Coloretto: Rules, Scoring & Strategy

Coloretto setup for three to five players

Coloretto, designed by Michael Schacht, is a push-your-luck card-collection game published by Rio Grande Games and ABACUSSPIELE. The modern edition supports two to five players; the main setup below is for three to five.

Put one brown row card per player in the center. Each player takes a reference card and a starting color card; all starting colors must be different. In a three-player game, remove all nine cards of one color. Shuffle the remaining scoring cards and jokers, set aside the Last Round card, then place 16 cards facedown below the Last Round card in the draw stack, with the remaining draw cards above it.

The modern rulebook includes 63 color cards in seven colors, 10 +2 cards, two regular jokers, one golden joker, the Last Round card, brown and green row cards, and summary cards. The older edition has slightly different component details; always use the rules matching your box.

Each turn: draw and place, or take a row

On your turn, choose exactly one action: draw the next card and place it face up in a central row, or take an available row with all of its cards.

For a standard three-to-five-player game, each row has room for at most three cards. You may place a newly drawn card into any row that is not full, including a row with an unwanted color. If every row is full, you must take a row.

You can only take a row containing at least one card. Once you take a row, you are finished for that round; other players continue. Place its colored cards into separate piles in your personal collection, save jokers for scoring and keep +2 cards. When everyone has taken a row, return the row cards to the center and begin another round, with the player who took the last row going first.

Why taking a small row may be smart

Adding another card can make a row more attractive, but it also gives the next player an opportunity to take that row before you do. Taking a single well-matched color early can be better than staying in the round and ending up with three penalty colors.

Example: you already own four green cards, while another row contains three different colors. A row with one green and a +2 card could be a strong immediate take, raising green’s scoring and securing two extra points. Waiting for a third card risks giving the row to someone else.

When only one player remains active, they may continue drawing and placing legal cards before finally taking a row. But the maximum of three cards per row still applies.

Coloretto scoring: brown and violet sides

At the end, choose exactly three colors to count positively. Every other color scores the same amount negatively. Each +2 card adds two points, regardless of colors collected. The summary card offers two different tables: the publisher recommends the brown side for beginners.

Notice that the violet side is not a bigger-set-is-better curve: collecting three cards earns eight points, but four earns seven. Agree which scoring side to use before starting. No color scores additional points beyond six cards.

Worked example: three positives and one negative

Using brown-side scoring, suppose your collection consists of six green, four yellow, three red and two blue cards, plus one +2. You choose green, yellow and red as your three positive colors.

Green yields +21, yellow +10, red +6, blue yields −3, and your +2 card contributes +2. Final total: 21 + 10 + 6 − 3 + 2 = 36 points.

You are free to select whichever three colors produce the best score at the end. You do not commit to those colors during the game.

Regular jokers and the golden joker

Regular jokers are not assigned to a color when collected. At final scoring, each joker can be assigned to any one color to improve your tally. Different jokers may be assigned to different colors.

The golden joker, included in some newer editions, also works as a joker for scoring but gives an immediate extra effect when you collect it: reveal the top card of the draw supply and add it face up to your own collection. This extra card does not get placed into a central row.

Before assigning jokers, check whether adding one to a positive color meaningfully improves its points or reducing the damage from a negative color is more valuable. The best destination may change under violet scoring.

The Last Round card and game ending

The Last Round card is inserted toward the bottom of the draw supply during setup. When drawn, put it aside as the signal that the current round will be the last, then draw the next card and place it normally.

Players continue until every participant has taken a row. Then choose the color assignments for collected jokers, score your three positive colors, subtract all other colors, add +2 bonuses and compare final totals. Highest score wins.

Two-player Coloretto rules

Two players use a special setup, rather than simply following the three-player rules with fewer rows. Remove two complete colors from the deck. Each player starts with two cards of different colors, with the four starting cards also different between players.

Use the three green row cards instead of the brown cards. Their printed illustrations determine the number of cards each row can hold, so capacities differ from the ordinary three-card limit. Once both players take a row, discard the cards in the unclaimed third row, return the row cards and start the next round.

The remainder of the game—including three positive scoring colors, jokers and the Last Round card—follows the standard rules.

Coloretto strategy: useful decision principles

• Choose a likely three-color core. Multiple cards in your best colors generate increasingly large gains on the brown scoring side.
• Avoid unnecessary fourth colors. Extra colors become negative at the end unless they displace one of your original three.
• Evaluate rows as a package. One desirable card can be outweighed by two unwanted colors.
• Be aware of what rivals collect. Placing a color that completes their profitable set can hand them a favorable option.
• Use +2 cards intelligently. Two unconditional points can be worth taking a smaller row, particularly if it avoids a penalty color.
• Delay joker assignments. Their endgame flexibility can compensate for a weak color or complete a strong one.
• Adapt to the scoring-side choice. The violet table rewards three-card colors more than growing a single set to six.
• Take rows before it is too late. Waiting too long can leave only unattractive full rows.

These are rules-derived editorial suggestions and do not imply firsthand testing.

Coloretto frequently asked questions

How many players can play Coloretto?

Two to five in the modern edition. A specific variant applies with two.

Can you place more than three cards in a row?

No, not with the brown row cards used for three to five players.

Can you take an empty row?

No, at least one card must be present.

Can you take two rows in a round?

No. Once you take a row, your round is finished.

How many colors score positively?

Three colors of your choice at the end; all others score negatively.

What is the maximum brown-side score for one color?

21, for six or more cards.

What happens to jokers?

They are assigned to colors at the end of the game.

What does a golden joker do?

It scores as a joker and makes you immediately reveal and collect one extra draw-deck card when taken.

Does the game end as soon as the Last Round card appears?

No. Finish that round first.

How does the two-player setup work?

Remove two colors, use green row cards and discard the third unclaimed row after both players take a row.

Sources and editorial scope

• Rio Grande Games official rulebook including two-player and golden joker rules
• Rio Grande Games publisher product page

Publisher rules reviewed October 11, 2026. Worked examples and strategy are original editorial explanations without a claimed firsthand playtest. Printed editions may vary. Editorial policy and corrections.