Patchwork is a captivating board game with unique tile-laying mechanics and spatial puzzle elements. I quickly became hooked on this game because it requires players to balance short-term gains with long-term planning. I have learned a lot about the game’s surprisingly deep strategy and even done some in-depth value analysis to win consistently. These Patchwork strategies will help you to improve your game and win more often.
The best Patchwork strategy is to purchase high-value patches, focusing on button-generating patches early and large patches late. Build a compact quilt in a convex shape to win the 7×7 bonus tile, set yourself up to win 1×1 bonus patches, and leave your opponent with patches they can’t use.
There is a lot of nuance and a surprising amount of mathematical strategy in what appears on its surface to be a fun and cozy game. Each game of Patchwork plays out differently, but by adhering to the strategies I outline below you’ll win far more games than you may have thought possible. I’ll go into the details of each tip so you can effectively implement them in your own games.
Draw button patches early and tile patches late
The most fundamental strategic concept in Patchwork is fairly easy to understand. In general, you want to buy button-generating patches early in the game because they’ll provide more value the earlier they’re acquired. However, as the game progresses and you pass more ‘Payout’ buttons on the time board, the value of each button-generating patch decreases.
You gradually want to shift towards buying larger patches with more total squares. These patches are valuable because they are worth 2 Victory Points (VPs) for every square – the equivalent of 2 Buttons per square. You don’t want to get to the end of the game and have a bunch of empty squares on your quilt, so eventually you need to buy up some large patches.
This balance of buttons, patch size, and time can feel difficult to quantify in the moment, but luckily we can use some relatively simple math to help optimize our strategy.
Use math to draw the most valuable patches
Once you understand the relatively simple rules and scoring system in Patchwork it’s not too hard to come up with some simple math formulas to help extract the most value out of every turn. These formulas don’t necessarily give a 100% concrete answer to the question of which patch you should buy (if any) since they can’t account for things like patch shape, your opponent’s board, etc. However, they almost always serve as a helpful guide and you’ll rarely make a terrible decision if you stick to them.
The formula you should remember is:
((2*S)+(B*P)-C) / T
- S = Squares on a patch
- C = Cost of a patch, in Buttons
- B = Button income on a patch
- P = Payouts remaining on the board
- T = Time Cost on the patch
Basically, this formula is saying that each patch’s value can be determined by multiplying its total squares by 2 (since each square on your quilt is worth 2 points), adding the product of the patch’s button generation by the remaining Payout buttons on the time board, subtracting the cost of the patch in buttons, and dividing all of that by the patch’s time cost.
This might seem like a lot, but I’ve done the hard work for you by giving you the handy chart below. You can also find it on Google Sheets here. If you use it on Google Sheets you can sort it by the number of Payouts you have remaining to find the highest-value tiles.
| Patch Value Based on Payouts Remaining | |||||||||
| Tile | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
 | 11.5 | 10.5 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 |
 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 |
 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 |
 | 5.8 | 5.2 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 |
 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 |
 | 5.8 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 |
 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.5 |
 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.2 |
 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.7 |
 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 1.8 |
 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
The chart above ranks all of the patches at the beginning of the game, when there are still 9 Payouts remaining. Pay attention to the top 4 patches – they all stay in the top 5 most valuable patches until there are only 3 payouts remaining! If you have the chance to take any of these patches before then, do it! They provide excellent value in terms of points per cost.
In general, the patches you draw early in the game have a much higher impact on your total score than those you take late. Do your best to draw as many high-value tiles as you can early to set yourself up for success.
It’s worth noting that this formula breaks down a bit near the very end of the game when you have less time left on the board and you can only fit 1 or 2 more patches on your quilt. When any patch that you buy will put you at the end of the Time Board, the value of ‘T’ in the formula above actually becomes 1 (and can be ignored), not the Time Cost listed on the patch.
Draw multiple patches in a row when possible
Making efficient use of your time is one of the most important principles in Patchwork. When you’re behind your opponent you should try to draw as many patches as you can before you pass them and it becomes your turn again. This usually means drawing tiles that have a low Time Cost.
Usually, you still want to look for patches that offer the most value. However, if you can buy a patch that will make another, even more valuable patch available to you before your opponent gets to play then go for it!
Always try to win the 7×7 bonus tile
The bonus tile for being the first player to complete a 7×7 square on your quilt is worth 7 points. However, in most games, it’s actually a 14 point swing because if you don’t get the tile then chances are your opponent will. I have played a lot of games of Patchwork and I’ve only seen a handful games where neither player acquires the 7×7 bonus tile.
DID YOU KNOW? There are a bunch of different editions of Patchwork with original artwork including Americana, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween.
Even though the bonus tile is very powerful, it shouldn’t necessarily be your primary focus. I’ve seen quite a few newer players sacrifice their button development and go for suboptimal patches just to try to get the bonus tile and it usually backfires. Winning the 7×7 bonus tile should be a part of your overall strategy, not a strategy all its own.
Keep your quilt compact and convex
Shaping and building your quilt is the most creative and enjoyable part of the game, but that doesn’t mean you can’t apply some strategy here as well. How you go about building your quilt will have a significant impact on what patches you can use in the future and can dramatically increase your chances of winning the 7×7 bonus tile.
