Tips for Winning Rail Baron
Reaching your Destination in the Classic Board Game
Tips to help established Rail Baron players select the best strategy for winning the classic board game.
Rail Baron is a great game for three to six people to play, either in the classic board format or on the internet. Once the basic rules are learned, the game is even more fun for the winner, and knowing the best tips can make any player better.
Basic mathematics can be used to identify the most common regions and destinations. Buying railroads that maximize exposure to these areas can provide a winning advantage. Probabilities will not determine the outcome of every game, but will provide a player with the best chance of winning.
Buying Northeast Railroads
The Northeast is the most likely region based on probability; therefore it is important to secure one of the railroads that access the Northeast. Likewise, New York is the most likely destination, and since only two railroads access New York, buying the Pennsylvania or New York is great boost.
The B & O Railroad covers only the Southern part of the Northeast, (reached with an even red dice roll) and the C & O only touches Washington and Buffalo. It is appropriate as a last resort to the Northeast.
Buying the Expensive Southwest Railroads
Owning a large western railroad can provide long trips with big payouts. Conversely, being sent on a long western ride on someone else’s railroad is a ticket to bankruptcy.
The Southern Pacific and AT&SF are about the same cost and provide similar access to the Southwest. The Union Pacific locks up Las Vegas and only reaches Los Angeles, but provides better access to the Northwest.
Connecting Railroads
The other key in purchasing railroads is to make sure railroads connect. The Illinois Central and Gulf, Mobile & Ohio do not access many cities, but provide a connection between the East and West, enabling long, nearly free journeys.
Locking Up Cities in Rail Baron
Buying the Seaboard Air Line will give a player lone access to Miami, and the Chicago and Northwestern locks up Rapid City. The problem is that these cities do not come up as often on the dice rolls, and buying these railroads for the sole purpose of locking them up may result in missed opportunities.
These railroads should be bought only as part of an overall strategy, or when better railroads are not available.
The Express and Superchief
The Superchief allows the player to roll three dice at all times. This is very valuable, but expensive. A Superchief should be bought as soon as possible after all good railroads have been bought.
An Express allows a player to roll three dice whenever he rolls doubles with the first two. Rarely is buying an Express a good idea, as it takes away the opportunity to buy a railroad, and only comes into play on average every six rolls.
Winning at Rail Baron
Using these tips will not guarantee a winning game, but following the laws of mathematics will provide the best change to win, time after time.
