Asterton
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🐸 Una rana saggia sa quando dividere l’ordine… e quando aspettare il salto giusto.
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Some study form, some follow instinct, some bluff behind a screen. And in the end, the one who read the race best wins.
What it's about
Welcome to Asterton Racecourse
Racing Society, since 1954. Asterton takes you inside an elegant racing club where owning the fastest horse doesn't count, but reading the race before others does. A betting and racing game by Rafael Prado, with vintage illustrations by Marie — pardon, by Anastasiya Ki — that transform the table into a vintage poster.
Study the horses' form with press and expert cards, place your bets shielded by the screen, and build the right combinations. Then the dice move the horses along the fabric track, the final sprint overturns everything at the last breath, and it's revealed who was right. Do you have the instinct to become the Duke of Asterton?
The spirit of the game
The winner isn't the one with the fastest horse, but the one who best predicted how the race would end.
Asterton's secret in one line
Behind every screen is a plan. And the beauty is discovering, at the sprint, who was right.
From the game experience
Asterton
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, components, and play sessionsWhat you have in hand
Your betting table
4 horses on the track
Wooden horses running on a real fabric track. Beautiful to look at, ruthless to predict.
Press and expert cards
Clues about the horses' form. Those who read them best start with an advantage even before betting.
Screen and top hats
You place bets shielded from prying eyes. No one knows where you bet — until the sprint.
Form dice + sprint die
They move the horses and ignite the final sprint. This is where predictions are confirmed or crumble.
Soon you'll know if your prediction was right — and if it wasn't, you'll want to play again immediately. It always happens in Asterton.
🎲
Components11 types · 75 total pieces
📖
RulesEnglish · Official PDF
A race in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Bets are open
The press cards are revealed, everyone studies the horses' form. Behind the screen, you place your cylinders: nobody sees where you've bet. You have an idea of how it will end — or at least you hope so.
The gate opens
They're off! The dice start the horses racing on the fabric track. Your favorite gets a good start, the table leans forward. For a moment, everything seems under control.
The race gets complicated
The form dice shuffle the positions. The horse you bet everything on slows down, an outsider moves up. Someone cheers too early. The perfect prediction starts to crack.
The final sprint
Sprint cards and the sprint die come into play. The final meters decide everything in one turn. Some hold their breath, some are already celebrating, some curse the die. This is the part that gets talked about.
The podium verdict
The screens are raised. It's revealed who read the race correctly and who bet with their heart. Points are counted, the Duke of Asterton is crowned — and immediately someone asks: "Shall we play again?"
How to play
The flow of each race
Four phases that repeat, race after race. You learn in five minutes and cheer from the first die roll.
Consult the press and expert cards and assess the horses' form. This is the time to form an idea of who will make it to the podium.
Behind the screen, you place cylinders on your betting board, building the combinations you want to bet on.
The dice move the horses along the fabric track. Positions change constantly, and every roll can overturn your prediction.
The sprint cards and die decide the finale. Bets are revealed, points are awarded with cubes, and attention turns to the next race.
Why it's different from others
Six things that make it special
Hidden bets
The screen keeps your bets secret until the end. Nobody knows where you've bet — and this opens the door to bluffing and reading opponents.
Races that no one fully controls
The form dice and sprint die keep every race hanging in the balance until the last meter. The favorite can collapse, the last place can move up. Never a race alike.
Combinations to build
You don't just bet on the winner: you compose your bets on the podium and placements. Skill lies in balancing risk and security.
Semi-cooperative tension
Sometimes interests align and players find themselves cheering for the same horse. Then the sprint comes, and everyone plays for themselves again. Continuous interaction.
Production to display
Fabric track, wooden horses, and vintage illustrations by Anastasiya Ki. A game that looks like it came out of a 1954 poster on the table.
From 8 years old, immediately on the track
Light rules and an immediate theme: everyone understands betting on a horse race. Perfect for families and mixed groups to play together.
How it ends
Who reads the race, wins
You don't need to have the fastest horse: you just need to predict the outcome better than others. Every race is an opportunity to climb back up — or to collapse at the last meter.
Victory
- Guess the podium and cash in on your bets
- Build winning combinations better than opponents
- Whoever accumulates the most points becomes the Duke of Asterton
Defeat
- Bet on the wrong horse and end up empty-handed
- The final sprint overturns your prediction at the last minute
- No drama: the next race is already ready to put everything back in play
Asterton transforms every race into a few minutes of pure adrenaline. Easy to learn, hard to stop after just one race.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Asterton
Is it just a game of luck and dice?
Luck matters — the form dice and sprint die can overturn a race. But decisions are important: reading the horses' form, choosing when and where to bet behind the screen, and building the right combinations is what separates those who win often from those who win by chance. It's a game of prediction, not just chance.
Isn't it too light for frequent players?
Asterton is a light and social betting game, not a deep management game: if you're looking for intense optimization, it's not the right choice. Its strong point is the energy at the table and its accessibility. Even experienced players appreciate it as a brilliant filler or as a bridge to those who play infrequently — knowing what to expect.
With how many players does it work best?
It plays with 2 to 4 players. With 4 players, the race is more unpredictable and the table is more lively, with more bets on the line. With two, it becomes more direct and faster. In all cases it works, but it's at its best with a full group.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, from 8 years old. The rules are simple and the theme — betting on a horse race — is immediate. Bets are made with cylinders and game points, not real money, so it's a perfect prediction challenge for the whole family.
What does "semi-cooperative" mean?
It means that at some moments, players' interests align and they find themselves pushing in the same direction, but the ultimate goal remains individual: conquering the podium and their own bets. It's a middle ground that creates temporary alliances and last-minute betrayals in the sprint.
Is it available in Italian?
This edition is in English and Spanish. The game is very visual and the theme is intuitive, but please note that cards and rules are in English/Spanish.
Asterton is a horse racing and betting board game for 2–4 players (ages 8+, duration approx. 30–45 min). Designed and self-published by Rafael Prado (Málaga, Spain) with vintage illustrations by Anastasiya Ki. Main mechanics: betting, racing, and semi-cooperative interaction. Each player studies the horses' form with press and expert cards, places bets behind a screen with betting cylinders, and builds winning combinations, while wooden horses race on a fabric track moved by form dice. The final sprint, with sprint cards and a sprint die, decides the podium and crowns the Duke of Asterton. Setting: an elegant "Racing Society, since 1954" racing club. English and Spanish edition. Available on FroGames.it.
Asterton
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
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