Tips To Win at Monopoly
The best way to win at Monopoly is to have a strategy and stick with it. The name of the game tells you that collaboration will never work; your goal is to bankrupt your opponents by owning the most valuable property on the board. That said, these tips will help you to come out ahead every time.
Know the Odds
Know the odds of the game. For example, most players make a complete lap around the board in five turns; you’re likely to roll doubles once in those five turns (doubles happen about 17 percent of the time).
Buy Smart
Always pick up available properties if any of these apply:
Most Frequent Landings
Buy the properties that people land on most often. Illinois Avenue is the square most often landed on (not including Jail). The B&O Railroad also is among those most landed on; Go is the third square most landed on during the game.
Railroads and Utilities
Railroads are better to own than utilities, but utilities should be purchased if the opportunity arises (especially if you can get both of them). Short Line Railroad is the least useful railroad to own because it is visited least often.
Jail Strategies
Get out of jail quickly early in the game, even if you have to pay the $50. Later on, when moving around the board is more dangerous and could prove very costly, stay in jail as long as you can.
Think Three
When you build on your properties, get to three houses as quickly as possible. The rent raises significantly between two and three houses. For example, rent on Illinois Avenue jumps from $300 with two houses to $750 with three houses.
Four Houses on Low-Income Properties
If you’re stuck with low-income properties, build to four houses quickly to create a building shortage, hurting other players’ chances to build. 24 of 32 houses (or 6 of 12 hotels) could be tied up on just six properties.
Mortgage Strategy
Avoid mortgaging properties where you own two or more of the properties. If one property in a group is mortgaged, you cannot build on any of the properties in that group.
Location, Location, Location
The second set of properties on all four sides of the board is a better investment. The houses and hotels on the second set of properties cost the same to build as for the first set of properties, but the rent is higher.
Buy Orange
The trio of orange properties is an excellent monopoly to own because of their relationship to Jail. A roll of 6 or 8 (two of the most common rolls) from Jail lands you on an orange. Enjoy the game and good luck!
