Monopoly is probably the most debated board game in history — not because of strategy, but because everyone plays by different rules. After years of heated family arguments and late-night games that somehow lasted until 3 AM, I’ve learned that most problems stem from misunderstanding the official Monopoly rules. Let’s fix that.
Quick Answer: Players roll dice to move around the board, buying properties they land on, collecting rent from opponents, and building houses and hotels. The goal is to bankrupt all other players. Games should take 60-90 minutes with proper rules — not four hours.
What’s in the Box
- 1 game board
- 8 tokens (car, dog, hat, etc.)
- 28 Title Deed cards
- 16 Chance cards
- 16 Community Chest cards
- 32 houses (green)
- 12 hotels (red)
- 2 dice
- Money in various denominations
Setting Up the Game
- Each player selects a token and places it on GO
- Shuffle Chance and Community Chest cards, place face-down
- One player becomes the Banker (can also play)
- Each player receives $1,500 starting money
Starting Money Breakdown
| Denomination | Quantity |
|---|---|
| $500 bills | 2 |
| $100 bills | 2 |
| $50 bills | 2 |
| $20 bills | 6 |
| $10 bills | 5 |
| $5 bills | 5 |
| $1 bills | 5 |
How to Play Your Turn
1. Roll the Dice
Roll both dice and move your token clockwise that many spaces.
2. Take Action Based on Where You Land
Unowned Property: You may buy it for the printed price. If you don’t want it, it must be auctioned to all players (including you).
Owned Property: Pay rent to the owner. Rent varies based on development and whether the owner has a monopoly (all properties in that color).
Chance/Community Chest: Draw the top card and follow instructions.
Taxes: Pay $200 (Income Tax) or $100 (Luxury Tax) to the Bank.
Go to Jail: Move directly to Jail. Do not pass GO, do not collect $200.
Free Parking: Nothing happens. Just rest here. (Yes, really — no jackpot!)
Just Visiting/Jail: If you’re visiting, no penalty. If you’re in Jail, see the Jail rules below.
3. Doubles Rule
If you roll doubles, take your turn and roll again. But if you roll doubles three times in a row, go directly to Jail.
The Auction Rule (Most Commonly Skipped!)
This is the rule that changes everything: If you land on an unowned property and don’t buy it, the Banker must immediately auction it.
Any player can bid, starting at any amount. The highest bidder wins and pays the Bank. This keeps properties circulating and games shorter.
Many families skip this rule, which leads to those infamous 4-hour games. Don’t skip it!
Buying Property
When you land on an unowned property, you can:
- Buy it at the printed price, OR
- Decline (triggers an auction)
Property Types
Streets (Color Groups): 22 properties in 8 color groups. Owning all properties in a color = monopoly.
Railroads: 4 total. Rent increases with each railroad owned.
| Railroads Owned | Rent |
|---|---|
| 1 | $25 |
| 2 | $50 |
| 3 | $100 |
| 4 | $200 |
Utilities: 2 total (Electric Company, Water Works).
- 1 owned: Rent = 4× the dice roll
- 2 owned: Rent = 10× the dice roll
Building Houses and Hotels
Once you own all properties in a color group (monopoly), you can build houses.
Building Rules
- You must build evenly — the difference between properties in a group can never exceed 1 house
- You need 4 houses on a property before you can buy a hotel
- A hotel replaces the 4 houses (which return to the Bank)
- You can only build houses between turns, not during another player’s turn
- There are limited houses (32) and hotels (12) — if the Bank runs out, you cannot build more
House Prices
House costs are listed on each Title Deed card. Generally:
- Brown/Light Blue: $50 each
- Pink/Orange: $100 each
- Red/Yellow: $150 each
- Green/Dark Blue: $200 each
The Housing Shortage Strategy
Since houses are limited, some players intentionally keep 4 houses on each property without upgrading to hotels. This blocks other players from building. Perfectly legal!
