Coup

About this board game

Coup is a 90-minute board game for 2–6 players, originally released in 1975. Players attempt to acquire shares in the most valuable companies while maneuvering to increase the value of companies in which they own stock.

The board features six colored columns, each containing fields numbered from 1 to 20, for a total of 120 spaces. Wooden pieces match the columns through their colors and numbers, while colored chips represent the different columns.

Each player secretly draws wooden pieces and works to create series of numbers in the various columns. Longer series generate more points at the end of the game, making the placement of each piece an important part of building a strong position.

• Six colored columns with numbered fields from 1–20
• Wooden pieces marked with matching colors and numbers
• Colored chips connected to the different columns
• Secret drawing and placement of wooden pieces

On a turn, players can place their wooden pieces and buy colored chips. Holding more chips in the column containing your longest series improves your chances of winning, so collecting the right colors is closely tied to the series you build.

Players may also exchange unwanted wooden pieces for new ones during their turn. In Coup, building numerical runs, choosing when to improve your pieces, and investing in the most promising columns all contribute to the final result.