Tips needed

[Facemelter]

I love this game and I have an online game almost every night. I've played 100's of games but I can't seem to win. Can anyone help?

I usually start well and in most games I seem to be in with a good chance of winning, but pretty much every time, someone comes from nowhere to take the win.

Any help appreciated.

[Teddykrieger_Michel]

If I would give you a complete answer, I would write many hours. Look at the guides, there are many.
You have to know the probabilitys of the numbers: 36 probabilitys the dice can roll: 7 6times, 6+8 5times, 5+9 4times, 4+10 3times, 3+11 2times, 2+12 1times. That means having 4 and 3 is good as having 6, but robber stand often on 6, rare on 3 or 4.
2x6 have the same probability as 6+8, but different numbers are better. Because: you will get the same number of cards, but with 2x6 you get 2cards and come perhaps over 7cards. But 2x6 is better than 6+12 !
Different ressources are better than all the same. But perhaps a 12 brick will never come, 4+10 wool is better. Think about the combinations: If you have brick and lumber, you can build streets. with grain and ore cities. Grain, wool, brick is the worst combi.
All I write is relative to the situation. You have to find a balance between good (different) numbers and different ressources.
Start places are better at three land-hex (not everytime!), but while the game you should build at harbours. Because of when you are near the victory, no one will trade with you.
TRADE: You - should - trade !
Yes, you help the enemy-but although yourself. That´s the sense of trade.
Many times I´m the only which trade with the others, many times I won.
Trade when it´s not your turn. Yes, it´s a risk, but you should do it
Trade not only ressources you need now, trade although for near future. F.e. you have a few good lumber-hex, but no brick. Although you have no lumber now, but in future you will surely have. Buy brick now.
But if another is near victory, don´t trade with him!
Robber: Steal from the player with the most points. He/she is your biggest enemy. Don´t think: "The least player has brick, if I steal from him perhaps I get it." You don´t get it, but you get an enemy.
Drink not to much alcohol (or the other things).
All I wrote is only 0,01% of all I could write. Good luck!

[peterawk71]

Check out Dylighted or Dandy Drew on Youtube...lots of tips and pointers.
Good Luck!

[Facemelter]

Thanks for the tips guys.

[Facemelter]

I absolutely despair tonight! I was on 9 and the nearest was 6. I only needed a city to win and I was likely to get it soon. Then...the game was over and I was beaten by 2 vic pt cards and the longest road. Arrrggghhh!

[Teddykrieger_Michel]

Another tip: If you only have on settlement in storage, it should be your priority build a city. Because if you have no settlement in storage a city is your only choice, that´s not good.
Don´t give up. There are people playing Catan over 25 years, and thousands of hours, that´s not easy for beginners. But if you play as often as this time, in a few months you defeat grandmasters.
Catan is a mix between strategy and luck. With the same luck a player with more experience will win, but with bad luck every grandmaster loose and with good luck every beginner win.
And not forget the first Catan-law: You should trade !