How to Play El Grande: Power Cards, Caballeros & the Castillo
El Grande is a nine-round area-majority game. Players use Power cards to determine turn order and reinforcements, then choose Action cards that place Caballeros and create special effects across Spain.
1. Play one Power card
Each player chooses a Power card that has not yet been used in the current cycle. Higher numbers generally act earlier but provide fewer Caballeros from the Provinces to your Court; lower numbers act later and provide more reinforcements.
2. Choose one Action card in Power-card order
Starting with the highest Power card, each player selects one available Action card, resolves its special effect and places up to the allowed number of Caballeros from their Court.
The King controls legal placement
Normal Caballero placement is tied to regions adjacent to the King’s current region as defined by the rules. The King’s own region is protected from ordinary entry/removal effects unless a card specifically allows it.
The Castillo hides Caballeros
Instead of placing all Caballeros visibly on the map, Action cards can allow placement into the Castillo. The number inside remains hidden until scoring.
Scoring happens after rounds 3, 6 and 9
During a general scoring round, reveal and score the Castillo first. Then each player secretly chooses a destination region for their Castillo Caballeros. After moving them, score the regions of Spain according to majority and the current scoring values.
Grande and King bonuses can add points
Players can receive additional points for controlling regions containing their own Grande and, under the scoring rules, for majority in the King’s region.
After round 9, highest score wins
The final general scoring ends the game. Highest prestige/score wins.
Publisher reference: Hans im Glück current El Grande rules.