In Shanghaien, you're the captain of a pirate ship hunting for the best crew to rule the seas. Each round, six cards are laid out between players, each corresponding to a number from 1 to 6 (like die faces). These cards feature sailors of different nationalities or special actions that can tweak die results or boost your team. Players roll dice and assign them to cards, battling for influence. When someone decides to 'shanghai,' cards go to whoever has more dice on their side. At the end, the strongest nationality scores victory points based on the weaker team's value—and if you monopolize a color, you score your team's full worth! It's a quick, strategic game ideal for 20-minute duels packed with bluffing and tactics.