From the publisher’s rulebook
Who goes first in El Grande?
Hans im Glück English rulebook, 2023
The player who visited Spain most recently takes the First Player marker and plays the first Power card.
Rule details
Power cards are played in clockwise order from the First Player marker; turns are then taken from the highest Power card down.
At the end of each round, whoever played the lowest Power card takes the First Player marker.
In the two-player game, the dummy never gets the First Player marker.
Source & edition
- El Grande: English rulebookHans im Glück · Page 3, Setup step 10; page 4, Play Power cards; page 7, end of round; page 9, two-player dummy; page 12, credits · Checked 2026-09-25Printed page references: 3, 4, 7, 9, 12
Image: © Hans im Glück and any cover-art licensors or artists (precise ownership not stated on product page) · Asmodee USA
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesGames with a similar starting rule
Gloomy GravesThe player who most recently visited a graveyard starts and takes the Start Player card.
ChinatownThe player who most recently visited a Chinatown takes the First Player card.
CastellThe player who most recently visited Catalonia receives the first-player marker and takes the first turn.
LisboaThe player who most recently visited Lisboa starts and takes the Starting Player marker.
Lords of WaterdeepThe player who most recently visited another city goes first and receives the First Player marker.
Free game-night tools: score keeper · turn timer · dice roller · all tools
Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.