Philip Lee worked with children with special needs in the US and UK for 23 years before turning to writing. A teacher of chess and other strategy games, he holds degrees in history and education.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Why a Strategy Guide for a Game Based on the Luck of the Dice?1

[...] Rules

Resource Cards3 delete deleteBoard Setup: Hexes, Number Tiles, and Dots4 delete delete

Game Pieces: Roads, Settlements, and Cities6 delete deleteResource Generation7 delete deleteThe Robber8 delete deleteThe Limit9 delete deleteThe Distance Rule9 delete deleteDevelopment Cards10 delete deleteLongest Road and Largest Army10 delete deleteSetup Phase12 delete deleteTurn Sequence13 delete deleteWinning the Game16 delete deleteCommonly Disputed Rules17

[...] Mechanics of the Game

The Gaussian Curve19 delete deleteProduction20 delete deleteNumber Specträ22 delete deletePower Hexes and Power Intersections22 delete deleteInherent Value vs. Trade Value23 delete deleteActual Cost vs. Opportunity Cost23 delete deleteTotal Production Value (TPV)24 delete deleteThe TPV Formulä24 delete deleteHarbor Formulas26

III.Advanced Considerations

Strategy vs. Tactics27 delete deleteThe Three Pillars of Catan29 delete deleteWho's Ahead?30 delete deleteThe Design of Catan31 delete deleteHoarding32 delete deleteBurst-Building33 delete deleteRoads36 delete deleteSettlements51 delete deleteCities55 delete deleteHarbors and Trading59 delete deleteDevelopment Cards72 delete deleteGame Phases95 delete deleteOpening Theory95 delete deleteMiddlegame Theory118 delete deleteEndgame Theory124

IV.Common-Sense Catan

Burn This Book126 delete deleteBe in the Game!126 delete deleteThe Power of Calm127 delete deleteTable Talk127 delete deleteHardcore Catan128

V.Wrapup

Last Words129 delete deleteExpansions, Scenarios, and Alternate Rules129 delete deleteSupercards130 delete deleteThe Fatal Flaw of ­Two-Player Catan132 delete deleteTell Me I'm Wrong!132

Glossary: The Language of Catan

Chapter Notes