Silver & Gold: Rules, Scoring and Strategy
A flip-and-write treasure-map game played on erasable cards, combining shared expedition patterns, polyomino placement and bonuses.
A flip-and-write treasure-map game played on erasable cards, combining shared expedition patterns, polyomino placement and bonuses.
This independent rules guide explains how the game works, how the game ends, examples of important decisions and who it suits. Editions and optional modules are separated where they matter.
What makes Silver & Gold different
Seven of eight expedition shapes appear each round, so planning flexible open spaces matters more than memorizing a fixed drawing sequence.
Game at a Glance
Setup
Give each player a scoring card and dry-erase marker. From four randomly drawn treasure maps, each player chooses two and returns the others. Display …
Key decision
Seven of eight expedition shapes appear each round, so planning flexible open spaces matters more than memorizing a fixed drawing sequence.
Strategy
Plan moves around the game’s most valuable opportunities and constraints.
Who it suits
2–4 players; see the reader-fit section for a detailed comparison.
Setup
Give each player a scoring card and dry-erase marker. From four randomly drawn treasure maps, each player chooses two and returns the others. Display four face-up treasure maps beside the remaining map deck. Shuffle the eight expedition cards and prepare the round tracker.
Four rounds of seven turns
Reveal an expedition card. Every player simultaneously crosses out its shown polyomino shape on one of their two maps. After resolving markings and any completions, rotate the starting player. Seven expedition cards are revealed each round; the eighth stays unseen. Shuffle all eight again for the next round.
Legal placement
Rotate or mirror the expedition pattern as needed, but it must be copied in full on one map without overlapping previously crossed spaces or extending beyond its edges. If the pattern cannot fit, check the rules for the permitted alternative single-space marking rather than partially drawing the printed pattern.
Coins, palms and trophy bonuses
Marking Coin spaces progresses your coin track; completed rows can award trophy bonuses to the earliest finishers. Palm tree spaces award points determined by visible palm symbols on the public display plus the crossed tree itself. Record these bonuses immediately so future changes to the display do not retroactively alter them.
Completing a treasure map
When all the spaces on a treasure map are crossed, it is complete. Take its printed victory points and relevant color seal into account for final scoring, and choose a replacement from the four face-up maps. Refill the display to four at the timing specified by the rules.
Final scoring
After four rounds, score each completed treasure map’s printed points, completed Coin spaces, trophy awards, Palm Tree points, and color-seal bonuses based on completed maps of matching colors. Unfinished treasure maps score no printed map points. Highest total wins; the standard tie-break compares the most completed gray, then green, orange and purple maps.
Worked example
If one completed gray map is worth eight printed points, you have six crossed Coin spaces, three recorded Palm Tree points and a trophy worth five, your subtotal before any seals or other maps is 22 points. Seal bonuses can add further points depending on your completed colors.
Strategy
Prefer map pairs whose empty shapes complement each other. Keep an eye on which expedition shapes remain unseen in the round, and do not depend on a shape that might be the omitted eighth. Coin races can be worth more than small map-value differences; seals reward coherent color plans.
Who should play Silver & Gold?
Best for families and players who like quick simultaneous polyomino puzzles with simple scoring races. Bärenpark offers a more substantial competitive tile-fitting experience, while Cartographers adds map-drawing and scoring objectives.
FAQ
How many rounds? Four. How many expedition cards are used each round? Seven of eight. May you rotate or mirror the shape? Yes. Do uncompleted maps score printed points? No. Are players competing for the same treasure map display? Yes, completed maps can be replaced using the shared selection.
Strategy: practical decisions and mistakes to avoid
Prefer map pairs whose empty shapes complement each other. Keep an eye on which expedition shapes remain unseen in the round, and do not depend on a shape that might be the omitted eighth. Coin races can be worth more than small map-value differences; seals reward coherent color plans.
For competitive play, distinguish short-term gains from the game’s actual victory condition. For cooperative play, protect the shared resources that prevent an early defeat. These are rules-based suggestions rather than claims of personal playtesting.
Frequently asked questions
How many rounds? Four. How many expedition cards are used each round? Seven of eight. May you rotate or mirror the shape? Yes. Do uncompleted maps score printed points? No. Are players competing for the same treasure map display? Yes, completed maps can be replaced using the shared selection.
Similar games and what to play next
- Bärenpark — Compare the gameplay approach, length and player experience.
- Cartographers — Compare the gameplay approach, length and player experience.
- Spots — Compare the gameplay approach, length and player experience.
Supporting articles
Read the more focused explanation where you need additional examples or a side-by-side comparison.
Sources and editorial scope
Researched October 12, 2026. No publisher affiliation or personal playtesting is claimed. For rare card interactions and edition-dependent exceptions, use the instructions supplied with your copy. Editorial policy and corrections.