How to Play Istanbul: Mocha & Baksheesh

Game Objective

In Istanbul: Mocha & Baksheesh, players take on the role of daring merchants seeking to profit from a new commodity: coffee. In addition to selling fabrics, spices, and fruits, coffee has become a valuable item in the market. To succeed, merchants will need more than their assistants, relying on the help of tavern-goers for a small "donation" (baksheesh) and finding valuable support in the Guild. The objective of the game is to be the first player to own 6 Rubies, regardless of the number of players.

Setup

The setup for Istanbul: Mocha & Baksheesh adds rules to the base game rules, requiring the base components. Follow the steps below:

1. Place the 20 numbered locations in a 5x4 configuration. For the first game with the expansion, the setup shown in the manual is recommended. For future games, use a "random" setup following these rules:
   • Place the 20 locations randomly in a 5x4 configuration.
   • The Fountain 7 must be placed in one of the 6 interior spaces. Swap the Fountain if necessary.
   • The Black Market 8 and the Tea House 9 must be at least 3 spaces away from each other, and cannot be in the same row or column. Swap the positions of the tiles with another if necessary.
2. Arrange the rest of the board following the normal rules (steps 2-13 of the base manual).
3. Shuffle the new Bonus cards with the old ones.
4. Roll the die to determine the starting position of the Coffee Trader, in the same way as with the Governor and the Smuggler.
5. At the Guild Hall 18: Shuffle the Guild cards and place them face down in a pile at the Guild Hall. The Guild cards you use or discard are placed face up next to the board.
6. At the Tavern 19:
   • Place the Barrier and the corresponding Barrier Control tile next to the board.
   • Separate the Tavern tiles by type and then by the amount of coffee into 2 piles, so that the top tile displays 1 coffee. Place both piles within reach on the board.
   • Place the Baksheesh tile (donation) with the 3 yellow goods face up in the designated space.
7. At the Coffee House 20: Starting with the space that displays a ruby, place 1 ruby in each space in the Coffee House (with the exception of the space that displays the number "6").
8. Place the coffee next to all players on the table.

Game Flow

The game progresses with players taking their turns normally, with two important additions:

1. Alternative to using your Merchant: Instead of following the 4 normal steps of your turn, you can play a Guild card. Execute the card's effect and then place it in the discard pile.
   • Important: Playing a Guild card replaces your entire turn, so you will not move your Merchant and will not have any encounters - unless the Guild card states otherwise.
   • When you play a Guild card, you cannot use any Bonus cards or Mosque tiles that require you to be in a particular place. You can play any other Bonus card.
   • You must execute all instructions on a Guild card. If you cannot execute them, you cannot play it.
   • It does not matter where your Merchant is when you use a Guild card.
2. Encounter with the Coffee Trader: In step 4 of your turn (Encounter), you can now encounter another marker - the Coffee Trader. He is used in the same way as the Governor or Smuggler. His effect is to trade one coffee for 2 Coins or 1 good.

Actions and How to Play

In addition to the base game actions, the expansion introduces new locations and components with specific actions:

• Coffee: You can collect as much coffee as you can, as the stock is unlimited. Coffee is not considered a "good" if an effect says "any Good".
• Guild Cards: Can be played instead of using your Merchant or your Assistants, replacing your entire turn. Examples of Guild Card effects:
  • Pay 15 Lira to receive 3 additional coffees in addition to a ruby.
  • Take 2 coffees from the stock.
  • Pay 2 coffees and take 1 Guild card.
  • Pay 1 coffee and receive 8 coins.
  • Roll 2 dice and receive the described rewards.
  • Trade up to 3 goods (or coffee) for the same number of other goods (or coffee). For example: trade 3 yellow goods for 2 blue goods and 1 coffee.
  • After rolling the die (except when you move a neutral marker) you can change any result to "6".
  • Instead of moving your Merchant 1 or 2 spaces, move him to one of the corners.
  • If you are at the Wainwright 1, you can perform this action immediately.
  • If you are at the Coffee House 20, you can perform this action immediately.
• Tavern Tiles: Work in the same way as Mosque tiles that provide continuous benefits. You can only own one tile of each Tavern type.
  • Movement Tile: Instead of moving your stack 1 or 2 spaces, you can move as many as you want, in a straight line (not being able to pass through Barriers, unless you have the Barrier Control tile).
  • Encounter Tile: Whenever you encounter the Governor, Smuggler, and/or the Coffee Trader and are to receive something from them, you no longer need to pay anything.
• Coffee Trader: Works in the same way as the Governor or the Smuggler. You can encounter him after your action. He allows you to trade 1 coffee for 2 coins or 1 any good.

New Locations and Their Actions:

• Roasting Plant 17: Choose one of the following 3 options:
  • Pay 2 Coins and receive 2 coffees.
  • Pay 1 any good and receive 2 coffees.
  • Discard a Bonus or Guild card and receive 2 coffees. You can get up to 6 coffees this way.
• Guild Hall 18: Take 1 coffee from the stock. Take 2 cards from the top of the face-down Guild cards. You will keep one of these cards in your hand (which does not have to be one of the cards you already possess) and the other will be discarded face up next to the board, without being used.
• Tavern 19: Choose one of the following 3 options. You may need to make a "baksheesh" donation in the form of 1 to 4 coffees, depending on your choice:
  • Pay 2 coffees and place the Barrier between 2 locations. Perform the action of one of these locations. You will not have any encounters. Receive the Barrier Control tile, which indicates that you are the only player who can pass through the Barrier. Other players will not be able to pass through the Barrier – even if they have the Movement tile.
  • Take the top Tavern tile and pay the amount described in coffee.
  • Pay 4 coffees and the good described on the Baksheesh tile. Take the next available ruby which can be from the Sultan’s Palace, the Gemstone Dealer, or the Coffee House. After that, flip the Baksheesh tile to the other side.
• Coffee House 20: Deliver the amount of coffee to the Coffee House equal to the number not covered by a ruby (which can be 6 to 10). As a reward, receive the next available ruby, which will be placed in your Wagon.
• Caravansary 6: Replacing the effect of the base game tile, take 1 coffee from the stock.

End of Game and Scoring

The end of the game is triggered as soon as a player reaches 6 Rubies, regardless of the number of players. All normal base game scoring rules apply. The player who first reaches 6 Rubies wins the game.

Tips for Winning

• Consider using Guild Cards as a strategic alternative for your turn, especially if you need a specific effect that does not depend on your Merchant's movement or encounters. Remember that they replace your entire turn.
• Take advantage of the Coffee Trader to convert coffee into coins or other goods, which can be crucial for acquiring other resources or paying for important actions.
• Explore the Tavern actions to obtain Tavern tiles with continuous effects, such as the Movement tile for greater flexibility or the Encounter tile to save resources when interacting with neutral markers.