# Santiago de Cuba

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2011
- **BGG Rating**: 6.9
- **BGG Rank**: #1578
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 40-75 min
- **Weight**: 2.15 / 5
- **Designers**: Michael Rieneck
- **Artists**: Hans-Georg Schneider, Michael Menzel
- **Publishers**: eggertspiele, Eagle-Gryphon Games, Filosofia Éditions, Hobby World, Kaissa Chess & Games, Lacerta, Ludonova, MYBG Co., Ltd., Pegasus Spiele, Piatnik Distribution
- **Categories**: Economic
- **Mechanics**: Commodity Speculation, Dice Rolling, Hidden Victory Points, Memory, Modular Board, Pick-up and Deliver, Resource to Move, Track Movement, Worker Placement

## Verdict
If you enjoy a light bargaining game with constant interaction, Santiago de Cuba offers fun and surprise every play.High replayabilityConstant player interactionSimple rulesetDice luck dependencyBest with 2‑4 playersRECOMMENDED

## Description
Santiago de Cuba drops you into the bustling second‑largest Cuban city, where exotic fruit, sugar, rum, tobacco and cigars flow nonstop. At the start, nine locals are placed on a circular track that also includes the port, and twelve buildings are randomly assigned to four color groups. Each local offers a unique ability – giving you goods, cash, victory points or even hindering opponents – while the buildings grant powers such as converting tobacco to cigars or boosting delivery values. The core loop revolves around delivering to seven ships that dock at the port. Ship demand is set by rolling five dice (one per commodity) and the active player picks four results to represent the needed colors. After taking a local's action, the player moves his token to a building of matching color; if the building belongs to another player, that owner scores 1 VP. When a player reaches the port, everyone may deliver one type of good, earning 2‑4 VP per unit. Unmet demand raises the VP bounty and the ship stays, unless it has already reached the maximum of 4 VP, in which case it sails and a new ship arrives. After the seventh ship, every three goods left in hand are worth 1 VP, and the highest‑scoring player wins (ties broken by goods then money). The ever‑changing mix of locals, buildings and ship demands creates a fresh tactical puzzle each play, rewarding good connections, memory and smart spending of pesos to move the shared car. It’s a light‑weight game with simple rules but plenty of strategic depth for shrewd wheeler‑dealers.

## FAQ
### How long does a typical game take?
Usually between 40 and 75 minutes, depending on player count and familiarity.

### What is the recommended number of players?
2 to 4 players, with 3 often providing the smoothest flow.

### How complex is the game?
Light – about 2 out of 5 on the complexity scale, easy to learn and quick to play.

### What components are included?
Modular board, five colored dice, peso tokens, Cuban cards, building pieces, ship miniatures, and victory point markers.

### Is it good for fans of economic games?
Yes, though it leans more toward bargaining and memory than heavy economic calculations.