Ticket to Ride Rules Reference
Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure where players collect cards of various types of train cars and use them to claim railway routes connecting cities across North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Players also earn points by fulfilling Destination Tickets -- goal cards that connect distant cities -- and by building the longest continuous route.
Objective
Score the most points by claiming routes between cities, completing Destination Tickets, and building the longest continuous path of routes.
How to Play
On your turn, you must perform exactly one of three actions: Draw Train Car Cards, Claim a Route, or Draw Destination Tickets. Play then passes clockwise to the next player.
Tips for New Players
- Keep Your Tickets Secret: Do not reveal which cities you are trying to connect. Other players may try to block your routes if they know your goals.
- Claim Long Routes Early: Long routes (5-6 spaces) score the most points per card spent. Claim them before opponents block you, and while you have enough trains.
- Balance Route Claiming and Card Drawing: Do not hoard cards for too long -- other players may claim the routes you need. But also do not claim routes without enough cards to finish your tickets.
- Watch Opponents' Train Supplies: Keep track of how many trains each player has remaining. When someone gets low, the game is about to end. Make sure your Destination Tickets are completed before that happens.
- Gray Routes Are Flexible: Gray routes can be claimed with any single color, making them easier to complete. Use them strategically when you have a surplus of one color.
- Locomotives Are Powerful but Costly: Taking a face-up Locomotive costs your entire draw action (both draws). Drawing blindly from the deck might yield a Locomotive without this penalty.
- Think About the Longest Path: The 10-point Longest Path bonus can decide the game. Try to build connected chains of routes rather than scattered segments across the map.
- Be Careful Drawing Extra Destination Tickets: Only draw more Destination Tickets if you are confident you can complete at least one. Incomplete tickets subtract points from your score.