1
Play seven rounds
The game lasts exactly 7 rounds total
2
Complete three phases per round
Each round consists of Planning Phase, Action Phase, and Preparation Phase
3
Calculate final scores
After Action Phase of round 7, proceed to final scoring
4
Perform simultaneous planning
All players execute two steps at the same time
5
Place cards face-down
Choose cards from your hand and place them face-down into available spaces in your action area
6
Manage action area slots
You begin with 3 available action area slots (3 colored areas under your board), each holding maximum 1 card
7
Unlock additional slots
Gain 1 or 2 extra action area slots by reaching certain positions on diamond and bookkeeping tracks
8
Consider recovery areas
Each action area connects to a recovery area above your board; cards move to recovery areas at round end and accumulate there
9
Return one stack per round
You may return only one stack from a recovery area to your hand each round
10
Reveal all cards
After all players finish placing cards, everyone flips their cards face-up simultaneously
11
Begin with first player
Action Phase starts with the first player's turn
12
Proceed clockwise
Players take turns clockwise from the first player
13
Continue until all pass
Action Phase continues until all players complete the "End your Action Phase" action
14
Perform exactly one action
On your turn, you must perform one and only one of the following actions:
15
Select one goods type
Choose cards of one type (coffee, bananas, or cotton) from your action area
16
Calculate total value
Sum the specific value shown on all selected cards of that type
17
Purchase cards optionally
Buy maximum 1 card from the card display; price equals sum of red numbers in the card's box plus number to its right
18
Advance on company tracks
Spend remaining value to move your markers forward on one or more company tracks, 1 space per value point
19
Flip used cards
Turn all used goods cards face-down to indicate they were used
20
Use all expansion cards
You must use all expansion cards in your action area simultaneously
21
Calculate expansion points
Sum expansion points (1, 2, or 3) shown on all expansion cards
22
Choose one company
Select exactly one company to develop (you cannot split points between companies)
23
Enter regions
Spend expansion points to place trading posts from company base into map regions
24
Pay border costs
Spend 1 point to cross single-line borders, 2 points for double-line borders
25
Pay extra for opponent posts
Spend 1 additional point to enter regions containing other companies' trading posts
26
Take trading posts
Remove posts from topmost available position in any column of company base
27
Place posts sideways
Put trading posts on their side in regions to mark them as newly occupied this turn
28
Collect region rewards
After spending all expansion points, collect rewards from all regions occupied this turn
29
Return opponent posts
Send all trading posts of other companies in your newly occupied regions back to their bases
30
Restore posts to lowest slots
Return displaced posts to lowest available positions in their base columns
31
Turn your posts upright
After returning opponent posts, turn your newly placed trading posts upright
32
Flip expansion cards
Turn all used expansion cards face-down
33
Move on bookkeeping track
This action lets you advance your inkwell marker along the bookkeeping track
34
Understand book requirements
Your inkwell can only move onto books if corresponding book tiles are present; you start with one book from your starting tile
35
Purchase books with points
Spend bookkeeping points to acquire book tiles from the book display
36
Flip books optionally
Before moving inkwell, pay 2 pounds to flip 1 book tile on your board face-down
37
Advance inkwell marker
Move your inkwell forward along bookkeeping track as many spaces as desired
38
Check book requirements
Before moving onto each book, verify you meet its requirement (total value of specified card type in your action area)
39
Collect book rewards
When you stop on a book, collect the reward shown on that book tile
40
Place purchased books
At end of your turn, place any purchased books on your bookkeeping track
41
Fill empty book display spaces
After purchasing, refill empty spaces on book display from corresponding stacks
42
Flip bookkeeper card
Turn the used bookkeeper card face-down
43
Advance on diamond track
This action moves your diamond marker forward and earns money
44
Use basic diamond trader
Move diamond marker forward 1 space and receive 1 pound from bank
45
Use Cairo diamond trader
Move diamond marker forward 2 spaces and receive 1 pound; then check Cairo-controlled regions (orange trading posts) for mine icons
46
Flip diamond trader card
Turn the used diamond trader card face-down
47
Select bonus marker
Take 1 of your bonus markers from your supply
48
Place on bonus space
Put it on an unoccupied bonus space on the game board
49
Meet space requirements
Some spaces have requirements (specific card values, payments) you must fulfill
50
Receive immediate rewards
Collect rewards based on the space type
51
Reserve bonus tile spaces
Pay 1-2 coins to reserve a bonus tile for next round
52
Block space
Your marker blocks this space from other players until end of round
53
Perform when ready
Execute this action when you cannot or do not want to take other actions
54
Use remaining cards first
Any unused cards or tiles in your action area should be used before ending (you cannot save them)
55
Return one recovery stack
Take exactly one stack of cards from one recovery area back into your hand
56
Clear action area
Flip all cards in action area face-up and move them to their corresponding recovery areas above your board
57
Return bonus tiles
If you have bonus tiles in action area, return them to the game board
58
Skip remaining turns
You take no more actions this round after ending
59
Move coins to book display
Transfer coins from round track spaces 2-7 to corresponding positions on book display
60
Update card display
Discard all cards from rightmost column
61
Return bonus markers
All players retrieve their bonus markers from the board and receive any reserved bonus tiles
62
Receive reserved tiles
Collect bonus tiles you reserved last round at start of Preparation Phase
63
Place tile beside action area
Put bonus tile face-up next to your action area (tiles do not occupy action area slots)
64
Use +1 goods tile
Place beside any goods card to increase its value by 1 for all purposes
65
Use bookkeeper tile
Functions as regular bookkeeper card plus grants 1 bookkeeping point
66
Use diamond trader tile
Advances diamond marker 2 spaces plus 1 additional space per other diamond trader in action area
67
Use expansion tile
Functions as expansion card with power 2
68
Pay toll sections
When crossing toll sections on company tracks, pay the indicated pound cost to bank
69
Stop before toll
If you cannot or will not pay, your marker stops on the space before the toll
70
Collect special field rewards
When reaching or passing special fields, all players at or past that field immediately receive 1-2 pounds
71
Unlock track bonuses
When reaching special bonus fields, gain permanent bonuses or access to special bonus spaces
72
Use permanent bonuses
Bonuses on tracks A and B are permanent once unlocked (increased expansion power, bonus markers, reduced card costs)
73
Access special bonus spaces
Bonuses on tracks C and D unlock bonus spaces you can use with "Place bonus marker" action
74
Unlock extra action slot
When diamond marker reaches or passes marked position, gain one additional action area slot under your board
75
Unlock bookkeeping slot
When inkwell reaches marked position on bookkeeping track, gain one additional action area slot
76
Receive money at track end
If diamond marker reaches final space, receive 2 pounds per movement instead of advancing
77
Identify stock cards
The last 8 cards in the action card deck are stock cards
78
Purchase stock cards normally
These cards may appear in card display and can be purchased like other cards
79
Keep in hand
Stock cards remain in your hand until end of game; they cannot be placed in action area
80
Count during scoring
Each stock card provides additional shares in one company for final scoring
