Monopoly gained popularity during the Great Depression when Charles B. Darrow, an unemployed heating engineer introduced this concept to Parker Brothers in 1935. However, before 1935, there were homemade versions of a similar game which was based on the Landlord's game. Landlord's game was designed and patented by Lizzie G. Magie in 1904. The purpose of her game was to illustrate the potential exploitatation of tenants by greedy landlords. The Landlord's Game was in its early days of gaining popularity in the early 1900's. Darrow was able to successfully market his version of Monopoly with the help of Parker brothers, between 1933 and 1934.
A banker must be selected. If this person plays as well, they must keep their funds separate from the bank. The Bank pays salaries and bonuses. The bank collects all taxes, fines, loans, and price of all properties which it sells and auctions. The bank cannot go broke.
Each player rolls the dice to determine the order of roll for the game. The person with the highest amount rolls first. In case of a tie, the players roll again and the person with the higher number will go first. Each player places their token on the corner marked as GO. The person then rolls the dice and moves thier token based on the number of spaces on the dice. Depending on where the token lands, you may buy propoerty, pay rent, pay taxes, draw a chance or community chest card, or go to jail. If you roll same numbers on both dice, you may roll again. However, if this occurs three times in a row, you go straight to jail.
Each time a player lands on or passes GO whether by a dice roll or drawing a card, the banker pays the player a $200 salary. $200 are only paid whenever the player passes GO. If a player were to pass go and draw card that make them pass GO again, they get paid $200 for the first time as well as the second time.
Whenever you land on unowned property, you are eligible to buy that property off the bank at its printed price. After buying the property, you receive the card showing the ownership of that property. If you choose not to buy a property, the bank will sell it through an auction. The property will belong to the highest bidder in that auction. All players are eligilble to be in the auction.
Whenever you land on property that is owned by another player, the owner of that property collects rent from you based on the price listed on their property card. If the property is mortgaged, the owner of that property cannot collect rent until they pay its mortgage. If any player owns property of the same color-group, they can collect double the amount shown on the card.
Whenever you land on either of these spaces, take the top card of the deck and follow the instructions on the card. After that card is used, place that card at the bottom of the deck. These cards may be beneficial ot harmful for the player.
Whenever a player lands on these spaces, the player must be the amount indicated on the space.
When you are sent to jail, you must move directly to jail and are unable to collect $200 salary as you cannot pass GO. Additionally, your turn ends if you go to jail. A player can get out of jail by:
This is a resting space. A player doesn't receive any money, property, reward, or penalty of any kind. It is much more useful in the late game as it provides a safe haven from houses and hotels.
If a player owns all properties of the same color group, they are eligible to build houses and hotels based on the price indicated on the card. If a player has four houses on each property of the color-group, they are then eligible to build hotels on the property. Only one hotel can be built per property.
Players in the game can negotiate with other players to get their desired properties or money in return by trading whatever the other players needs. The player can only negotiate during their turn or if the player is interested in negotiating with them.
You are declared bankrupt whenever you owe more than you can pay to another player or the bank. If you are in debt to a player, you turn in all your assets to the player you owe it to. If you are in debt to the bank, the bank seizes all properties and holds an auction for all the properties without houses. Bankrupt players are forced to quit the game and the last player left, wins the game.