Bohnanza Board Game Review

Bohnanza, designed by Uwe Rosenberg and published by AMIGO in 1997, remains one of the most beloved trading card games in the hobby. This bean-planting classic supports 2-7 players, takes about 45 minutes to complete, and carries a 12+ age recommendation. The game earned a Spiel des Jahres Recommendation and won the 1997 Meeples’ Choice Award. This review examines why Bohnanza continues to thrive nearly three decades after release.

Bohnanza Overview

Players take on the role of bean farmers competing to earn the most gold coins. You plant beans in your fields, harvest them for profit, and trade with opponents to manage your hand.

The central twist separates Bohnanza from other card games: you cannot rearrange the cards in your hand. Cards must be played in the order you received them, forcing you to trade aggressively or harvest fields prematurely.

Specification	Details
Designer	Uwe Rosenberg
Publisher	AMIGO / Rio Grande Games
Year Released	1997
Players	2-7
Age Range	12+
Playing Time	45 minutes
Game Type	Trading, Set Collection, Negotiation
Complexity Rating	1.67 / 5

What’s in the Bohnanza Box

The standard edition contains 154 bean cards across 11 different bean types. Each card shows artwork by Björn Pertoft featuring whimsical bean characters.

Card quantities vary by bean rarity. Coffee Beans appear 24 times while Cocoa Beans only show up 4 times. Rarer beans convert to coins more efficiently but require fewer cards to harvest.

Component	Quantity
Coffee Bean Cards	24
Wax Bean Cards	22
Blue Bean Cards	20
Chili Bean Cards	18
Stink Bean Cards	16
Green Bean Cards	14
Soy Bean Cards	12
Black-Eyed Bean Cards	10
Red Bean Cards	8
Garden Bean Cards	6
Cocoa Bean Cards	4
Third Bean Field Cards	7

Bohnanza Pros and Cons

How to Play Bohnanza

Each player receives five cards dealt face-down. You cannot reorder these cards at any point during play. The draw pile sits centrally with space for discards and each player’s coin stack.

Phase 1: Planting

You must plant the first card from your hand into one of your bean fields. You may plant the second card as well. Each field holds only one bean type, so mismatched beans force you to harvest an existing field.

Phase 2: Trading

Flip two cards from the draw pile. You can plant these yourself or trade them with other players. Cards from your hand are also available for trade. All trades must involve the active player.

Phase 3: Planting Traded Beans

Everyone plants the beans they received through trading. The active player also plants any revealed cards that weren’t traded away.

Phase 4: Drawing Cards

Draw three cards one at a time, placing each at the back of your hand. Play passes clockwise.

Harvesting and Winning

Harvest fields anytime by checking the beanometer printed on each card. This shows how many beans convert to coins. The game ends when the deck empties for the third time. The player with the most gold coins wins.

Where to Buy Bohnanza

Retailer	Notes
Amazon	Multiple editions available
Game Nerdz	Competitive pricing
K&B Hobbies and Games	Specialty game store
eBay	New and used copies, including rare editions
BoardGameGeek GeekMarket	Direct from collectors

Bohnanza Game Mechanics

Hand management drives every decision. Since you cannot rearrange cards, unwanted beans clog your hand until you trade them away or plant them reluctantly. This creates natural trading incentives.

The negotiation system allows flexible deals. Trade beans for beans, promise future cards, or gift unwanted beans to willing recipients. Experienced players learn to assess card values based on what opponents need.

Set collection determines your income. Each bean type has a unique conversion rate printed on its beanometer. Rare beans like Cocoa need only two cards for one coin, while common Coffee Beans require four cards for the same return.

Who Should Play Bohnanza

Bohnanza suits groups who enjoy player interaction and verbal negotiation. If your table prefers quiet, solitaire-style games, look elsewhere. The trading phase requires active participation from everyone.

Families find Bohnanza accessible despite the 12+ age rating. Children around 8-10 grasp the rules quickly, though they may struggle with complex multi-card negotiations.

Fans of card games with trading elements will appreciate Bohnanza’s streamlined approach. The game shares DNA with Catan’s resource trading but condenses the experience into a 45-minute package.

FAQ

Is Bohnanza good for beginners?

Bohnanza works well for beginners due to its simple rules and low complexity rating of 1.67. New players understand the core loop within one or two rounds. The challenge comes from negotiation skills rather than complex mechanics.

How long does Bohnanza take to play?

A typical game runs 45 minutes with experienced players. First games may extend to 60 minutes as players learn trading strategies. Setup takes under 5 minutes since you only shuffle and deal cards.

What’s the best player count for Bohnanza?

Bohnanza plays best with 4-5 players. This range provides enough trading partners without extending downtime between turns. The two-player variant works but loses the negotiation depth that defines the experience.

What games are similar to Bohnanza?

Chinatown shares the negotiation focus with a real estate theme. Pit offers frantic commodity trading. For Uwe Rosenberg’s other work, Agricola and Caverna provide deeper farming experiences without the trading emphasis.

Are Bohnanza expansions worth buying?

The Erweiterungs-Set expansion adds new bean types and supports more players. La Isla Bohnita and Bohna Nostra introduce additional mechanics. Start with the base game to ensure your group enjoys the core trading experience before expanding.