How does gold work in Splendor?
Gold is wild: when you buy a card, each gold can replace any one gem, even a color you already have. The only way to get gold is to reserve a card. Spent gold goes back to the supply, and gold counts toward your 10-piece limit.
The rule:
In Splendor, gold is wild: each gold piece can stand in for any one gem when you buy a card. You only get gold by reserving a card, spent gold returns to the supply, and it counts toward your 10-piece limit.
- Getting gold: reserve a card and take 1 gold, if any is left. You can’t take gold with either gem-taking action.
- Using gold: when buying a card, each gold replaces one gem of any color, even one you already hold.
- After spending: gold goes back to the supply with the other pieces you paid.
- Hand limit: gold counts as a piece toward your limit of 10.
There are only 5 gold pieces in the game, whatever the player count.
Example:
A card costs 3 sapphires and 2 diamonds. Kai has 2 sapphires, 2 diamonds and 1 gold, and no matching bonuses. He pays the gold in place of the third sapphire and buys the card.
Why players argue about it:
Players think gold only covers colors you don't have, or forget it counts toward the 10-piece limit. Others try to take it with a normal gem action.