Rent Calculation
Rent values are printed on each Title Deed. Key things to know:
- Undeveloped monopoly: Rent doubles even without houses
- Mortgaged property: No rent can be collected
- You must ask for rent — if the owner doesn’t notice you landed on their property before the next player rolls, they miss out
Jail Rules
Going to Jail
You go to Jail if you:
- Land on “Go to Jail”
- Draw a “Go to Jail” card
- Roll doubles three times in one turn
Getting Out of Jail
You have three options (try in this order each turn):
- Use a “Get Out of Jail Free” card (if you have one)
- Pay $50 before rolling
- Roll doubles (you get 3 attempts)
If you fail to roll doubles after 3 turns, you must pay $50 and move.
Strategic note: Early game, get out fast to buy properties. Late game, Jail is great — you collect rent without risking landing on opponents’ hotels!
Mortgaging Properties
If you need cash, you can mortgage properties to the Bank:
- Receive half the purchase price (printed on the card)
- Turn the card face-down
- You cannot collect rent on mortgaged properties
- To unmortgage, pay the mortgage value plus 10% interest
Important: You must sell all houses/hotels on a color group before mortgaging any property in that group.
Trading
Players can trade at any time:
- Properties
- Cash
- “Get Out of Jail Free” cards
- Future considerations (paying rent immunity, etc.)
You cannot trade:
- Buildings (must be sold first)
- Immunity promises that extend beyond one transaction
Bankruptcy and Winning
Going Bankrupt
If you owe more than you can pay:
- Sell all houses/hotels at half price
- Mortgage all properties
- If still short, you’re bankrupt
When bankrupt to another player, they receive all your properties (including mortgaged ones). When bankrupt to the Bank, your properties are auctioned.
Winning
The last player remaining wins! Alternatively, set a time limit and count total assets (cash + property values + building values) to determine the winner.
Common House Rules (Unofficial)
These rules make games longer and less strategic, but many families love them:
- Free Parking jackpot: All taxes and fees go to the center; whoever lands on Free Parking collects it. (Not official — adds randomness, extends game)
- No auctions: Unpurchased properties stay unowned. (Extends game significantly)
- $400 for landing directly on GO: Double the normal $200. (Not official)
- Can’t collect rent in Jail: Some play that jailed players can’t receive rent. (Not official)
- Must go around once before buying: Can’t purchase until passing GO. (Not official — slows early game)
Speed Die Variant
Some newer editions include a speed die that adds a third die with special symbols:
- 1, 2, or 3: Add to your regular roll
- Mr. Monopoly: After your turn, move to the next unowned property (and buy or auction) or next property with rent due
- Bus: Use either die or both for your move
Strategy Tips
Properties to Prioritize
- Orange properties (St. James, Tennessee, New York) — most landed-on due to Jail placement
- Railroads — consistent income, especially all four
- Red properties — second most landed-on
- Light Blue — cheap to develop, decent early income
General Strategy
- Buy everything you can early — properties = power
- Trade to complete monopolies — undeveloped properties don’t win games
- Build to 3 houses fast — rent jumps significantly
- Use the housing shortage — hold houses strategically
- Stay liquid — don’t build so much you can’t pay rent
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get money for landing on Free Parking?
No. In official rules, Free Parking does nothing. It’s just a free rest space.
Can I buy property on my first turn?
Yes! There’s no rule requiring you to go around the board first.
Can I buy houses during someone else’s turn?
No. You can only build between turns (after the current player’s turn ends, before the next player rolls).
What if two people want to buy houses and there aren’t enough?
The houses are auctioned to the highest bidder.
Can I collect rent while in Jail?
Yes! Being in Jail doesn’t affect your ability to collect rent, trade, or buy/sell houses.
Do I still pay rent if I roll doubles to land on someone’s property?
Yes. Rolling doubles doesn’t exempt you from rent — you pay before your extra turn.
Ready to Play the Right Way?
Now you know the official Monopoly rules — including the auction rule that’s probably been missing from your games. Give it a try and see how much faster and more strategic the game becomes!
For more game night ideas, check out our guides on board game night planning and gateway games for new players.
