From the source rules
Who goes first in Istanbul?
Pegasus English Big Box, base game
Choose a starting player randomly. Give that player the starting-player marker and 2 Lira; take turns clockwise from them.
Rule details
In clockwise order, each subsequent player starts with one more Lira than the player to their right.
Source & edition
- Istanbul Big Box: English rulesPegasus Spiele · Setup step 12; Flow of Play · Checked 2026-09-26Printed page references: 6, 8Cited PDF pages: 6, 8
Image: © Pegasus Spiele and any cover-art licensors or artists (precise ownership not stated on product page) · Pegasus Spiele
If your rules call for a random choice, use the player picker.
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say. If you need a tie-break, pick a player at random.
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