1995 Puesto n.º 22720 en BGG

Espresso

2–6 jugadores 30–60 min A partir de 6 años 1.0/5 de complejidad 5.5/10 de valoración

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Espresso is essentially a multiplayer version of a standard solitaire or patience game played in real time, something like the traditional card game Racing Demons, although it has significant differences from that game. It is also more or less a clone of the well known game Ligretto. Each player has an identical set of 36 cards (9 each in 4 colors) from which a stack of 9 is randomly dealt as the "espresso" stack - this must be gotten rid of by playing to common stacks in the center of the table. These stacks must each be built up from 0 to 8 in a single color. Players have 3 other face-up cards to help them, and can turn over cards from the rest of their deck to provide further alternatives.

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Simultaneous Action Selection Card Game Real-time

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Preparación

1. Each player selects one of the 6 decks (36 cards, each with a unique back design, e.g. Pizza) and shuffles it thoroughly.\n2. Each player deals 9 cards face down into a stack, then flips the stack so the number side faces up. This is their ESPRESSO stack, placed in front of them.\n3. From the remaining 27 cards, each player deals 3 cards face up side by side to the right of their ESPRESSO stack. These are the help cards.\n4. The remaining 24 cards are kept face down as the hand deck.\n5. (Optional/Recommended) Keep all help card rows face down until all players are ready to begin.\n6. One player calls "ESPRESSO!" to start the game.

Flujo del turno

There are no turns — all players act simultaneously in real time. Each player may at any moment: (1) play the top card of their ESPRESSO stack to a valid central stack; (2) play any of their 3 face-up help cards to a valid central stack (then immediately fill the vacated space with the top card of the ESPRESSO stack); (3) play the top card of their personal pile (drawn from their hand deck in groups of 3) to a valid central stack; (4) count off 3 more cards from their hand deck onto their personal pile; or (5) recycle their personal pile back into their hand deck when the hand deck is exhausted. Play continues until a player empties their ESPRESSO stack and calls "FINITO!", immediately stopping all play and triggering scoring.

Puntuación y victoria

Cumulative points are recorded on a score pad after each round. The game ends at the end of the round in which any player reaches 100 or more points. The player with the highest score at that point wins. Puntuación objetivo: 100 Fuentes de puntuación: 1 point per card played to central stacks (identified by card back), 5 bonus points for the player who calls 'FINITO!'

Fuente: Rulebook

Reglas que debes conocer

Las reglas más útiles para jugar bien la primera partida.

General

Goal is to empty your ESPRESSO stack and score 100+ points across rounds.

The objective of each round is to be the first player to play all 9 cards off your ESPRESSO stack (either to central stacks or into help card spaces). The first to do so calls 'FINITO!' to end the round. Points accumulate across rounds, and the first player to reach 100 or more total points wins the game.

Setup

The game contains 6 decks of 36 cards each, totaling 216 cards.

Espresso contains 6 decks of 36 cards each (216 cards total). Each deck has a unique back design (e.g. Pizza, and 5 other food-themed backs) to identify card ownership. Each deck contains cards numbered 0 through 8 in multiple colors.

Setup

Each player deals 9 cards face down, then flips the stack number-side up to form their ESPRESSO stack.

At the start of each round, each player takes their 36-card deck, shuffles it, and deals 9 cards face down into a pile. They then flip this pile over so that cards are number-side up. This is the ESPRESSO stack — the pile the player must empty to win the round. It is placed in front of the player.

Setup

Each player deals 3 help cards face up to the right of their ESPRESSO stack.

After forming the ESPRESSO stack, each player takes 3 cards from their remaining deck and places them face up in a row to the right of the ESPRESSO stack. These are the 3 help cards and must always remain face up and visible. The remaining cards (up to 24) are kept face down as the player's hand deck.

Setup

For fairer play, keep help cards face down until all players are ready to begin.

It is recommended for fairer play that all players keep their row of 3 help cards face down until all players signal they are ready to begin. This prevents any player from having a head start on planning plays before the round officially starts.

Turn structure

A round begins when any player calls 'ESPRESSO!'

Once all players are set up and ready, any one player calls 'ESPRESSO!' to signal the simultaneous start of play. All players then begin playing cards at the same time with no turn order.

Turn structure

All players play cards simultaneously with no turn order.

Espresso is a real-time game. There are no turns. All players act at the same time, as fast as they can. Any player may play any valid card to any valid central stack at any moment during the round.

Card play

A new central stack must be started with a '0' card (in Normalo variant).

