This article assumes you have played or are familiar with how to play this game, if you aren’t read my Settlers of Catan description and review.

Choose the right numbers: So this seems pretty obvious, but during initial placement choose numbers that are rolled more often. That being said you will want to diversify resources and the numbers you are on. If you have all 6s and 8s and 5s and they happen to not be rolled often you will be hurting. Also having the same numbers sets up a feast/famine dynamic which can hurt you if you get over 7 cards and then someone rolls a 7. Losing your resources will help you lose no matter how good your strategy is.

A port close to home: Build out to a port with a resource you have 1 or 2 good numbers that match. The 2:1 trade can help you when others won’t trade with you. Starting the game this way can be risky as usually the port is your second choice and you’ll start with one less resource.

Pay attention to your bits: Be aware you only have 5 settlements (and 4 cities). I have seen people go to build a settlement only to realize they have no more left to put out. This can easily be avoided and is very frustrating when it happens. How many turns did you waste trading for resources and planning a strategy to build something you can’t place?

Wheat + Ore = City: In the early game many people try to branch out and build more roads and settlements. Thus brick and wood are in high demand. If you have started with wheat and ore spaces you can upgrade to cities faster and won’t have to compete as much for brick and wood. This in turn will get you 2 resources instead of one which you can use to upgrade your other settlements into cities (which hopefully one is on either brick or wood).  This also enables you to get development cards and the largest army to bolster your points. The danger is that while you are upgrading others are building roads and may box you in (see below).

Don’t get boxed in: While you are placing your initial roads and building them later make sure you have a way to keep building settlements. Again this is basic but it does require attention and a little foresight into other players’ strategies.

A little too organized: When you (or others) have development cards fight the impulse to sort them into stacks. You may tip your hand that you have some VPs (or notice someone else does). Keep your cards in one stack.

A thief in the night: When placing the thief you get a chance to make a market for your goods. If you block a resource space that is the same resource as a space you have you can corner the market. By making the resource rare you make your goods more valuable. Also pay attention to what other players have and steal from those players.

Too Good to be True: This tip will get you on people’s bad side but can help you win the game. Just be prepared for the backlash that comes with it. If I pull a Monopoly development card and am able to build up a lot of one resource I trade for things I need by giving up that one resource I have a lot of. I will even make some deals that are too good to be true. That is because in the end they aren’t. After trading away all that resource I play the monopoly card and take it all back. I know…just cruel. Also after a few times people can see this coming so it may only work for a few games.