Map #2QJ
Wood and brick make expansion worth a look.
Interactive Settlement & Road Draft
Choose a three- or four-player table and your seat, then record each settlement and its initial road in normal snake order. Occupied and adjacent blocked intersections are removed, while settlement and road recommendations update after every completed turn.
Board Read
The classic board view marks intersection quality directly on the map and reveals adjacent initial-road choices during each interactive draft turn.
Best Remaining Spots
The numbered spots stay visible during settlement selection and update after every completed settlement-and-road turn.
Best Remaining Pairs
Pairs update as opponents take spots; after your first pick they anchor to it.
Initial Board Assessment
For your two settlements, look at I39 + I21. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
How To Approach It
- The board produces relatively little ore, sheep; secure a source or a way to trade for it.
- The board has more wood production than most other resources; check whether a matching harbor fits your opening.
- Keep I19 in mind if you want to focus on city upgrades.
- These are starting plans, not promises: dice, the robber and other players can change them.
- Compare the numbers as long-run averages, not a countdown to your next build.
Best Immediate Read
I21 Wood 9 / Brick 8 / Ore 4
Overall 17.58, production 12.00, road 10.73, city 8.72.
Best Starting Intersections
These are the best single-settlement openings before you account for draft order or pair timing.
| # | Spot | Read | Overall | Future | Port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I21 | Wood 9 / Brick 8 / Ore 4 | 17.58 | 6.64 | - |
| 2 | I19 | Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4 | 17.32 | 5.90 | - |
| 3 | I39 | Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5 | 16.89 | 4.70 | - |
| 4 | I22 | Wood 9 / Brick 5 / Ore 4 | 16.65 | 6.83 | - |
| 5 | I20 | Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Brick 5 | 16.53 | 6.87 | - |
| 6 | I15 | Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4 | 15.59 | 7.04 | - |
| 7 | I13 | Ore 9 / Brick 8 / Ore 4 | 15.41 | 5.33 | - |
| 8 | I09 | Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Ore 4 | 15.18 | 5.13 | - |
| 9 | I43 | Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Wood 3 | 15.05 | 5.85 | - |
| 10 | I32 | Wood 9 / Brick 5 / Sheep 2 | 14.77 | 7.75 | - |
Top Opening Pairs
These pair scores reflect combined production, coverage, number overlap, port help, and long-term flexibility.
Top pair
Score 52.93These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Pair 2
Score 51.73These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I22 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Pair 3
Score 51.14These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Pair 4
Score 51.13Without sheep production, new settlements and development cards will need a trade. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Pair 5
Score 50.49These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I21 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Pair 6
Score 50.21These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build. This opening leans toward roads and new settlements. Place I22 second to start with 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 ore.
Seat Plans
Your place in the turn order affects which settlements may still be available. Compare the suggested starts and the second settlements that work with them.
3-player game
Placement order reverses after everyone has chosen once: the last player picks twice in a row, and the first player waits longest. These examples compare four opponent play styles, not the odds of a spot staying open.
Player 1
You choose first, then wait until everyone else has placed both settlements.
Priority: Choose a useful first settlement without relying on one particular second pick.
Recommended starts
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I13 Ore 9 / Brick 8 / Ore 4Opening score 46.49 · Best pair score 49.90You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I15 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I22 Wood 9 / Brick 5 / Ore 4Opening score 46.39 · Best pair score 51.73You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I09 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I19 Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4Opening score 45.94 · Best pair score 51.13You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I35 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I13 + I15Ore 9 / Brick 8 / Ore 4 + Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4
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I22 + I09Wood 9 / Brick 5 / Ore 4 + Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Ore 4
Player 2
Other players choose between your two turns, so your preferred second spot may disappear.
Priority: Take a useful mix of resources and leave yourself more than one follow-up.
Recommended starts
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I39 Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 46.67 · Best pair score 52.93This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I30 Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Brick 5Opening score 44.75 · Best pair score 48.40This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I15 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I31 Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 44.74 · Best pair score 49.41This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I03 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I39 + I03Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5 + Wheat 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4
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I30 + I15Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Brick 5 + Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4
Player 3
Your two settlement picks are consecutive, so you can choose them as a pair.
