<p>Assuming you're playing with 3 or 4 players, use the 1-2-3-4-5-6-6 strategy. That is, first power plant should power 1 city, second 2, etc. Then you'll grow your capacity in a measured pace, and you'll end up with a capacity of exactly 17. A bad strategy would be: 1-1-3-4-4-5-... because that will make it very hard to reach 17.</p>

<p>Also, by not buying top-of-the-line power plants, you'll probably never be in first place and having to pay most for fuel.</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-10-19T21:14:49.700Z
2010-10-20T10:32:26.720Z
2010-10-20T10:32:26.720Z
Michiel de Mare
<p>Part of it will depend on your long term strategy; buying a low power plant puts you up first for the cheap resources and the prime places on the board. While more expensive and efficient power plants can give you a leg up in accumulating cash early in the game.</p>

<p>Personally I prefer to start with a relatively inexpensive power plant (as low and cheap as feasible - never more than 2x than the initial value is my rule of thumb to start out) until I've seen the board locations and then focus on keeping my power plants close to the number of cities I actually own. With the auction system don't be afraid to let one go if it gets too expensive - the green power plants can be a real bonus if you aren't paying an arm and a leg for them.</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-10-19T21:15:18.683Z
2010-10-19T21:15:18.683Z
Chealion
<p>I don't mind to, in the first turn, buying a cheap plant with a lot of storage space (say, three coal).</p>

<p>The cheap plant will help you in the turn order.</p>

<p>Now I stock up on cheap resources (cheap because we are in the start of the game) so later my one-coal plant can run for 6 turns. This has the additional bonus that resources become more expensive for the other players.</p>

<p>If you can get a city where you can connect to the next city for free, the money saved allows you to stock up nicely.</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-11-11T09:38:53.260Z
2010-11-11T09:38:53.260Z
Konerak
<p>Four is thought to be one of the best ones to start with.</p>

<p>You'll be assured of going first or second (though I'd avoid three), and you can buy a full boat of coal that will tide you over until turn 3.</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-10-20T00:15:07.717Z
2010-10-20T00:15:07.717Z
Lance Roberts
<p>Do not waste your money on plants up to plant number 13, you'll ned to change them soon. Later ones are better. And also you don't have many cities at the begining. Later I'm trying to get plants which could electrify as many cities as possible. These plants waste a lot of resources, but you will not need to change them until the end of game.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2010-10-19T21:05:18.723Z
2014-01-12T21:07:20.740Z
2014-01-12T21:07:20.740Z
Pawka
<p>Very hard to say really. It depends on so many factors. The best strategy is to have the power plants that use the resources that your competitors do not use. This then makes the cost of goods cheap to buy, and therefore cheap to fire up.</p>

CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-10-19T21:05:16.150Z
2010-10-19T21:05:16.150Z
Codemwnci
<p>Some mix of the following:</p>

<ul>
<li>Buy the biggest one you can afford  - <em>Remembering that you have to afford fuel as well.</em></li>
<li>Try to get a plant that has dual fuel sources</li>
<li>Don't buy a coal only plant if 2 other people already have coal fired plants.</li>
<li>Don't get into bidding wars with more experienced players</li>
</ul>

<p>If the above isn't working out, switch tactics - save your money and get the cheapest one you can this turn and get a better plant next turn.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-17T12:59:27.170Z
I wouldn't necessarily agree with "buy the biggest one". During the first two auctions in a standard game (US/DE), the highest plants will be #06 and #07; not the ideal ones to begin with due to high turn order and expensive fuel costs. Sure, in the late game higher plants are usually better, but not always.
Adama
CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-10-20T10:33:27.890Z
And by afford, we mean, have money left for fuel and cities.
Michiel de Mare
CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-10-20T13:32:35.477Z
@Michiel definitely, you need to be able to eyeball your likely turn.  It's a hard skill to develop, and the first turn for a newbie is likely to be rough.  Aiming a bit low on the power plant to allow for some room to screw up is probably a good idea.
Pat Ludwig
CC BY-SA 2.5
2010-10-19T21:04:25.173Z
2011-01-05T16:43:50.873Z
2011-01-05T16:43:50.873Z
Pat Ludwig
<p>I've played Power Grid once so far. What is a good beginner's strategy in the initial accumulation of power plants?</p>

