How To Play Monopoly

Are you looking for a comprehensive guide on how to play Monopoly? This classic board game is suitable for players 8 years of age and up and is a great way to bring the family together. Despite its intricate rules, the game is relatively straightforward to learn. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to play this beloved board game.

Monopoly Game Overview

Monopoly is a board game for two to eight players, with a playing time ranging from twenty minutes to several hours, depending on the number of participants and the dice rolls. The goal is to become the wealthiest player by buying, leasing, trading, and collecting payments on properties. The game ends when one player owns every property or a designated time limit is reached, and the wealthiest player is declared the winner.

Setting Up The Game

1. Place the game board on a flat surface.
2. Choose a banker. This person will be responsible for handling all of the money transactions throughout the game.
3. Give each player an equal amount of Monopoly money. The amount will depend on the version of Monopoly you are playing.
4. Place the tokens in the "Go" space on the game board.
5. Shuffle the Chance and Community Chest cards and place them face down in designated spaces on the game board.

Playing The Game

To begin playing Monopoly, all players must roll a pair of dice, with the highest total rolled indicating the first player.

Players then take turns rolling the dice and moving their token in the direction of the arrows on the board. Tokens remain on the landed spaces until the next turn.

When a token lands on a particular space, the player has the option to buy real estate or other properties, pay rent or taxes, draw a Chance or Community Chest card, or even "Go to Jail".

If a player rolls doubles three times in a row, they must move their token to the "In Jail" space.

The game continues with turns alternating until one player is the wealthiest, leaving all others bankrupt.

• Go

When a player's token lands on or passes over GO, the Banker pays them a $200 salary. If they land two or seven spaces beyond GO on either a Chance or Community Chest space, they will receive an additional $200 for the first pass and a second $200 for the second pass.

• Buying an Unowned Property

If a player is the first to reach a space with a coloured stripe, a railroad, or a utility, they may buy the property for the amount listed on the board. The banker then provides them with the title deed for said property.

If the player does not wish to purchase the property, it will be put up for auction. Players will bid, starting at $1, until someone has the highest bid and is awarded the property. If no player wishes to buy the property, it will return to the bank.

• Paying Rent

When you land on a property owned by another player, they are entitled to collect rent according to the amount printed on the Title Deed card. If the property has been mortgaged, its Title Deed card must be laid face down in front of the owner, and the owner does not collect rent.

• Achieving A Monopoly

To achieve a monopoly in Monopoly, one must purchase all the properties in a single coloured group. Having a monopoly grants the owner the ability to charge double rent for their property on unimproved properties of that colour set.

• Build Houses and Hotels

If you have a monopoly, you can buy and place houses on the board spaces.

After placing a house, the next one must go on a different property of the same colour set or any other complete set owned. The new rent price will be indicated on the Title Deed card, and even without a house, double rent must still be paid if another property of the same colour set does have a house.

Houses and hotels can be bought as many as the player wishes, so long as the rules above are followed. When four houses are present on each property of a colour group, the player may purchase a hotel and place it on one of the properties, returning the four houses to the bank. Only one hotel can be placed on one property at a time.

If there are no more houses available and two or more players are looking to buy more than what is available, the buildings can be sold at auction to the highest bidder.

• Chance & Community Chest

When a player lands on a Chance or Community Chest space, the player must get the top card from the deck and perform the action written on it. The only exception is the Get Out Of Jail Free card, which you can keep until you need it. Once a player has acted, the card must be returned to the bottom of the deck in play.

• Mortgaging Rule

You have the option of mortgaging your house for half the property price, but you won't be able to collect rent on it until it is free of debt. To pay off the mortgage, you must return the title deed card for that property and pay the mortgage value plus 10%. If the mortgaged property is traded to another player or acquired by a player due to bankruptcy, it must be immediately unmortgaged for the mortgage value plus 10%. If the new owner chooses to wait, the 10% will become 20%.

• Going To Jail & Just Visiting

If you roll doubles three times consecutively, you must move your token "In Jail." And you don't get your $200 salary. If you go to jail, your turn also ends. However, if you arrive at this square during regular play, you are "Just Visiting".

You can break out of prison in several ways:

1. By getting doubles in one of the next three turns. And advancing the number of spaces rolled
2. Using the "Get Out of Jail Free" card
3. Buying a "Get Out of Jail Free" card from a fellow player
4. Paying a $50 fine before rolling on either of your next two turns

• Free parking

There are no actions or consequences associated with Free Parking. Though some people follow the house rule of adding money here, this is what makes the game last so long.

• Tax

On the board, there are two Tax spaces: Income Tax and Luxury Tax. When you land on these, you must pay the required amount to the bank directly. The money must be deposited into a bank rather than being placed beneath the Free Parking space for other players to collect if they land on it - this is an unofficial house rule.

Ending The Game

When a player cannot pay someone, they are kicked out of the game. And all of their property and remaining wealth is forfeited to the owed player.

The game is over when only one player remains and all others have been eliminated.

Final Thoughts

Monopoly is a famous game that many people still play and love. To become a master of the game, though, you must be well-versed in the techniques and maneuvers.

You can now confidently claim that you know how to play Monopoly. Sticking to the rules is the easiest way to keep Monopoly games going, but if you want to spice things up, you may incorporate house rules.

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