Monopoly > Reviews (201)

Monopoly, in my opinion, is absolutely the best board game ever to be made! I love to play this game, as my ambition in life is to become a shrewd businessman. Within this opinion are the HOTTEST, most DEADLY TIPS on ‘HOW TO WIN’. Are you feeling rich today? No? Ah well not quite…

If you haven’t ever heard of Monopoly – where the hell have you been for the past years of your life?! Well – for those who don’t know the game, here is a brief summary:

+ [Skip this section if you wish, if you already know the game]
+ [Variations of the game can be found after the basic aim]

________________________________________​________________________________~ ===### BASIC AIM OF MONOPOLY ###===~
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The original, ‘English’ Monopoly Board consists of many famous streets and landmarks situated in London. The idea of the game is to go around the board and buy and sell properties in order to gain as much profit from them as possible. The wealthiest player at the end of the game wins. Dice are thrown to determine moves for pieces and players take it in turns to move. Each player is assigned to a sum of money (paper money unfortunately!)

Basically, you gain rent for if an opponent lands on one of your owned properties. You can gain more rent from the more expensive properties you purchase, and less so from the cheaper. General properties are grouped in a set of three (with the exception of the cheapest and the most expensive properties at two). Buy claiming the whole of one set, it is possible for that player to double rent, and even more importantly, establish buildings. ~ [Establishing buildings] ~

It is only when a full set of properties is owned, when profits can be maximised from establishing buildings on properties. The more buildings that are established on a property, the more expensive the rent that can be claimed. In the first stage of establishing buildings, one house may be purchased. Up to four houses may be purchased, following a final hotel, which then can be exchanged for the houses (the ultimate architecture).

Of course this is quite difficult as opponents are there to do the same. It is down to the players to trade properties and make deals with one another, before crushing the opposition and then gaining the whole of the ~monopoly~.~ [Bankruptcy] ~

You’ve no more money and you owe a player (most probably a lot of money) – that’s it! Your bankrupt, and you’re out of business. In other words – out of the game. All property must be given to the owed player, and then the world comes crashing down on your head. That’s business.

~ [Winners?] ~

Who is the shrewdest? Who is the sharpest trader? Who is the most skilled in every way, achieving the highest profits a business could get? All other businesses and opposition must be crushed. Take no mercy. It’s business.

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~===### OFFICIAL RULES ###===~
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Some people just can’t decide on the ‘proper’ rules.

Well, here are key answers to the most argued-over rules. (Stop arguing now – here are the REAL rules!)~ [General issues] ~

¤ Each player is given £1500 at the start of the game.
¤ Players must ~PASS~ “GO” before collecting the exact sum of £200.
¤ All title deed cards (property) MUST be CLEARLY visible to all other players.
¤ Upon declining the purchase of a property, that property MUST be put up for auction, which will be sold to the highest bidder. Bidding may start at any price.

~ [Finance issues] ~

¤ Failure to claim rent before the next throw of the dice, denies the opportunity for that rent to be collected.
¤ Upon landing on an owned property, regardless of being a double, rent must be paid (unless the player fails to ask for it).
¤ All taxes are paid to the bank.
¤ The bank cannot run out of money.
¤ Sale of houses or property back to the bank results in the receiving of ‘half of its initial value’.
¤ Salary is always collected and may be claimed, regardless of whether a player has forgotten to take it at the first turn passing “GO”.

~ [Limitation issues] ~

¤ There is nothing beneficial or any penalties to be gained upon the landing of “FREE PARKING”.
¤ A player may buy buildings, sell or buy property, and collect rent, regardless of the fact that they may be in Jail.
¤ Houses must be placed evenly on all properties of the same colour group before the next revolution of buildings can be made.
¤ ONE hotel is the highest revolution of buildings.
¤ The bank can run out of houses. If ever the demand exceeds the supply, the buildings must be auctioned.

________________________________________​________________________________~===### VARIATIONS OF THE GAME ###===~
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You got bored of the old official rules and want some new variations? Spice it up! Here are tons of variations you can implement! Some of which I made up myself – I will add more if I think of some more, but until not – have fun! :)

~ [3-DICE GAME] ~
When a player takes a turn, they roll three dice and choose two of the numbers.
(Note: This game can take ages to finish!)

~ [DOUBLE YOUR SALARY] ~
Land on “GO!” and gain £400

~ [FREE PARKING REWARD] ~
At the start of the game, £500 is put under the “FREE PARKING” square. All further taxes are paid to that square. Upon a player landing on the square, they get all stashed money. An extra £500 may or may not be put under again, depending on what you want to play.

~ [FULL JAIL PUNISHMENT] ~
Players cannot buy; collect rent, trade, etc. in jail.

~ [NO BIDDING] ~
Players can only purchase properties upon landing on them.

~ [QUICK ESCAPE] ~
Players cannot claim rent if another player lands on their property at the throw of a double.