<power-grid>
Power plants in Power Grid
wdypdx22
# Power plants in Power Grid

(Asked by: username_0 on 2010-10-19)

I've played Power Grid once so far. What is a good beginner's strategy in the initial accumulation of power plants?

**Tags:** power-grid


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## 7 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2010-10-19. Score: 22 | Accepted answer

Some mix of the following:

* Buy the biggest one you can afford - *Remembering that you have to afford fuel as well.*
* Try to get a plant that has dual fuel sources
* Don't buy a coal only plant if 2 other people already have coal fired plants.
* Don't get into bidding wars with more experienced players

If the above isn't working out, switch tactics - save your money and get the cheapest one you can this turn and get a better plant next turn.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: And by afford, we mean, have money left for fuel and cities.  
> **username_7**: @Michiel definitely, you need to be able to eyeball your likely turn.  It's a hard skill to develop, and the first turn for a newbie is likely to be rough.  Aiming a bit low on the power plant to allow for some room to screw up is probably a good idea.  
> **username_8**: I wouldn't necessarily agree with "buy the biggest one". During the first two auctions in a standard game (US/DE), the highest plants will be #06 and #07; not the ideal ones to begin with due to high turn order and expensive fuel costs. Sure, in the late game higher plants are usually better, but not always.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2010-10-19. Score: 10

Assuming you're playing with 3 or 4 players, use the 1-2-3-4-5-6-6 strategy. That is, first power plant should power 1 city, second 2, etc. Then you'll grow your capacity in a measured pace, and you'll end up with a capacity of exactly 17. A bad strategy would be: 1-1-3-4-4-5-... because that will make it very hard to reach 17.

Also, by not buying top-of-the-line power plants, you'll probably never be in first place and having to pay most for fuel.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2010-10-19. Score: 7

Part of it will depend on your long term strategy; buying a low power plant puts you up first for the cheap resources and the prime places on the board. While more expensive and efficient power plants can give you a leg up in accumulating cash early in the game.

Personally I prefer to start with a relatively inexpensive power plant (as low and cheap as feasible - never more than 2x than the initial value is my rule of thumb to start out) until I've seen the board locations and then focus on keeping my power plants close to the number of cities I actually own. With the auction system don't be afraid to let one go if it gets too expensive - the green power plants can be a real bonus if you aren't paying an arm and a leg for them.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2010-11-11. Score: 6

I don't mind to, in the first turn, buying a cheap plant with a lot of storage space (say, three coal).

The cheap plant will help you in the turn order.

Now I stock up on cheap resources (cheap because we are in the start of the game) so later my one-coal plant can run for 6 turns. This has the additional bonus that resources become more expensive for the other players.

If you can get a city where you can connect to the next city for free, the money saved allows you to stock up nicely.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2010-10-20. Score: 3

Four is thought to be one of the best ones to start with.

You'll be assured of going first or second (though I'd avoid three), and you can buy a full boat of coal that will tide you over until turn 3.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2010-10-19. Score: 3

Do not waste your money on plants up to plant number 13, you'll ned to change them soon. Later ones are better. And also you don't have many cities at the begining. Later I'm trying to get plants which could electrify as many cities as possible. These plants waste a lot of resources, but you will not need to change them until the end of game.


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### Answer by username_6 on 2010-10-19. Score: 1

Very hard to say really. It depends on so many factors. The best strategy is to have the power plants that use the resources that your competitors do not use. This then makes the cost of goods cheap to buy, and therefore cheap to fire up.


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