The Ludarium Academy · Free course

Road to the Catan Championship

From kitchen table to tournament table, one lesson at a time. Forty short lessons take you from your first game to what it takes to win a National Championship. Read them here anytime, or get them by email, one short lesson at a time.

Free. One short lesson at a time, and you can pause or unsubscribe anytime. Privacy ·Terms

Six levels, from Settler at the kitchen table to Champion at the tournament table0SettlerLearn to play1HomesteaderBeginner2TraderIntermediate3StrategistAdvanced4ContenderTournament ready5ChampionThe championship path
Kitchen table to tournament table

Who it is for

  • You played Catan at a friend’s house, loved it, and want to stop losing.
  • You play regularly and want to know why the same people keep winning.
  • You have seen a CATAN qualifier on a store calendar and wonder if you could hold your own.

New to the competitive side? Start with the story behind the course:I Came to Cube. I’m Staying for Catan.

Six levels, 40 lessons

Start with lesson one

  1. Level 0 · Learn to play

    Settler

    After this level: Set up and finish a game without opening the rulebook.

    1. 01What Is Catan? The Game That Started the Modern Board Game Boom
    2. 02How to Set Up Catan: Board, Number Order, and Ports
    3. 03How a Turn Works: Roll, Trade, Build
    4. 04The Robber, the Dreaded 7, and Development Cards
    5. 05How to Win: Victory Points, Longest Route, and Largest Army

  2. Level 1 · Beginner

    Homesteader

    After this level: Stop making setup mistakes, and explain why your opening is good.

    1. 06The Dots Matter: Catan Number Probability in Plain English
    2. 07Your First Two Settlements: A Five-Point Opening Checklist
    3. 08Brick and Wood Win Early, Ore and Wheat Win Late
    4. 09Bank and Port Trades: When 4:1 Is Fine and When It's a Leak
    5. 10Hand Management: Living Under the 7
    6. 11Development Cards for Beginners: When to Buy, When to Play
    7. 12Seven Beginner Mistakes That Lose Catan Games

  3. Level 2 · Intermediate

    Trader

    After this level: Read any board, commit to a plan, and win trades on purpose.

    1. 13Read Any Catan Board in 60 Seconds
    2. 14The Four Core Strategies: Cities, Roads, Ports, and Balance
    3. 15Seat Position Changes Everything: Strategy by Pick Order
    4. 16Expansion Planning: Claim the Spot Before You Need It
    5. 17The Art of the Trade
    6. 18Cities First? The Production Math of Tempo
    7. 19Longest Route and Largest Army: Chase, Contest, or Ignore
    8. 20Ports as an Engine

  4. Level 3 · Advanced

    Strategist

    After this level: Play the people at the table, not just the board, and close out games.

    1. 21Card Counting in Catan: Tracking Every Hand
    2. 22Robber Tactics: Whom to Hit, Where, and When
    3. 23Threat Assessment: Who Is Actually Winning?
    4. 24Table Talk and Negotiation
    5. 25The Endgame: Planning Your Last Three Points
    6. 26Development Card Math
    7. 27Recovering From a Bad Start
    8. 28How to Review Your Own Games

  5. Level 4 · Tournament ready

    Contender

    After this level: Walk into an official qualifier knowing the format, the rules, and the clock.

    1. 29How CATAN Tournaments Work: From Local Qualifier to Worlds
    2. 30Tournament Rules That Change How You Play
    3. 31The 5-Minute Map Study
    4. 32Placing Under the Clock
    5. 33Play for Points, Not Just Wins
    6. 34Beating the Turn Timer
    7. 35Your First Qualifier: Logistics, Mindset, and Etiquette

  6. Level 5 · The championship path

    Champion

    After this level: Plan a real run at a Regional Preliminary and the National Championship.

    1. 36Planning a Season: Locals, Regions, and the Calendar
    2. 37Regional Preliminary Prep: Consistency Over Hero Plays
    3. 38Inside the National Championship
    4. 39Study the Best: Breaking Down Championship Finals
    5. 40The Long Game: Masters, International Events, and Your Training Group

  • Do I need to own Catan?

    It helps for the drills, but you can start without it. A friend's copy, a library copy, or the official app all work.

  • How much email is it?

    One short lesson at a time, never more than a few a week. Pause from any email, and unsubscribe anytime.

  • Is it really free?

    Yes. Every lesson in this course is free to read on the site. No card, no trial.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with CATAN GmbH or Catan Studio. CATAN is a trademark of CATAN GmbH.