Quick answer
Set up Kutná Hora: The City of Silver by first sorting the city tiles, guild boards, and silver resources into separate piles. Then build the central board, give each player their starting guild and coins, and place the mining tokens on their designated spaces. The most common mistake is mixing up the two silver types—keep them separate from the start.
Prepare the central board and city tiles
Unfold the main board and place it in the center of the table. Shuffle the city tiles face down, then deal a starting set of face-up tiles to the marked spaces on the board. These tiles represent the early buildings and mines that players will develop. Keep the remaining tiles in a face-down stack nearby. Check that the mine and building spaces are clearly visible to all players.
Set up guild boards and player components
Give each player a guild board, a set of wooden markers in their color, and starting coins as listed in the rulebook. Place the guild boards in front of the matching players. Each player also receives a reference card. Make sure the coin supply is within reach of everyone, because coins are used for multiple actions during the game. If you are playing with 2 or 3 players, check the rulebook for any adjustments to starting resources or board spaces.
Distribute silver, corn, and other resources
Separate the silver tokens into two piles: one for raw silver and one for refined silver. Place both piles near the board. Do the same for corn if your edition includes it, though Kutná Hora primarily uses silver and coins. The rulebook may specify a limited supply; if so, set aside any excess tokens back in the box. Keeping resources sorted prevents confusion when players begin mining and trading.
Place mining tokens and action markers
Place the mining tokens on the spaces indicated by the setup diagram in the rulebook. These tokens show which mines are available for development. Also place the round marker on the first space of the turn track. If your game includes a market or event deck, shuffle it and place it face down on its designated spot. Double-check that no tokens are left in the box that should be on the board.
First play setup steps
- Sort components by type: Separate city tiles, guild boards, silver tokens, coins, and mining tokens into distinct piles before unfolding the board. Checkpoint: if any component type is missing, stop and check the box insert.
- Build the central board: Place the main board centrally, then add face-up city tiles to the marked spaces and set the remaining tiles aside. Common mistake: forgetting to shuffle the city tiles first, which can cluster similar buildings.
- Give each player their guild: Hand out guild boards, matching wooden markers, starting coins, and reference cards to each player. Checkpoint: verify that each player has the correct starting coins for the player count.
- Place resources and tokens: Put silver, corn (if included), and coins within reach, then place mining tokens and the round marker on their designated spaces. Common mistake: mixing raw and refined silver—keep them in separate piles from the start.
- Review the first round flow: Before playing, read aloud the turn sequence: place workers, resolve actions, and collect income. This prevents mid-game rules pauses. Next step: play one practice round with open information to learn the mining and building actions.
Product facts
- Kutná Hora: The City of Silver: Kutná Hora: The City of Silver is a historical city building euro game for 2–4 players set in the 14th century, from the first discovery of silver near the cistercian monastery to the construction of Kutná Hora. Knowing the player count and historical theme helps you set expectations for a medium-weight economic game before you start setup.
