How To Play Monopoly – Rules, Gameplay & Strategy

Are you ready to play Monopoly and have some fun with your friends? Roll your dice, buy properties, build your houses and hotels, and grow your empire by playing this exciting board game. 

Monopoly is a simple and exciting fun game where players’ main objective is to bankrupt their opponent and win. The classic board game offered many house rules and variants, adding to its immense popularity in the USA. Most of the families must have tried this game once or twice in their free time or during holidays.

If you want to have a fun time playing with your friends or real players online, then read this blog to learn how to play Monopoly and the rules of Monopoly.

How to Play Monopoly?

You must be aware of the Monopoly rules to dominate your opponents and use your money wisely in the game. Let us know how to play Monopoly with friends. 

1. Number of Players

The game may last 20 minutes or even an hour or more, depending on the number of players and the pace of the game. The more players, the longer it takes to complete. 

The game of Monopoly is played with a maximum of eight players. However, you can start even with 2 players. The game is typically played between 2 to 8 players, depending on the variation. 

2. Nominate a Banker

You need to appoint someone as a banker who will be in charge of all the properties, money, houses, and hotels in the game. Bankers can also play in the game at the same time. 

3. Unfold the board and set out cards

Shuffle and place the cards in their marked spaces on the board with chance and community chest space at the center of the board. Each player can select a token that they move during the game. Banker will distribute a total of $1500 to each player with the starting money in the following order.

  • 2 x $500 note
  • 4 x $100 note
  • 1 x $50 note
  • 1 x $20 note
  • 2 x $10 note
  • 1 x $5 note
  • 5 x $1 note

Players can also exchange cards to pay different bills for the same value while the game continues. The cards are distributed to each player in the game in this order. However, the ordering might differ in other variants of the game. 

Also Read: Best 2-Player Board Games For Real Money

4. Box Content: What’s in the Monopoly Box?

Let us know what the exact contents are in the Monopoly box. Check them below.

  • Monopoly game board
  • Eight game pieces
  • 28 title deed cards
  • 16 chance cards
  • 16 Community Chest Spaces
  • 32 Houses
  • 12 Hotels
  • Two Dice 
  • 30 notes each of $500, $100,$20, $10, $5, and $1 (Total of $20,580)
  • Rulebook

5. Roll the dice 

The game has two dice. The player who rolls the dice and gets the highest score first starts the game. The game then advances clockwise around the table. 

Monopoly Game Rules: Gameplay

Players have to roll both their dice before and move the number of spaces that come on top of the dice. To better understand the game, let’s learn the gameplay and rules of Monopoly. 

1. Roll the dice and start the Game

Players roll the dice and move their tokens based on the number on the die. They have to move the number of spaces in a clockwise direction. After rolling the full roll, players have to choose the action on the given space they landed on. Either they buy an available property or pay rent to the owner.

2. Use Action

After landing on the space, players can buy an available property or pay rent to the owner. If you land on a â€œfree parking” space, you do not have to do anything, i.e., no action. However, if you land on the â€œJail square,” you must put your piece into the “just visiting” lane. You will get $200 if you land on Go on. 

3. Buy an unowned Property if Available

If you land on an unbought property with a colored stripe across the topi, railroad, or utility, you can buy the property, pay the amount printed on the board, and get a title deed for that property. In a monopoly, buying frequent property helps most players take the lead in the game, as players can win by building a real estate empire. 

You can also skip a property if you are saving cash to buy a specific property or something special. You need to have enough money to purchase a property. Either you give the full cash or pay using a mortgage over other properties. As per the official monopoly rules, you will not earn any rent on mortgaged property deeds. However, you can pay the mortgage value with 10% interest for the same property and start getting rent.

4. Auction Property if a player chooses Not to Buy

If you land on a space and choose not to buy it, then the property is auctioned and given to the highest bidder. There is no minimum bid, and players can continue with any amount. The player who initially declined to purchase the property can participate in the auction and bid. 

The bank is in charge of conducting the auction. In rare cases, if no one bids on the property, it goes to the bank, and the game resumes. 

5. Pay Rent for the already-owned property

If you land on someone else’s property, you need to pay the rent mentioned on the title deed card. Rents may differ depending on whether the player has a complete color set or has built houses or hotels.

If you are in a situation where you cannot afford rent, then you can also mortgage properties you already have and raise cash from the bank. However, after listing, you can no longer collect rent on your mortgaged properties.

Rules of Monopoly: How to create a Monopoly?

You can create your monopoly by owning all properties in a colored group. Having a monopoly is one of the major objectives of the game, as having one will help you easily bankrupt other players. 

Players with monopolies also charge higher rents on their properties as they do not have to fight any competitors to lower their prices. The best thing you can do when having a monopoly is you can build houses and charge more rent on them. 

The building prices are listed on property deed cards. On every property, you can build up to four houses and charge double rent, as per the rules of the Monopoly board game.

Build a hotel after houses

The best way to boost your revenue source is by converting your houses into hotels. When you finish building four houses on your property, you can buy a hotel. You can charge higher rents on hotels, and your opponent will have to pay a hefty amount for passing over hotels. 

Making four houses is a mandatory step before converting it into a hotel. 

