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Cold War: CIA vs KGB
Edge Entertainment · 2007
230–60 min12+ yrs1.9/5 complexity6.6 BGGCouplesStrategy
⚡ short answer
How do you play Cold War: CIA vs KGB?
The main objective of the game is to accumulate influence on various objective cards by playing collective cards, without exceeding the objective's target influence value. Each objective card has a specific influence target and a reward in victory points. Players must carefully manage their collective cards and agent abilities to outmaneuver their opponent and claim these objectives.
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the rules in 60 seconds▶ auto · 1/6
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01
Setup
Players choose CIA or KGB, place headquarters, score trackers, and shuffle objective and collective decks, revealing one objective.
The rules, step by step
Setup
To set up the game, each of the two players selects a faction, either the CIA or the KGB, and places their respective headquarters card and score tracker in front of them. The objective deck and the collective deck are shuffled separately and placed face down in the center of the play area. One objective card is then revealed and placed face up to indicate the current round's target. Each player also receives a set of agent cards, which are kept secret until activated.
Objective
The main objective of the game is to accumulate influence on various objective cards by playing collective cards, without exceeding the objective's target influence value. Each objective card has a specific influence target and a reward in victory points. Players must carefully manage their collective cards and agent abilities to outmaneuver their opponent and claim these objectives.
On your turn
During a player's turn, they have three possible actions: recruit a collective card, activate a collective card, or pass. Recruiting involves drawing the top card from the collective deck and adding it to their play area. Activating a collective card means using its special ability, which often involves exhausting the card (turning it sideways). Passing ends the player's turn for the current objective. Players alternate turns until both players have passed.
Scoring
Once both players have passed, the influence for the current objective is tallied. Each collective card in a player's active play area contributes its influence value towards the objective. The player with the highest total influence that does not exceed the objective's target value claims the objective card and adds its victory points to their score. In case of a tie, specific tie-breaking rules based on collective card types (economic, military, political) are applied.
Game end
The game concludes when a player successfully reaches a predetermined score, typically 100 points, or any other score agreed upon by the players before the game begins. The player who first achieves or surpasses this score is declared the winner. If both players reach the score simultaneously in the same round, the player with the higher total score wins.
Tips
Success in Cold War: CIA vs KGB hinges on careful planning and bluffing. Players should pay close attention to the types of collective cards their opponent is collecting and try to deduce their strategy. Utilizing agent abilities at opportune moments can swing the tide of a round, either by boosting your own influence or disrupting your opponent's plans. Knowing when to pass and when to push your luck is crucial, as exceeding an objective's influence target results in losing the objective and potentially an agent.
🔬 game anatomy
Complexity1.9 / 5
BGG rating6.6 / 10
Vibe
CouplesStrategy
Language dependence
Some text — easily memorized
Play time
30–60 min
Players
2
Recommended age
12+ yrs
✨ from Trișache · verified
Frequently asked questions
Q1What is the goal of the game?
The main objective of the game is to accumulate influence on various objective cards by playing collective cards, without exceeding the objective's target influence value. Each objective card has a specific influence target and a reward in victory points. Players must carefully manage their collective cards and agent abilities to outmaneuver their opponent and claim these objectives.
Q2How do you set up the game?
To set up the game, each of the two players selects a faction, either the CIA or the KGB, and places their respective headquarters card and score tracker in front of them. The objective deck and the collective deck are shuffled separately and placed face down in the center of the play area. One objective card is then revealed and placed face up to indicate the current round's target. Each player also receives a set of agent cards, which are kept secret until activated.
Q3How does a turn work?
During a player's turn, they have three possible actions: recruit a collective card, activate a collective card, or pass. Recruiting involves drawing the top card from the collective deck and adding it to their play area. Activating a collective card means using its special ability, which often involves exhausting the card (turning it sideways). Passing ends the player's turn for the current objective. Players alternate turns until both players have passed.
Q4How is scoring calculated?
Once both players have passed, the influence for the current objective is tallied. Each collective card in a player's active play area contributes its influence value towards the objective. The player with the highest total influence that does not exceed the objective's target value claims the objective card and adds its victory points to their score. In case of a tie, specific tie-breaking rules based on collective card types (economic, military, political) are applied.
Q5When and how does the game end?
The game concludes when a player successfully reaches a predetermined score, typically 100 points, or any other score agreed upon by the players before the game begins. The player who first achieves or surpasses this score is declared the winner. If both players reach the score simultaneously in the same round, the player with the higher total score wins.
Q6What tips are there for beginners?
Success in Cold War: CIA vs KGB hinges on careful planning and bluffing. Players should pay close attention to the types of collective cards their opponent is collecting and try to deduce their strategy. Utilizing agent abilities at opportune moments can swing the tide of a round, either by boosting your own influence or disrupting your opponent's plans. Knowing when to pass and when to push your luck is crucial, as exceeding an objective's influence target results in losing the objective and potentially an agent.
Q7How much does Cold War: CIA vs KGB cost?
No store is currently tracking Cold War: CIA vs KGB. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q8Where can I buy Cold War: CIA vs KGB cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q9How do you play Cold War: CIA vs KGB?
Cold War: CIA vs KGB is a bluffing game, for 2 players, taking ~30–60 minutes, featuring area majority / influence. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Cold War: CIA vs KGB — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q10How many players does Cold War: CIA vs KGB support?
Cold War: CIA vs KGB is played by 2 players.
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