Between Two Cities – Your Guide to Rules, Strategy & Winning Tips

Introduction

Between Two Cities is a game that’s all about building cities with the person sitting next to you. It’s a bit different from other games because you have to work with your neighbors to make the best cities. The game was made by Ben Rosset and Matthew O’Malley and came out in 2015. Since then, it’s become pretty popular among people who like board games.

The idea is to make two cities, one with each neighbor, and at the end, your lowest scoring city’s points are what you get. So, you can’t just focus on one city; you have to make sure both are good, which I find adds an interesting balance and cooperative nature to the game.

Rules for playing Between Two Cities

Playing Between Two Cities is about balance. You start with a bunch of tiles that show different parts of a city, like houses, shops, and factories. You pick two tiles and pass the rest to the next player. Then, you and your neighbors choose one tile each to add to your shared cities. You keep doing this until your cities are finished. The game has three rounds, and in each round, you get different tiles to choose from. After the last round, you see which city parts score the most points. The trick is that only your lower-scoring city counts for your final score. So, you can’t just make one city great; both need to be good.

Equipment and Setup for Between Two Cities

To play Between Two Cities, you need the game box which comes with lots of tiles, some wooden pieces to keep score, and mats to build your cities on. You can also make your own mats if you want. The tiles show different buildings like houses, shops, factories, parks, and more. Each type of building scores points in a different way.

How to Play Between Two Cities and Game Mechanics

The game has a few key steps:

1. Setup: Give each player some tiles and a mat to build their cities on.
2. Gameplay: Pick two tiles, pass the rest, and add one tile to each city with your neighbors.
3. End of the Game: After three rounds, check which city parts score the most points.

During the game, you’ll go through these phases:

1. Drafting: Choose two tiles from your hand.
2. Passing: Give the rest of your tiles to the next player.
3. Building: Add one tile to each of your two cities.
4. Scoring: After all rounds, see how many points each part of your city gets.

How to Win at Between Two Cities

To win at Between Two Cities, you need to be smart about which tiles you pick and where you put them. You want to make sure both of your cities are balanced and score well. It’s important to work well with your neighbors and keep an eye on what they’re doing. Sometimes, you might need to pick a tile that’s not the best for you but stops your neighbor from getting too many points.

Best Strategies for playing Between Two Cities game

Some good ways to win at Between Two Cities include:

• Balance: Make sure both cities are doing well.
• Cooperation: Work with your neighbors to make the best cities.
• Blocking: Sometimes, take a tile that your neighbor really wants to stop them from scoring too much.

The best strategies in this game, I find, involve balancing collaboration with competition. It’s imperative to communicate effectively with your neighbors to ensure you’re both contributing to city constructions that complement each other’s plans without giving one neighbor a distinct advantage. Diversifying your city’s layout by spreading different types of buildings (houses, factories, parks, shops, etc.) allows you to score points from various conditions while also adapting to the tiles available. Pay attention to the communal goals that score at the end of the game, and aim to meet these criteria without overcommitting to one type of building.

Additionally, since the final score is based on the lower of your two cities, you must ensure that both cities are developed evenly to maximize your overall score. Strategic tile drafting to hinder your opponents’ cities without sacrificing the growth of your own cities can also be a clever tactic.

And watch out for sneaky tactics like pretending you’re not interested in a type of building and then grabbing lots of them at the end!

Scenarios

If you find yourself with a city that’s not doing so well, try to focus on buildings that score a lot of points. If your cities are doing great, keep an eye on your neighbors to make sure they don’t pass you.

Frequently Asked Questions about playing Between Two Cities game

Q: How many people can play?
A: Between Two Cities is for 3 to 7 players.

Q: How long does a game take?
A: About 20 to 30 minutes.

Q: Can I play with just two players?
A: Yes, there’s a special rule set for two players.

Q: What’s the best way to score points?
A: It depends on the tiles you get, but try to have a variety of buildings.

Q: Can I change my city after I’ve placed a tile?
A: No, once a tile is placed, it stays there.

Additional Tips

Here are some more things to keep in mind:

• Think ahead: Plan your cities a few moves in advance.
• Watch the score: Keep track of how many points each city part gets.
• Have fun: It’s a game, so enjoy it!

External Links

For more info on Between Two Cities, check out these links:

Official Between Two Cities Page