In Espresso Normalo, the first card placed on any new central stack in the middle of the table must be a '0' card. Any player may start a new central stack by playing a '0' to an open area of the table. The card backs are irrelevant for central stacks — only the number and color matter.

Informe estratégico

Prioritize ESPRESSO stack depletion

Always look to play from your ESPRESSO stack first. Every card played from it (or moved to a help space) directly advances your path to calling FINITO and the 5-point bonus. Cards played from hand contribute points but do not win rounds.

Use help card plays to chain ESPRESSO stack depletion

Playing a help card immediately pulls a card from the ESPRESSO stack into the help slot. Chaining help card plays into central stack plays is the fastest way to deplete the ESPRESSO stack without needing a direct play from it.

Manage hand deck cycling proactively

Don't wait until the hand deck is fully exhausted to think about cycling. When only 1–2 cards remain, merge the personal pile underneath them early to maintain a healthy hand deck and avoid gaps in your ability to flip 3-card groups.

Speed over perfection on central stack plays

In conflicts, the faster player wins and the slower one takes their card back — losing no permanent disadvantage. Play quickly and confidently; hesitating to avoid conflicts costs more time than occasionally having to retrieve a card.

Zero variant: Jokers require commitment

In Espresso Zero, never play a '0' Joker speculatively. You must already have the follow-up card ready to play immediately. Using a Joker without the follow-up card in hand is prohibited, so plan Joker plays only when the next card is certain.

Chaos variant: steal only high-value opportunities

In Espresso Chaos, stealing a card from another player is only worth it if playing it immediately unlocks a chain of your own plays. Stealing for a single play and then resuming your own cards with no benefit is a distraction from your ESPRESSO stack.

FINITO bonus makes round-winning highly valuable

The 5-point FINITO bonus is significant over a 100-point game. A player who consistently wins rounds (even with slightly fewer center cards) can outpace a player who plays more cards but rarely calls FINITO.

Preguntas frecuentes y casos límite

A player plays their last help card. Their ESPRESSO stack is now empty. Does the ESPRESSO stack need to refill the help space, and does the player call FINITO?

If playing a help card empties the help space AND the ESPRESSO stack is already empty (the last card was previously moved to a help space or played), the player calls FINITO. If the ESPRESSO stack still has cards, the top card moves into the vacated help space as normal. FINITO is only called when the ESPRESSO stack itself is fully empty.

A player's last ESPRESSO card is moved into an empty help card space (rather than played to the center). Does this count as emptying the ESPRESSO stack?

Yes. The rules explicitly state that a player empties their ESPRESSO stack either by playing the last card to a central stack OR by moving it into an empty help card space. Either action triggers the 'FINITO!' call.

Two players simultaneously place the same card on the same central stack. How is it resolved?

The player whose card physically lands on the stack first wins. The slower player must take their card back and retain it. In case of genuine ties, players must resolve it by mutual agreement, as the rules only address the 'faster player wins' principle.

In Espresso Zero, can a player play a '0' Joker without immediately following it with the next card?

No. A player may only play a '0' as a Joker if they can place the next sequential card on top of it immediately afterward. Playing a Joker and then being unable to follow it is not permitted.

In Espresso Zero, after a Joker is played, does the next card need to match the previous color?

No. The card placed on top of a Joker may be of any color. Color changes are allowed within a central stack at the point of a Joker. Subsequent cards after the Joker must then follow the new top card's color and continue in sequence.

In Espresso Zero, can a player play a '0' Joker directly on top of another '0' Joker in a central stack?

No. A '0' card cannot be placed directly on top of another '0' in a central stack, even though '0' cards are Jokers in this variant.

In Espresso Chaos, which cards can be stolen from other players?

Only face-up cards of other players may be stolen — specifically their help cards or the top card of their personal pile. Cards in another player's hand deck or ESPRESSO stack (which are face down) cannot be stolen.

In Espresso Chaos, can a player steal a card from another player and hold it for later?

No. A stolen card must be played to the center immediately. The player cannot hold it or use it at a later time. After playing the stolen card, they return to their own cards.

A player cycles through their entire hand deck and personal pile without being able to play any card. What happens?

The player may shuffle their personal pile back into a new hand deck and begin flipping groups of 3 again to start a fresh personal pile. There is no penalty and no limit on how many times a player may cycle.

A player calls 'FINITO!' but another player had already begun moving a card toward a central stack. Does that card count?

All players must stop immediately when 'FINITO!' is called. Any card not yet physically placed on a central stack does not count and must be kept by the player. Only cards already on central stacks at the moment of the call are scored.