Tips splendor

Basic Strategy

• The name of the game is efficiency--you need to think, "No, really, I have to be extremely efficient on every move."
• In general, try to only buy cards that give you points.
• Try to choke/cut off a color from other opponents, whether it's cards or tokens. If you have most of a color on the table, your opponents have to do suboptimal moves. If all the cards on the board require ruby tokens and you have 5 of them, then you have control.
• 99% of games of Splendor take 17-28 turns. Aim for a game that finishes in under 22 turns, which means you have to achieve 2 points every three turns. Map out a path to that end.
• If a color does get choked, don't forget you can reserve from the top of the deck to gain a gold token .
• If you reserve a card, don't assume you'll build it. The gold token is more important.
• Save your gold for the end, if possible. Reserving to block an opponent is rarely a good move, but it is a possibility.
• Player count changes the game considerably. In general, the fewer players, the less likely you are to be able to gain Level 3 (ΟΟΟ) cards easily (due to reduced token supply). Gold tokens become more important.
• The midgame starts when all players have about 3-4 cards. At that point, target the high-value Level 3 (ΟΟΟ) cards you want/need, then calculate and minimize the turns needed to get them. Consider reserving if you think your opponents need them too. Reserving cards can also disrupt opponents' strategies while providing you a gold token .
• Observe what your opponents are doing. Buy cards when they have 8+ gems to have a better chance at a gem you want. Use gold tokens to buy cards faster.
• Late game starts when one player gets at least 10 points. Plan at least 2 ways to buy a high-value card. That way you can get points quicker.
• What do your opponents need most? Grab them to give yourself more time to increase your points.
• Ending the game as soon as possible is more important than accumulating points (unless you are the first player). Purchase your reserved cards to secure points and reserve cards from the deck. You won't disrupt your opponents, but you don't want to accidentally reveal a card that can change the game.

Strategies

These are basic strategies that can work for everyone. Study them so you can use them yourself and know what your opponent is doing. These strategies are sequential (should be done in order).

Card Reserving

This strategy is what strong players usually do, but it stalls when the gold tokens are empty. When that happens, switch to one of the other strategies. Tactics is all about being flexible when the battlefield changes.

1. Reserve 1-2 important cards in Level 2 (ΟΟ) to prevent opponents from getting them.
2. Buy a few Level 1 (Ο) cards, at least one of each type, to build up your basic engine.
3. After that, start buying cards you reserved and reserve new cards, prioritizing those with points.
   • Don't forget that you can reserve cards from the deck, which is good when you want to lock your opponent into their current position.
   • If you notice your opponent aiming for a card, reserve it first to waste their effort.

Engine Building

This strategy is mostly useful for players with intermediate experience. Building a large "economy" and maybe snagging a noble on the way takes about 25 turns. Sometimes it will win if the other opponents are fighting among themselves, but it will lose with experienced players.

1. Buy about 7-9 Level 1 (Ο) cards to reduce the price of Level 2 (ΟΟ) and Level 3 (ΟΟΟ) cards.
2. Buy cards that get you noble cards, which grant a valuable return on your engine.
3. Lastly, buy cards with points that won't cost more than 1-2 gems. Try to get those cards for free.

Prioritizing Points

This strategy is useful for beginners with little experience. It can be effective, but is easily blocked. To prevent that, reserve a Level 3 card. Buy Level 1 cards that allow you to gain it, then repeat. You can win with only eight cards (4 Level 1 (Ο) cards, 2 Level 2 (ΟΟ) cards, and 2 Level 3 (ΟΟΟ) cards plus a noble card).

1. First, select a target Level 3 (ΟΟΟ) card. Reserve it if you want.
2. Collecting the gems needed to buy it.
3. Next, get point cards, especially Level 2 (ΟΟ) and Level 3 (ΟΟΟ). Buy any point card you can afford.

Noble Hoarding

Using this strategy can get you 2 noble cards (more if you are lucky), potentially winning you the game. However, it is quite slow.

1. Analyze the available noble cards. Identify what cards have gems in common. Those are the cards you want to get first.
2. While using one of the above strategies, observe what cards your opponents are getting. Use this to decide which noble cards you want. Then focus on one and get the cards needed.

Cards

From most valuable to least valuable...

• Level 1 (Ο):
  1. Cost: 4 gems, Points: 1
  2. Cost: 3 gems, Points: 0
  3. Cost: 4 gems, Points: 0
  4. Cost: 5 gems, Points: 0
• Level 2 (ΟΟ):
  1. Cost: 6 gems, Points: 3
  2. Cost: 5 gems, Points: 2
  3. Cost: 7 gems, Points: 2 or Cost: 8 gems, Points: 2
  4. Cost: 8 gems, Points: 1
• Level 3 (ΟΟΟ):
  1. Cost: 10 gems, Points: 5
  2. Cost: 7 gems, Points: 4
  3. Cost: 12 gems, Points: 4
  4. Cost: 14 gems, Points: 3

Gem Color/Card Relationships

These are the most typical relationships, but aren't always true. Each relationship is shown by (most needed gem color) for (card color).

• Level 1 (Ο):
  • Onyx gems for Emerald gems
  • Sapphire gems for Onyx gems
  • Ruby tokens for Sapphire gems
  • Diamond gems for Ruby gems
• Level 2 (ΟΟ):
  • Onyx gems for Ruby gems
  • Sapphire gems for Sapphire gems
  • Emerald gems for Emerald gems
  • Ruby gems for Diamond gems
  • Diamond gems for Onyx gems
• Level 3 (ΟΟΟ):
  • Onyx gems for Diamond gems
  • Sapphire gems for Emerald gems
  • Emerald gems for Ruby gems
  • Ruby gems for Onyx gems
  • Diamond gems for Sapphire gems