The traders of Istanbul have their sights set on rubies.They can collect the jewels by trading goods and earning money with the help of their four assistants. Haggling at the tea house or at the black market is of course a part of it as well. If you’ve got enough material on your wheelbarrow you can visit the mosque, supply the Sultan or shop at the jeweller’s. The sequence of actions needs to be thought out carefully, however, as once they’ve entered a place, the assistants have to stay there until you pick them up later. Otherwise you’ll lose some room for manoeuvre. An encounter with your competitors can also be expensive. Due to the variable set-up of the 16 place tiles, every game challenges players to find the best tactical route through the bazaar.

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Jury statement
Istanbul’s simulated business dealings at a bazaar are so effective and varied that players can only dream of them. Like at a real oriental market, traders rush around to be quicker than their competitors. But don’t lose sight of the bigger picture! The innovative tower of merchant and assistant discs will help with that, they give this pleasantly quick strategy game a fascinating turn mechanic.