Johari

About this board game

Johari is a gem-trading board game for 2–4 players, lasting about 90 minutes, in which you compete to become the most prestigious dealer in Jaipur’s famous jewelry market.

The game unfolds over ten days, and each player takes three actions per day. At the start of every day, the market receives new gems, gold, and prestige cards. Stores contain items of only one type, while bazaar booths can hold whatever arrives there.

Each player chooses one of seven action cards, then players resolve their choices in order of who has the most gold. This happens three times each day, with discounts available for the cost of taking certain actions. A new noble also visits daily, offering a special power to the player willing to pay for it; the price drops with each passing day.

• Earn gold, collect cards from a store or bazaar booth, and hire nobles.
• Swap gems, protect yourself during inspections if you have fake gems, or copy a previously played action.
• Sell gems to jewellers or collectors for valuable prestige points.

Selling is the heart of the market. To sell to a jeweller, you need four different gem types—or three types and gold—but you score only for one gem card in the sale. Selling to a collector requires gems of just one type, yet you must hold more of that type than any other player, and you score only the difference between your collection and the second-largest one.

Alongside gem sales, nobles and prestige cards contribute to your total. In Johari, timing, clever action selection, and the right collection of gems can determine who finishes with the most prestige after ten days.