<p>As per the official <a href="http://www.universityofcatan.com/faq/faqq48301.html">FAQ</a>: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The longest road card is retained by
  it's current owner until one of two
  things happen:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>Another player builds a road that is then longer than the longest road
  of the current card-holder. In this
  case, the new longest road owner takes
  the longest road card.</p></li>
  <li><p>The longest road is broken by the placement of a settlement along its
  length (remember to obey the 2-step
  rule). In this case, everyone must
  check to see who has the longest road.
  If any single player has the longest
  road (note that it could be the same
  as the old player with the longest
  road) than that player takes the card
  and the two points. If more than one
  player has the longest road, or if no
  player has a road of at least 5
  segments, then no one gets the longest
  road card and it is set aside. As soon
  as any player builds a longest road of
  at least 5 segments, then he may claim
  the card as normal.</p></li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-05-17T22:27:22.253Z
2011-05-17T22:27:22.253Z
Lance Roberts
<p>You lose longest road; by definition, none of you have a road with a length of at least 5.</p>

<p>From the <a href="http://www.catan.com/en/download/?SoC_rv_Rules_091907.pdf">rules</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Set the “Longest Road” card aside if—after a longest road is broken—several players tie for the new longest road or no one has a 5+ segment road. The “Longest Road” card comes into play again when only 1 player has the longest road (of at least 5 road pieces).</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-01T23:36:16.183Z
What would happen if a settlement reduces the length of my road to 5, and an other player has also a road length of 5 and no other player has more than 5? Can I keep the card or do I have to set the card aside?
Johannes Kuhn
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-02T06:24:57.440Z
That's covered in Lance's answer (but really you should be asking it as a separate question).
Philip Kendall
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-02T14:57:39.457Z
@JohannesKuhn - And I quote, from this very answer, "Set the “Longest Road” card aside if—after a longest road is broken—several players tie for the new longest road". I'm not sure how that could be any clearer. Unless you are confused by the word "several"? "Several" means more than one, hence you and another player both having a road of length 5 means that "several players tie for the new longest road". So the card will be set aside.
AndyT
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-05-17T22:27:00.023Z
2011-05-17T22:27:00.023Z
LittleBobbyTables - Au Revoir
<p>Suppose I have an 8-length road and Longest Road, but later someone splits my road in half with a settlement, leaving me two 4-length roads.</p>

<p>Assuming no one else has a longer road than me, do I lose Longest Road, given that my road no longer has a length of at least 5?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-01T21:04:11.980Z
The title change from *"Can a 4 length road ever be the longest?"* to *"When would the longest road card be set aside?"* changed the intent of the question, so I rolled it back.
Rainbolt
<catan>
Can a 4-length road ever be Longest Road in Settlers of Catan?
warbaker
# Can a 4-length road ever be Longest Road in Settlers of Catan?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-05-17)

Suppose I have an 8-length road and Longest Road, but later someone splits my road in half with a settlement, leaving me two 4-length roads.

Assuming no one else has a longer road than me, do I lose Longest Road, given that my road no longer has a length of at least 5?

**Tags:** catan

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The title change from *"Can a 4 length road ever be the longest?"* to *"When would the longest road card be set aside?"* changed the intent of the question, so I rolled it back.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2011-05-17. Score: 30 | Accepted answer

You lose longest road; by definition, none of you have a road with a length of at least 5.

From the [rules](http://www.catan.com/en/download/?SoC_rv_Rules_091907.pdf):

> Set the “Longest Road” card aside if—after a longest road is broken—several players tie for the new longest road or no one has a 5+ segment road. The “Longest Road” card comes into play again when only 1 player has the longest road (of at least 5 road pieces).

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: What would happen if a settlement reduces the length of my road to 5, and an other player has also a road length of 5 and no other player has more than 5? Can I keep the card or do I have to set the card aside?  
> **username_5**: That's covered in username_2's answer (but really you should be asking it as a separate question).  
> **username_6**: @username_4 - And I quote, from this very answer, "Set the “Longest Road” card aside if—after a longest road is broken—several players tie for the new longest road". I'm not sure how that could be any clearer. Unless you are confused by the word "several"? "Several" means more than one, hence you and another player both having a road of length 5 means that "several players tie for the new longest road". So the card will be set aside.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2011-05-17. Score: 8

As per the official [FAQ](http://www.universityofcatan.com/faq/faqq48301.html):

> The longest road card is retained by
> it's current owner until one of two
> things happen:
>
> 1. Another player builds a road that is then longer than the longest road
>    of the current card-holder. In this
>    case, the new longest road owner takes
>    the longest road card.
> 2. The longest road is broken by the placement of a settlement along its
>    length (remember to obey the 2-step
>    rule). In this case, everyone must
>    check to see who has the longest road.
>    If any single player has the longest
>    road (note that it could be the same
>    as the old player with the longest
>    road) than that player takes the card
>    and the two points. If more than one
>    player has the longest road, or if no
>    player has a road of at least 5
>    segments, then no one gets the longest
>    road card and it is set aside. As soon
>    as any player builds a longest road of
>    at least 5 segments, then he may claim
>    the card as normal.


---