How to Play Monopoly Go with Chance or Community Chest Card?

A chance card gives you an opportunity; most of the time, it will let you move to another spot in the game. Community chest cards are generally associated with money and benefits. Chance or community cards are two types of cards. Let us learn how to play Monopoly by going with a chance or community card below.

  • When you land on a “chance” or “community card” you will have to pull the top card and look for the effects that might let you get a good position or help you earn more money.
  • Chance cards can move you around the board and even send you to jail.
  • You can use a “get out of jail free” card to get out of jail without paying any extra money.

Is it Sometimes Better to be in Jail As Per Monopoly Game Rules?

You can use a jail visit in your favor and still collect rent, buy houses, trade, and auction with other players without any fear of penalty moves. There are three possible ways to go to jail.

  • When you land on the space with “Go to Jail,” the player goes directly to the Jail space without passing any other space. 
  • You might also get a “Go to Jail” card when you pick a Chance or Community Chest Card. 
  • When you roll three consecutive doubles in a straight, you might also be jailed. 
  • You can get out of jail by paying $50, using the “Get Out of Jail Free Card,” or rolling doubles on your next turn. After you successfully roll doubles and leave jail, you do not get another extra roll. You will have to move that amount on the dice and implement whatever space you land on.

Also Read: Fun Board Games Online with Friends

Trade with Players Anytime and Win Big!

Players can easily trade with other opponents. Trading during the game for the best price of a property is important. It helps to obtain a monopoly to build houses and hotels. Players can trade properties with opponents at any time in Monopoly. 

Per the rules, players cannot directly trade houses and hotels. They must first sell them back to the bank before putting them in trade. 

Free Parking Monopoly Game Rule

The free parking space in Monopoly is one of the most loved game rules. In most Monopoly games, you will get a “free parking” space where you have to do nothing.

It is a neutral block/position where you only have to wait until your next turn. 

Monopoly Game Rule: How to Win Strategy?

In Monopoly, you win when you are the last player left with money. Players who go bankrupt are eliminated from the game. Players who get bankrupt by paying rent, taxes, and other fees and do not have money left to fulfill these charges go bankrupt.

If a player owes money from another player and goes bankrupt, then they will have to sell their properties, including houses and hotels, to the bank for half the cost. On mortgage property players need to pay mortgage value plus another 10% interest amount to be able to unmortgage them in a future turn.

Monopoly Winning Strategies

Let us know some of the major tips you can use to dominate your opponents as per the Monopoly game rules.

  • Buy More and More Property: The main strategy in monopoly is to accumulate properties and then enjoy the benefits as properties pay you rent. More properties more rental collections. You can choose not to buy a property directly and purchase it through auction at a lower price.
  • Build Houses on youer property: Try to fix all four sets of houses in the same color. Investing your money in making houses will boost their value, and you will ultimately earn a lot in rentals. However, try not to frequently switch to hotels.
  • Sit in Jail as long as you can: Sitting in jail prevents you from moving around the board and, hence, saves you from penalties and paying rent to your opponents. You must stay in jail as long as you are not forced to vacate.
  • Don’t go saving: You must not try to accumulate money, as your money will ultimately go into rentals. However, accumulating properties will help you earn more, and more rentals will increase your chances of survival in the game.
  • Try Blocking your opponents: If you purchase properties frequently, you can easily block your opponents from holding any monopoly in the game. If you have at least one property in each color, you increase your chance of winning.
  • Follow Rules: To promote a fair play match, you must follow all the rules and guidelines mentioned in the rule book and this article. 

Know More: List of the Best Board Games for Adults

Got Questions?

How many hotels can I put on one property? 

As per the monopoly, players can only make one hotel on a property as per the official rule. 

How much money do you start with in Monopoly?

Each player starts with $1500 in their hand with a combination of cards from $500, $100, $50, $20, $10, $5, $1. This is done to facilitate money exchange in the game. 

How do you play Monopoly for the first time?

Each player is given a fixed amount of money. Now, with a pair of dice, the players have to move around the board and purchase property, pay rent, and more. 

What are the rules of Monopoly cards?

Players get a fixed amount at the start of the game. Now, they have to move forward based on the pair of dice they throw on the board. If any player lands on an unowned property, they can either purchase it or the property will go into auction.

Can we play Monopoly with friends?

Monopoly can be played with a maximum of 8 players. You can easily play Monopoly with your friends online or on physical boards. Online Monopoly lets you connect and play with your friends irrespective of their location.

What is the objective of Monopoly Go?

The main objective of the Monopoly game is to stay alive until the end and not go bankrupt. If all the other players go bankrupt, the last player with money wins the game. All you have to do is acquire more properties and collect rentals.

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Author Name

Vijaya Bharti

Vijaya is a seasoned gaming writer with a postgraduate degree from Australia. Her passion for online gaming and interactive storytelling drives her compelling content on game design and culture. With expertise in online gaming, Vijaya brings a unique international perspective to her articles. When she's not crafting engaging pieces about the latest trends in real money gaming, you'll find her binge-watching her favorite web series. Vijaya's insightful analysis and captivating style make her a trusted voice in the gaming community.

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