Thurs 19th Feb - Chicago Express

Last week saw a new game of mine hit the table, one which I had been extremely keen to try; Chicago Express (Queen Games).

This is a train game of sorts, but has more to do with investing in the four companies at the right time to gain money than laying down routes. This was one of the most eagerly-awaited games released in Essen 2008 & a revamped/better-looking edition of Wabash Cannonball from 2007 (Winsome Games).

The basic premise involves trying to extend your companies’ routes into Chicago via cities & profitable areas as quickly as possible for income. In each round, there is a limit to the three different actions that players can take; Auction (bidding for a share in one of the four companies that the active player chooses), Extend (where you lay down up to three trains of one company – usually one that benefits you) & Develop (where you increase income for companies in a given city/mountain/forest). Despite the simple & few possible actions, there are a lot of complex dynamics involved in strategising which is the best option for you & who you invest in because, very possibly, whatever you do is going to have some immediate benefit also for your opponents! Once Chicago is entered, which means a lot more income for the companies lucky enough, the Wabash company also enters play.

There is a lot of assessing the situation as the game develops to determining what to take advantage of. Great fun, but I haven’t worked out what the best strategy is! I won the first game by miles ($136) then lost the second game by miles ($44). Definitely one I want to try again very soon!