Priority: Use your consecutive picks to cover missing resources or support one building plan.
Recommended starts
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I35 Wood 9 / Wood 6 / Sheep 2Opening score 46.51 · Best pair score 49.25This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I34 Ore 12 / Wood 9 / Wood 6Opening score 46.48 · Best pair score 49.72This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I03 Wheat 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4Opening score 45.71 · Best pair score 49.92This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I39 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I35 + I39Wood 9 / Wood 6 / Sheep 2 + Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5
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I34 + I39Ore 12 / Wood 9 / Wood 6 + Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5
4-player game
Placement order reverses after everyone has chosen once: the last player picks twice in a row, and the first player waits longest. These examples compare four opponent play styles, not the odds of a spot staying open.
Player 1
You choose first, then wait until everyone else has placed both settlements.
Priority: Choose a useful first settlement without relying on one particular second pick.
Recommended starts
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I21 Wood 9 / Brick 8 / Ore 4Opening score 44.28 · Best pair score 52.93You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I02 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I19 Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4Opening score 43.86 · Best pair score 51.13You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I42 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I13 Ore 9 / Brick 8 / Ore 4Opening score 42.83 · Best pair score 49.90You can choose this spot now. After this pick, I16 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I21 + I02Wood 9 / Brick 8 / Ore 4 + Sheep 11 / Wheat 10 / Wheat 8
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I19 + I42Wheat 8 / Brick 5 / Ore 4 + Brick 6 / Wood 3 / Sheep 2
Player 2
Other players choose between your two turns, so your preferred second spot may disappear.
Priority: Take a useful mix of resources and leave yourself more than one follow-up.
Recommended starts
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I39 Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5Opening score 44.24 · Best pair score 52.93This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I25 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. These settlements produce all five resources, giving you several ways to build.
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I03 Wheat 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4Opening score 43.33 · Best pair score 49.92This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I30 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I34 Ore 12 / Wood 9 / Wood 6Opening score 42.89 · Best pair score 49.72This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I30 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for wheat.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I39 + I25Wheat 10 / Brick 6 / Sheep 5 + Ore 12 / Wood 9 / Brick 8
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I03 + I30Wheat 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4 + Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Brick 5
Player 3
You pick late in the first round and early in the second; look for complementary resources.
Priority: Compare what your second settlement adds, not just how strong it looks on its own.
Recommended starts
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I03 Wheat 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4Opening score 44.65 · Best pair score 49.92This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I30 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I15 Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4Opening score 43.92 · Best pair score 50.49This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I30 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I30 Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Brick 5Opening score 43.68 · Best pair score 48.40This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I15 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I03 + I30Wheat 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4 + Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Brick 5
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I15 + I30Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4 + Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Brick 5
Player 4
Your two settlement picks are consecutive, so you can choose them as a pair.
Priority: Use your consecutive picks to cover missing resources or support one building plan.
Recommended starts
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I30 Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Brick 5Opening score 44.75 · Best pair score 48.40This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I15 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I03 Wheat 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4Opening score 44.65 · Best pair score 49.92This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I30 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
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I15 Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4Opening score 44.04 · Best pair score 50.49This spot stayed open until your turn in all 4 scenarios checked, but another player can still take it. After this pick, I30 was the most common second settlement in the scenarios checked. City upgrades will need trades for ore.
Settlement pairs to consider
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I30 + I15Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Brick 5 + Sheep 11 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4
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I03 + I30Wheat 10 / Wheat 8 / Wood 4 + Sheep 11 / Brick 6 / Brick 5
Resource Profile
Scarcity & Abundance
Best Harbor Starts
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I24 Ore 12 / Brick 8Port Brick, score 12.33
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I38 Ore 12 / Wood 6Port Wood, score 12.33
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I23 Brick 8Port Brick, score 11.23
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I46 Wood 6Port Wood, score 11.23
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I48 Wheat 10 / Wood 3Port Wheat, score 10.01