
- BGG rank
- BGG #743
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Coloretto
- 2–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2003

2003
Rules assistance for Richelieu
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Richelieu is a board game released in 2003 for 2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael Schacht and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Open Drafting.
The theme is the "journée des dupes", in 1630, when Mary of Medici tried to have the young Louis the XIIIth dismiss the Cardinal of Richelieu. All the cards are placed face up on the game table, in 4 rows. Players, in turn, can take one or two cards at the end of the rows, the goal being to have the majority of cards in each color, as well as with some symbols. Belongs to the Ravensburger Fun For 2 Series. Re-implements: Kardinal & König: Das Kartenspiel
Richelieu supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Richelieu is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Richelieu for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Richelieu has a complexity rating of 1.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Richelieu belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Open Drafting. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Richelieu are: Michael Schacht. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Richelieu as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.