Uploaded March 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Yay, finally some more Italy on here! A lot of the newer players are scared to dig into this map since it changes the game more than France does, but don't be scared - you mainly need to know how to handle the opening plants.
The 06 went for $9 at the start, which is the right price with the cheaper trash and more expensive fossil fuels here. My 04 at cost was probably the best deal though...that should go for $5 or maybe even $6. 09 also becomes a bit stronger relative to 08 on Italy, though i still think 08 might be better on average.
The starting builds you'll see here are mostly standard, though i prefer Ancona as the red build on this setup. You expand north from there at first, then go south when someone else can jump you for it.
Dionis made what seemed to be a pretty smart move by staying at 1 city after landing the 13 at cost. After not buying a plant turn 2, i needed to build Picenza immediately or else Dionis would jump there...and that forced me to buy the 15 and drop 21 at cost for Dionis. The problem was that after paying so much for 06 and buying the 13, Dionis was behind on cash. This led me to buy the 22 with 26 on deck, as i figured Dionis couldn't afford another plant yet. That turned out to be right on the money, as 26 dropped and he didn't take it. My 15 + 22 combo was off to the races!
26 finally arrived again a little while after that, and i paid $45 for it thinking that i could continue using 15 and keep oil cheap. Seemed to work out well at first, then a monster turn came after that: 30 went for over $60 because trash was ridiculously cheap, then 32 went at cost since oil was a lot more expensive, then i bid Dionis near $45 on the 25...then 31 dropped out of nowhere for me at cost! Though i didn't particularly want another plant then, the chance of a market stall was too great for me not to go for it. The market did indeed stall, making me the only player with 6-5 base capacity going into Step 3.
Amit had gotten rich in the meantime with 28 + 18, then 30 added into the mix. The game came down to turn order, with Amit forced to settle for 17 capacity while i got the chance to fight for 18. Got 36 for a rather low price, and was barely able to build 18 for the win! Wishmaker bought extra oil even though the game was going to end, and that *almost* cost me...finished with $1 left. Amit would've easily won on money if i stopped at 17 - having 31 + 26 turned out to be a huge advantage for turn order, as Amit was guaranteed to go above me on the penultimate turn. Overall i was a bit lucky to win this one, but turn order gives you those chances to get lucky!
If you'd like to learn more about Power Grid, please check my blog for strategy articles on each power plant as well as a guide to 2-player games:
maninmotiongoingnowhere.wordpress.com/power-grid-strategy-individual-plant-articles
If you want to step up your game even further and set up BSW or Tabletop Simulator games with us, come join our Power Grid Discord server:
discordapp.com/invite/pSq9qp9
Yay, finally some more Italy on here! A lot of the newer players are scared to dig into this map since it changes the game more than France does, but don't be scared - you mainly need to know how to handle the opening plants.
The 06 went for $9 at the start, which is the right price with the cheaper trash and more expensive fossil fuels here. My 04 at cost was probably the best deal though...that should go for $5 or maybe even $6. 09 also becomes a bit stronger relative to 08 on Italy, though i still think 08 might be better on average.
The starting builds you'll see here are mostly standard, though i prefer Ancona as the red build on this setup. You expand north from there at first, then go south when someone else can jump you for it.
Dionis made what seemed to be a pretty smart move by staying at 1 city after landing the 13 at cost. After not buying a plant turn 2, i needed to build Picenza immediately or else Dionis would jump there...and that forced me to buy the 15 and drop 21 at cost for Dionis. The problem was that after paying so much for 06 and buying the 13, Dionis was behind on cash. This led me to buy the 22 with 26 on deck, as i figured Dionis couldn't afford another plant yet. That turned out to be right on the money, as 26 dropped and he didn't take it. My 15 + 22 combo was off to the races!
26 finally arrived again a little while after that, and i paid $45 for it thinking that i could continue using 15 and keep oil cheap. Seemed to work out well at first, then a monster turn came after that: 30 went for over $60 because trash was ridiculously cheap, then 32 went at cost since oil was a lot more expensive, then i bid Dionis near $45 on the 25...then 31 dropped out of nowhere for me at cost! Though i didn't particularly want another plant then, the chance of a market stall was too great for me not to go for it. The market did indeed stall, making me the only player with 6-5 base capacity going into Step 3.
Amit had gotten rich in the meantime with 28 + 18, then 30 added into the mix. The game came down to turn order, with Amit forced to settle for 17 capacity while i got the chance to fight for 18. Got 36 for a rather low price, and was barely able to build 18 for the win! Wishmaker bought extra oil even though the game was going to end, and that *almost* cost me...finished with $1 left. Amit would've easily won on money if i stopped at 17 - having 31 + 26 turned out to be a huge advantage for turn order, as Amit was guaranteed to go above me on the penultimate turn. Overall i was a bit lucky to win this one, but turn order gives you those chances to get lucky!
If you'd like to learn more about Power Grid, please check my blog for strategy articles on each power plant as well as a guide to 2-player games:
maninmotiongoingnowhere.wordpress.com/power-grid-strategy-individual-plant-articles
If you want to step up your game even further and set up BSW or Tabletop Simulator games with us, come join our Power Grid Discord server:
discordapp.com/invite/pSq9qp9
