What are monopoly rules?

Monopoly rules are guidelines that dictate how players should make moves when playing the game and the guidelines on how players should acquire or sell property, improve properties, pay rent and taxes, get in and out of jail, and win the game.

Monopoly rules are simple but precise. They have a significant aspect of real-life investment. Since monopoly has become a popular game in many households, its rules have continually been violated, making it unfair. It is, therefore, crucial to know the rules so the game remains fair and exciting. I am writing this article to help you understand the rules so that you can play the game correctly. You will understand the correct rules and play the game fairly.

Game play rules

Starting rules

After setting up the board, each player is supposed to choose one token to represent them when traveling on the board. Each player must receive a $1500, which must be in the following form: 5 x $1’s, 5 x $5’s, 5 x $10’s, 6 x $20’s, 2 x $50’s, 2 x $100’s, and 2 x $500’s.

The table below is a summary of the divided form

	Count	Amount in $	Total $
1	5	1	5
2	5	5	25
3	5	10	50
4	6	20	120
5	2	100	200
6	2	500	1000
	Total		1500

The game should have a banker; if one player is the banker, his assets should be separate from the bank. The bank has infinite assets and can never go broke. The bank is also in control of all unbought assets.

Rolling the dice

At the beginning of the game, each player must roll two dice. The number from each dice is added, and the player with the highest total is the first to play. The game must be played in a clockwise direction from the first player.

To play, roll the dice and move the number of squares indicated by the dice. When you throw doubles, you are supposed to complete two moves consecutively. You earn $200 each time you reach or move past the ‘Go’ point. Your earnings are saved in the bank.

Buying property

A significant aspect of the game is acquiring property. As indicated, all unbought property belongs to the bank. The property is available for purchase whenever you land on it. If you land on a property and refuse to buy it from the bank, the bank can auction it to the highest bidder through the banker. Some players decide to make it compulsory for a player to purchase a property he has landed on.

Building on the property

The building is also a significant aspect of the game. Building allows a player to earn rent from the buildings. A player can build on a property if he owns the entire land represented by the same color. The building rules are that you can only place a single building on one property. Exception on the one property one building rule is made when there is a building on each property. In such a case, you can place a building on a property where another building already exists.

This exception does not allow a property to have more than four houses. Properties that are railroads and utilities cannot be developed, which means you can not put a building on them. A player can only build a hotel on a property if all the other properties in that group have four buildings. Building a hotel demands that all the other houses in the property be removed by purchasing them from the bank.

Fulfilling rent and tax obligations

Paying tax and rent is a must for the properties you are in. Each property has a title deed, which determines the rent you are supposed to pay for the property. Also, you should pay income tax equal to 10% of your asset’s total or $200, whichever is higher. The payment is made when you draw the chance or the community chest card, which you return at the bottom of the deck once you complete the action according to the instructions.

So, what happens if you do not have enough money to pay rent and income taxes when it is your turn? You can sell your property, hotels, or buildings if you have no money to pay rent and taxes during your turn. The rule is you can sell your undeveloped properties, including utilities and railroad, to any player for any amount. However, a building can only be sold to the bank at half the price of the value of the building. Buildings cannot be sold to other players in such a case.

Another option to get money for tax and rent is mortgaging undeveloped properties to the bank. The mortgage value is printed on the title deed of the property. It is crucial to note that no rent can be collected on the mortgaged property. A player can lift the mortgage by paying the bank and including a 10% interest. If the player who owns the mortgaged property decides not to pay the mortgage, they can sell their mortgaged property to another player at their desired price. A player who buys the mortgaged property will have to pay the mortgage to the bank and the 10% interest to lift the mortgage.

Going to Jail

You can go to jail when you roll doubles three times in a row, draw a card marked to go to jail, or land on a space marked ‘Go to jail.’ However, you can get out of jail if you pay a $50 fine on rolling doubles three times, roll doubles, draw a ‘get out of jail free card,’ or pay a fine of $50 before rolling the dice.

Winning rules

There are two ways of winning the game. First, you win the game when all the players except one are bankrupt. Players become bankrupt when they have more debts than therein assets. In other words, when they have debts that they cannot pay, even when they sell all their properties, buildings, and hotels. Secondly, when you agree to end the game, a player wins if their property has the highest value.

Conclusion

Monopoly is an exciting game only when you know and follow the rules. The rules make the game fair and lead it to a possible conclusion. To master the rules, you need to play the game.

FAQ section

Can more than two player play monopoly?

Yes, the game is designed to accommodate more than one player and is ideal for a family setting.

Can players make their own rules?

Players are not recommended to make rules, so the game remains fair and exciting.