In general, you should try to build your quilt so that it is both compact and convex in shape. That is to say, leave as few gaps as possible (ideally 0) and have a bulge pointing toward the center of the board. For example, in the game above, one of the top-ranked players in the world on BGA has started a quilt with 0 gaps and a bulge toward the middle of the board, well on his way to winning the 7×7 bonus tile.
Prioritize the value of tiles over their shape
Part of the fun of Patchwork is creating a beautiful quilt with no gaps and nice symmetry, so it’s easy to let yourself slip and start buying patches that seem to fit best onto your board. However, the shape of a patch should usually be the least important variable you consider when choosing a patch.
CHECK IT OUT: If you like Patchwork for its beautiful artwork and tile-laying mechanics you’ll also love Azul (link to Amazon). Of course, I’ve also written a Complete Strategy Guide to Azul so you can dominate your friends!
It’s usually possible to find a good place to put almost any patch, and even if you can’t, it’s rare that a patch’s shape will be disastrous. Picking a high-value patch that doesn’t have a convenient placement on your quilt is almost always a better option than picking a lower-value patch that fits nicely. You can always work other tiles around the awkwardly shaped patch and fill in gaps with 1×1 bonus patches.
Set yourself up to win 1×1 special tiles
Speaking of 1×1 bonus tiles, you should try to win as many of them as possible. This is easier said than done because your opponent will surely be trying to do the same. Each 1×1 bonus tile earns you 2 points, but since you’re also preventing your opponent from earning those points it’s really worth a total of 4 points. Perhaps more importantly, they allow you to fill in gaps in your quilt that would be otherwise impossible to reach.
Winning these bonus patches requires some foresight and planning. In general, the closer you are to the bonus patch on the Time Board, the less likely you are to win it. As you approach a bonus patch (especially the first one) try to look ahead at the available patches and position yourself so that your opponent will have to pass you and allow you to buy one or more patches to reach the bonus tile first.
Pass if the patches are bad & you’re winning
Sometimes the 3 patches available to you are all just objectively poor value options, but high-value options coming up quickly in the line. In these cases, you should avoid buying the low-value patches and save your buttons/time for the high-value patches. You just advance your token past your opponent and collect buttons, passing the onus of buying the low-value patches to your opponent.
If your opponent buys one of the low-value patches, then you’ll be able to buy at least one of the higher-value patches you had your eye on. Great! But what happens if your opponent also passes?
Look at the state of the board, the current score, and how many buttons you each acquire on each Payday. Think about what will happen if you both just choose to pass each other all the way to the end of the game, without buying any more patches. If the answer is that you’ll win, then you should keep passing. If your opponent would win, then you’re best off just buying the best patch available to you and moving forward from there.
Visualize several moves ahead to plan your quilt
Buying the highest-value patches you can on each turn will go a long way toward winning a lot of games, but it’s just the beginning. Top players will visualize several turns in advance to extract the most value from entire sequences.
Before you decide on a patch to buy, think about what patches will become available on the next turn. Will it still be your turn, or will play pass to your opponent? What patch is most likely to be purchased next? Will you be able to complete a 7×7 quilt first, or reach a 1×1 bonus patch? These are all questions to which you should know the answer before committing to a move.
Sometimes it’s worth it to buy an apparently suboptimal patch if it means you’ll be able to buy a high-value patch on your next turn. As you play more games of Patchwork, you’ll get a feel for maximizing value over several turns instead of taking each move one at a time.
Do the math in the last couple of turns
As a game of Patchwork nears it’s conclusion, the options available to each player become much more limited. The number of patches that can fit onto their board is reduced and the number of turns available becomes constrained by the Time Cost of the remaining patches.
Since the amount of variables is more constrained it becomes easier to brute-force the math in final turns. You should be able to calculate exactly how many points each patch will earn (or cost) you and the same goes for your opponent. You’ll also be able to see exactly what patches will fit onto each of your boards, so you can tell which patches are unable to be purchased by each player.
On the last two or three turns, take a little extra time and do the math. Play out each scenario and find the best path forward. Games of Patchwork are often very close, so these last-minute decisions are crucial to winning consistently.
Leave your opponent with tiles they can’t use
Every turn and patch in Patchwork is important, so if you can leave your opponent with patches they can’t use on a few turns a game you’ll end up with a massive advantage. The ability to buy patches is limited by the amount of Buttons a player has and the space that player has on their Quilt Board.
Early in the game, it’s improbable that space will be a constraint for either player. However, it’s common to have very few buttons available, making it difficult to purchase patches. Try to purchase patches that will leave your opponent unable to make a purchase on their next turn, forcing them to advance their token.
Late in the game, space usually becomes an issue. Large and awkwardly-shaped patches are difficult or impossible to place, so even if a player can afford them it’s not possible to buy them. Pay attention to your opponent’s board and use this to your advantage by leaving them with patches they can’t fit onto their quilt.
Thanks for reading! If I missed something or you have your own opinions, please drop a comment below.
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