What happens when you roll a 7 in Catan?
Nobody collects resources. Anyone holding more than 7 resource cards discards half, rounded down. Then the player who rolled moves the robber to a new hex and steals 1 random resource card from a player with a building there.
The rule
When a 7 is rolled, no hex produces resources that roll. Instead:
- Discard. Every player with more than 7 resource cards returns half of them to the supply, rounded down. Development cards don’t count toward the limit.
- Move the robber. The player who rolled must move the robber to a new hex. It can’t stay where it is.
- Steal. That player takes 1 random resource card from a player who has a settlement or city on the robber’s new hex. If several players do, the roller picks one. Development cards can’t be stolen.
While the robber sits on a hex, that hex produces nothing when its number is rolled. Playing a Knight card moves the robber and steals the same way, without the discard.
Example
Kai rolls a 7. Mia holds 9 resource cards, so she discards 4. Kai moves the robber onto the wheat hex next to Ben's city and draws 1 card at random from Ben's hand.
Why players argue about it
Groups get the order wrong (discard comes before the robber moves), count development cards toward the limit (they don't count, and the robber can't steal them), or leave the robber where it is (it must move).