Bohnanza

Bohnanza is a great family game that I have also enjoyed in the lunch game group at work. I've played the game for a few years, but just recently picked up my own copy. The object is grow and sell beans, with the winner being the person that has earned the most money. Cards are different types of beans, cocoa, green, blue, chili, stink, etc. Because of this, we call it "The Bean Game". Each type of bean has a different quantity of cards, for example cocoa has four while coffee has 24. The fewer the cards, the higher the value.

To start the game, you are given six cards. Note that order does matter. You can never rearrange your cards. Play consists of planting the first card and optionally planting the second. You only have two bean fields to begin, but you can buy a third later in the game once you have enough coins. After planting, you draw three cards face up from the draw pile. Plant ones that match the beans you have already planted. You then need to give away or trade the beans you can't plant because you can't put the cards in your hand. They must be planted.

If you are forced to plant any of the three drawn beans, you have two options. First, you can sell beans you have planted. The rates are printed on the card. But beware, you may not have enough to sell or you may be close to getting to the next price level, but forced to sell. When you sell beans, you place the specified number of cards upside down in a pile in front of you. The backs of the cards have a picture of a coin. If you don't have enough to sell, you must burn the field. The crop is a total loss.

You can also trade cards from anywhere out of your hand. This is a good way to get rid of cards that will cause problems when planting.

After planting, you draw two cards, which are placed, in order, at the back of your hand and the turn moves to the player to the left.

There is a rules variation for two players, but I find it works well.

Bohnanza plays 2-7 people. Game time is listed at 45 minutes, but I've rarely seen it take that long.