~ [SPEEDING WITHOUT TRIAL]
Players do not go to jail at the throw of their third double.

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AND NOW FOR THOSE ELUSIVE TIPS!
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~===### FIELD #1 – GAINING IN TRADE ###===~
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There are two factors you need to know before deciding if a deal is really worth it If ever you offer a deal, the person receiving the deal will always try to offer a cheaper price for the deal.

This will always be the case; the offering player will always sell the deal at a higher price, whilst the receiver will always try to lower the price. Finally the deal is negotiated, usually at equilibrium pricing… but this can be tilted to one side… just read on!

~ [RAISING A HIGHER PRICE IN OFFER, OR LOWERING AN OFFERED DEAL] ~

1. ENTICE THE RICHER PLAYER
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Always offer a higher price than what the deal is worth. If the player is desperate to buy, then they will pay almost at any price. Look at the financial state of the players. The more a player has, the more you should make that player pay. To entice the desperate, richer player, try offering the deal to a poorer player at a cheaper price, then after some hesitation* either refuse it if the player accepts (unless they give you a stunning deal!), or just shrug if the poorer player refuses.

* [Note: If the richer play does not show any interest in the deal whatsoever, although they cleverly may be desperate, this tactic is fantastic! Usually, if the deal is ~just~ about to sway towards the poorer player, the richer player will suddenly jump an offer… Follow on to tactics #3!]2. PSYCHOLOGICAL TRICK
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If you suggest £400 for a property; the other will ask for £350, but:
If you suggest £500 for the same property; the other will ask for £450
Now how about that?!

[Note: Most effectively used if a first-offer situation, determining a high start price]

3. NEVER STOP AT SIGHT OF ANXIETY
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If you finally realise that someone is desperate for a deal to be completed, they have been weakened! They are ensnared in you plans, and a huge deal is there for the taking. Increase the price of the deal. At first, they will argue that the deal is not worth it – it is their sceptical reaction – but soon they will pull through and stoop to your prices.

4. NEVER SHOW ANXIETY
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This is a will of the strongest. If a player can sense you are desperate for a deal to have your offer accepted, they will surely lower their offer price. This is also true if a player can sense that you are desperate to claim a certain feature within a deal. They will surely higher the offer price.

In the first scenario, keep cool. You ~may~ be desperate to have your offer accepted, but show no anxiety. If the player offers a deal, either refuse it if you feel you could get more out of it; or if the deal is astounding, either show heavy reluctance towards the deal – or accept it if you can’t refuse the temptation!

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~===### FIELD #2 – FINANCE ###===~
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“Money’s not anything; it’s everything”

~ [MAXIMISING YOUR MONEY] ~

1. PROPERTY/PLAYER RATIO
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If there aren’t many players, you should buy properties, only if you think it is worth buying. However, if there are many players playing, then you should attempt to buy at every opportunity. Otherwise, you may not get another chance.

________________________________________​________________________________~===### FIELD #3 – PROBABILITY AND PROPERTIES ###===~
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Mathematics and Monopoly fit together like a jigsaw. Fed up with the odds always against you? Here are some general statistics you may find useful:

~ [INCREASING YOUR LUCK AND CHANCES] ~1. THE MOST LANDED ON SQUARES (Ste)
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To my opinion, the top 5 most landed properties landed are listed in this order:

+ Trafalgar Square
+ Income Tax (after “GO”)
+ King’s Cross Station
+ Marlborough Street
+ The Angel Islington

In sets, I think it is this:

+ Red set
+ Blue set
+ Orange set
+ Train stations
+ Chance and Community Chest squares

Hope this helps, but really, this is just through experience and may not really help!2. PAYBACK UPON BUILDING RENTS
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The payback period is the amount of turns it takes to recover the cost of buildings over the returned cost of rent. I have calculated all payback percentages (sad ol’ me) and I have discovered:

FOR OPTIMUM PAYBACK, BUILD 3 HOUSES ON EACH OF THE PROPERTIES!

That is, if you are low on cash or want strong development. Otherwise, if you are rolling in money, and have no real rivalry, splash out as much as you want!

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~ ===### FINAL NOTE ###===~
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Yes, I love the game sooo much, and most of the time I always win. That’s the reason why most people don’t play it with me anymore. Boohoo! Or maybe it is for the reason that the game takes too long to complete. I’m persuading you to get that board out now and start playing!

Such a comprehensive game cannot go out of being played. I love it for the fact that it is absolutely helpful in practicing my business trade and persuasive techniques – It is my ambition to become a successful businessman.

Thank you for reading my long opinion! Please, leave any comments on this opinion! I will be more than happy to receive them. If you think there is something you can criticise in this opinion, leave a note and I will amend it. I will update this opinion at every opportunity. Once again, thanks a lot! Until later…CIAO! Ste :)
[TO BE UPDATED SOON]___________________________________​_____________________________________
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