The Ludarium Academy · Full course · Free

Gem by Gem

An unofficial Splendor course

Learn Splendor, teach it in ten minutes, and turn a handful of gems into an engine that reaches 15 points first.

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Splendor setup for four players: three face-down development decks in a column with level 1 at the bottom, four face-up cards beside each deck, five noble tiles in a row above the cards, the supply of six stacks (7 each of Diamond, Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, and Onyx, plus 5 Gold), and the First Player marker.Free printable teach sheetSetup, a turn, scoring, and three tips on one page.

Four levels, 13 lessons

Start with lesson one

  1. Level 0 · Learn to play

    Prospector

    After this level: Set up, teach, and play a clean game, with no slips on gems, Gold, nobles, or the final round.

    1. 01How to Play Splendor
    2. 02How to Teach Splendor
    3. 03Your First Three Games of Splendor

  2. Level 1 · Beginner

    Gem Cutter

    After this level: Open from the setup with two or three target colors, reserve and spend Gold on purpose, and pick the right player count for your group.

    1. 04Splendor Openings: The First Ten Turns
    2. 05Reserving and Gold in Splendor: When the Fourth Action Pays
    3. 06Splendor Player Counts, Variants, and Expansions

  3. Level 2 · Intermediate

    Jeweler

    After this level: Read every player's next buy, choose a noble race you can win, count the finish to the turn, and hold your own in a two-player duel.

    1. 07The Splendor Midgame: Engine, Tempo, and Reading the Table
    2. 08Splendor Nobles: Choosing the Race You Can Win
    3. 09Splendor Endgame and Scoring Math
    4. 10Two-Player Splendor Strategy: Winning the Duel

  4. Level 3 · Expert

    Merchant Prince

    After this level: Plan from what is left in the decks, play a clocked game under the official tournament guide, and train toward a faster finish.

    1. 11Know the Decks: Splendor Card Patterns and Odds
    2. 12Competitive Splendor: Tournaments and Local Play
    3. 13A Practice Plan for Tournament Splendor

Every lesson is free to read here, any time. Sign up and they also arrive by email, one at a time, so the course keeps you learning between game nights.

Who it is for

  • New players who want the rules clear before the first gem is taken.
  • Hosts who teach Splendor to family, friends, or a new group.
  • Players who build a big engine and still lose the race to 15.
  • Anyone curious about expansions, Splendor Duel, and tournament play.
Players
2 to 4
Play time
30 minutes
Ages
Ages 10 and up
Rules as of
Splendor rules, 10th anniversary edition (Space Cowboys, 2024), current English web PDF

Questions

Can you take two gems of the same color in Splendor?

Yes, but only if at least 4 gems of that color are in the supply before you take them. You can never take Gold this way; Gold comes only from reserving a card.

How do nobles work in Splendor?

At the end of your turn, if the bonuses on your development cards meet a noble's requirement, you take that noble and its 3 prestige points. It is not an action. Gem pieces do not count, and you can take only 1 noble per turn.

Can you have more than 10 gems in Splendor?

Only during your turn. At the end of your turn, if you hold more than 10 pieces, Gold included, you return pieces of your choice to the supply until you have 10.

What happens when someone reaches 15 points in Splendor?

The end is triggered, but the game does not stop at once. Play continues until everyone has had the same number of turns, so the player to the right of the First Player takes the last turn. Then most points wins.

Can you reserve a card from the deck in Splendor?

Yes. Instead of a face-up card, you can take the top card of any of the three decks without showing it. You still take 1 Gold if any are left, and you can hold at most 3 reserved cards.

Who wins a tie in Splendor?

The tied player who bought the fewest development cards wins. Nobles do not count as cards. If that is still tied, the tied players share the victory.

Teach sheet · PDF · Rules as described in the Splendor rules, 10th anniversary edition (Space Cowboys, 2024), current English web PDF; official rules.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with Space Cowboys or Asmodee. Splendor is a trademark of Space Cowboys.