2 Lira. It’s a gamble that could either bring you wealth or leave you empty-handed.

If you possess the red Mosque tile, you’ll have an advantage. You’ll be able to manipulate the dice by turning one of them to “4” after the roll or even re-rolling both dice for another chance at success.

The Market: Big and Small

When it comes to selling goods, there are different markets you can consider: the small market or the large market. Let me explain how each market works.

In the Small Market:

If you choose to sell your goods in the small market, you can sell anywhere from 1 to 5 of the goods shown on the Demand tile. Once you decide how many to sell, you need to move the Goods indicators on your Wheelbarrow to reflect your sales. Then, you can collect the revenue from the general supply based on the table provided.

After you’ve completed your sales, the Demand tile you used will be moved to the bottom of the stack.

In the Large Market:

If you decide to sell your goods in the large market, you can sell any number of goods you have available. However, there’s a catch – you can only sell goods that are currently in stock. So, it’s important to keep track of your inventory and make sure you have enough goods to meet the demand.

To summarize, the small market allows you to sell a limited number of goods from the Demand tile, while the large market allows you to sell any number of goods as long as you have enough in stock. The choice is yours!

Visit the Police Station

If your family member ends up in the police station, you can “free” them and send them to another location. Then, they can perform an action at that new place. This way, your family member won’t have any more troubles with the police.

However, you should be careful because while your family member is at other locations, they might be caught by other merchants and sent back to the police station. The merchant who catches them will receive either a bonus card or 3 Lira as a reward.

Sultan’s Palace

I have a mission to complete at the Sultan’s Palace. My task is to deliver all the items that haven’t been taken by others to the Sultan. It’s a challenging job, but if I succeed, I’ll be rewarded with a special Ruby.

If I manage to complete this task, I’ll not only receive a Ruby, but I’ll also get to choose the next Ruby that will be added to my Wheelbarrow. This is great because it means that the next Ruby will be even more valuable.

Discover the Small/Great Mosque

Let me tell you about the Small/Great Mosque! It’s a special place that you can visit in the game. Are you ready to explore?

First, you’ll need to find a Mosque tile. To do that, your Wheelbarrow has to carry the goods shown on the Mosque tile. It’s like a puzzle you have to solve!

Once you have the right goods, it’s time to visit the Mosque. But there’s a small catch – you have to pay one of the goods depicted on the tile. It’s a small price to pay for what awaits you!

Each Mosque tile comes with a special ability. These abilities can give you an edge in the game. And the best part? You can collect multiple Mosque tiles, each with its own unique ability.

But here’s the real excitement – when you have both tiles of a Mosque, you get a special reward! You’ll take one precious Ruby from that Mosque and place it on your Wheelbarrow. Isn’t that amazing?

Gemstone Dealer

Here’s what you need to do to become a successful gemstone dealer: Pay a certain amount of Lira into the general supply. Make sure to pay the biggest number that hasn’t been covered by a Ruby yet. This will allow you to get the next available Ruby from the track.

Once you’ve paid the required amount, take the Ruby and place it on your Wheelbarrow. Be aware that the next Ruby will be more expensive, so plan accordingly.

For example, let’s say the biggest number not covered by a Ruby is 15. In this case, you’ll need to pay 15 Lira to get the next Ruby from the track.

Mosque Tiles

Hey there, adventurer! Picture this: you’re at the legendary Tea House 9 or the renowned Black Market 8, and you’re in need of a little luck. Well, my friend, I’ve got just the solution for you. You can amp up your chances by doing a little dice magic!

Here’s the deal: after rolling the dice once, you have the power to turn one die into a “4.” Pretty neat, huh? Or if you’re feeling extra daring, you can go for the big move and re-roll both dice. The choice is yours!

Now, listen up, because this is important. The Tea House 9 and the Black Market 8 are both expertly crafted establishments known for their mysterious ways. They say that these dice tricks are the real deal, giving you that extra boost when you need it most.

So, next time you find yourself in a tight spot, remember this secret weapon. Just head over to the Tea House 9 or the Black Market 8, and unleash the power of those dice. Who knows? You might just change your fate with a single roll.

Right away, grab one of the 5th Assistant tokens that matches your color and put it right under your Merchant.

If you use Warehouse 2, 3, or 4, you can spend 2 Lira to get an extra good of your choice.

The Yellow Tile: A Clever Move

Here’s a clever move just for you! On your turn, you have the option to pay 2 Lira and bring back an Assistant to your Merchant stack. It’s like having an extra player on your team!

But let’s talk about the end of the game. It’s important to know that it will eventually come to an end. When that time comes, you want to make sure you have the most points possible. The Yellow Tile can help you with that.

By having an extra Assistant, you have more opportunities to take actions and generate a greater response from the game. And that’s what you want, right? To make the most of every turn, to have strategies that elevate your chances of winning.

But keep in mind, my friend, that this move also has a downside. It costs you 2 Lira. So you’ll need to have some extra funds in order to afford it. But if you’re willing to invest, the rewards can be great.

So don’t forget the Yellow Tile, because it could be the key to victory. It’s a small piece of the puzzle that can make a big difference in the end. And if you like strategic games, then you’ll love the challenge it brings.

With this in mind, consider adding the Yellow Tile to your collection. It’s a move that can give you an edge over your opponents and increase your chances of success. So go ahead, make your move and let the Yellow Tile work its magic for you!

Hey there! Did you know that the game ends when a player collects 5 Rubies? If you’re playing with just 2 people, it takes 6 Rubies to trigger the end. Pretty cool, huh?

When the game ends, don’t worry! You’ll still complete the current round before it’s all over. And here’s an interesting twist: you can use any leftover Bonus cards you have to get some extra goods or money. It might come in handy for breaking a tie later on!

Now, the player who has the most Rubies is the ultimate winner. But what if there’s a tie? Well, first we’ll look at who has the most leftover Lira. If that doesn’t break the tie, we’ll check who has the most leftover goods on the Wheelbarrow. And if that still doesn’t do it, the player with the most leftover Bonus cards wins. But hey, if all of that doesn’t resolve the tie, then guess what? We’ll have multiple winners! How exciting is that?