Instructions Azul

Objective

Azul is a strategic board game where the goal is to create the most beautiful tile mosaics on your palace wall. Players collect tiles and place them in patterns to gather points. The game ends when a player completes a horizontal row on their wall, and the player with the most points wins.

Components

• 4 player boards (one for each player)
• 100 colored tiles (20 each of blue, red, yellow, light blue, and black)
• 9 factory displays
• 1 cloth bag
• 1 first player marker
• Scoring boards and scoring helpers

Setup

1. Each player takes a player board.
2. Place the 9 factory displays in the center of the table.
3. Place the 100 tiles in the cloth bag and mix them well.
4. Decide the play order randomly, and give the first player marker to the assigned player.
5. Draw 4 random tiles from the bag and place them on each of the 9 factory displays.

Gameplay

The game is played in rounds, each round consisting of two phases:

1. Factory Offer and Tile Selection

• Starting from the first player and moving clockwise, each player chooses one factory display and takes all tiles of one color from it. Any leftover tiles from the display are moved to the center of the table.
• Alternatively, a player can choose all tiles of one color from the center.
• The player who first takes tiles from the center also takes the "first player marker" and places it in their floor position (this will result in penalty points at the end of the round).

2. Patterning and Scoring

• Once all tiles have been taken, players arrange their tiles in the designated patterns on their boards.
• Tiles can only be arranged in horizontal lines on the left side of the board.
• Once a row is complete, the player shifts the corresponding tile from the edge to the wall (left to right side of the player board) and scores:
• 1 point for each tile newly placed.
• Additional points for adjacent tiles in horizontal or vertical rows.
• Penalty points for tiles in the floor position, such as those that could not be placed.

Ending the Game and Scoring

The game ends when at least one player has filled a complete horizontal row on the right side, the wall. A final scoring now takes place: - Extra points for complete horizontal or vertical rows and all tiles of a color in your pattern. - The player with the most points wins.

Strategies and Tips

• Avoid penalty points by planning carefully how to place tiles and leaving room for future rounds.
• Secure the first player marker to keep control over tile selection, especially during crucial rounds.
• Keep an eye on your opponents' patterns to tactically remove tiles they desperately need.

Azul is a beautifully designed game that is both visually appealing and highly strategic. It is ideal for players looking for a thoughtful, attention-demanding gaming experience.