Welcome to Monopoly Bid, a fast-paced, high-stakes game where luck, strategy, and shrewd bidding combine for a thrilling card game experience. Players compete in auctions to collect property sets, using Money Cards to outbid rivals and powerful Action Cards to change the course of the game. This manual provides the complete rules for play, from setting up the game to mastering the art of the blind auction.
- 🎯 Game Objective: Be the first player to collect three complete property sets.
- 👥 Player Count: Monopoly Bid plays best with 2 to 5 competitors.
- ⏱️ Playing Time: Expect a quick and engaging session of roughly 15–20 minutes.
This manual will now introduce the different types of cards that make up the game.
Understanding the different card types in Monopoly Bid is the first step toward making smart strategic decisions. Knowing what's in the decks—and what might be in your opponents' hands—will give you a crucial edge when the bidding begins.
Property Cards have distinctive blue backs and form their own separate deck. Each card displays key information: the property color and a number in the lower corner. This number indicates the total quantity of cards needed to complete a full set of that color. The deck contains exactly enough cards to form one complete set of each color.
This is the main deck of the game and contains two types of cards: Money and Action cards.
- 💵 Money Cards: These are the currency of the game, used exclusively for bidding in auctions. They come in denominations ranging in value from one to five.
- 🃏 Action Cards: These cards provide powerful, game-changing abilities. There are four distinct types:
- 🦄 Wild: Fulfills the role of any property card to help complete a set, but is permanently locked in once played.
- 🕵️ Steal: Allows you to take a single property card from an opponent's incomplete set.
- 🔁 Draw 2: Lets you draw two additional cards from the Draw Deck.
- 🙅 Nope!: Cancels another player's Action Card.
With a clear understanding of the tools at your disposal, let's proceed with setting up your first game.
The setup process for Monopoly Bid is designed to be simple and quick, getting players into the heart of the action with minimal delay. Follow these steps to prepare the game for play.
- Separate the Decks: The game includes two distinct card types. Shuffle the blue-backed Property Cards and place them face down to form the "Property Pile." Then, shuffle the Money and Action Cards together and place them face down to create the "Draw Pile."
- Create a Discard Area: Leave an empty space next to the Draw Pile. This will serve as the discard pile for used Money and Action cards.
- Deal Initial Hands: Deal five cards from the Draw Deck to each player. Players may look at their own cards but should keep them hidden from opponents.
- Check for Money (Mulligan Rule): If a player's starting five-card hand contains no Money Cards, they must reveal their hand, discard it entirely, and draw five new cards from the Draw Deck.
- Determine the First Player: The youngest player goes first. This player will act as the first "Auction Host," and play will proceed clockwise from there.
Now that the game is set up, it's time to learn how a turn works.
Monopoly Bid proceeds in rounds, with play moving clockwise around the table. In each round, one player takes a turn as the "Auction Host." The host's turn is divided into three distinct phases that guide the flow of the game.
- Phase 1: Everyone Draws. At the very beginning of the host's turn, every player—including the host—draws one card from the top of the Draw Deck and adds it to their hand.
- Phase 2: Host Plays Action Cards (Optional). This phase gives a strategic advantage to the current host. The host may play as many Action Cards from their hand as they wish, one after another. This is the only time Action Cards (with the exception of
Nope!) can be played. - Phase 3: Hold the Auction. After the host has finished playing any desired Action Cards, they flip the top card of the Property Pile face-up for all players to see. This action immediately begins the auction for that property.
The auction is the central mechanic of the game, where fortunes are won and lost. The next section details this process.
The "blind" or "simultaneous" auction is the most exciting and pivotal mechanic in Monopoly Bid. It forces players to take risks, bluff opponents, and strategically manage their money without knowing what others are willing to spend. Every auction is a tense moment of decision-making.
Once the host reveals the property card, all players (including the host) secretly look at the Money Cards in their hand. They must decide how much, if anything, they wish to bid. Players select the specific Money Cards they want to use and prepare them for the reveal. A player may choose to bid zero by selecting no cards.
The host initiates the reveal with a countdown: "1, 2, 3, Bid!" On the word "Bid!", all players who chose to participate must simultaneously place their chosen Money Cards face-up on the table. No bids can be changed, added to, or taken back after this reveal.
The player who bid the highest amount wins the property. The outcomes for the winner and all other bidders are resolved as follows:
| Outcome | Winner's Action | Losers' Action |
|---|---|---|
| Highest Bidder Wins | Takes the Property Card and places it face-up in their collection. Discards the Money Cards used for the bid. | Takes all of their bid money back into their hand. |
What Happens in a Tie? If a tie for the highest bid occurs, all players take their money back. The tied-for property is placed on the bottom of the Property Pile. The host immediately flips the next property from the top of the pile and begins a brand-new auction for that card.
What Happens if No One Bids? If no player submits a bid for the property, the property is returned to the bottom of the Property Deck. The host's turn ends, and the player to their left becomes the new host.
Now that the auction mechanic is clear, let's examine the powerful Action Cards that can be played before an auction begins.
Action Cards are powerful tools that allow players to manipulate the game, gain significant advantages, and disrupt the carefully laid plans of their opponents. They are played by the host during Phase 2 of their turn.
| Icon | Card | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 🦄 | Wild | Play this versatile card into your property collection and declare any color you need. Crucial Rule: Once declared, its color cannot change for the rest of the game. |
| 🔁 | Draw 2 | Draw two cards from the top of the Draw Deck immediately. |
| 🕵️ | Steal | Take any one property card (including a Wild) from another player's incomplete set. Crucial Limitation: You cannot target a completed set. |
| 🙅 | Nope! | Cancel any Action Card just played by an opponent. Nope! cards can even cancel other Nope! cards, leading to dramatic card battles. Use it defensively to block a Steal, offensively to stop a winning Wild, or tactically to counter a rival Nope!. |
These cards introduce a dynamic layer of strategy, but other important rules also govern gameplay.
This section covers a collection of important rules and player actions that can occur at various points in the game. Understanding these will ensure smooth and fair play.
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🤝 Player Deals & Trading. Players are permitted to make deals and trade property cards with one another at any time during the game, even when it is not their turn (for example, a player might offer two of their properties in exchange for one specific property they need to complete a set). This can include "gifting" a card to another player in exchange for nothing, as long as the card is from an incomplete set.
[!TIP] House Rule Recommendation
Decide before the first auction whether trading is allowed. For a faster or sharper experience, some groups enjoy a "No Trading" variant. -
🛡️ Completed Sets are Safe. Once a player has collected all the required cards to form a complete property set, the cards within that set are permanently protected. They cannot be targeted or taken by a
Stealcard, nor can they be included in any trade or deal, for the rest of the game. -
🔄 Running out of Cards. If the Draw Deck is ever depleted, the game does not stop. Shuffle the Discard Pile thoroughly to create a new Draw Deck, and continue playing.
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🖐️ Hand Size. There is no limit to the number of cards a player can hold in their hand.
With these clarifications in mind, we can now address the ultimate goal of the game: victory.
The condition for victory in Monopoly Bid is clear and absolute. The first player to successfully collect three complete property sets wins the game immediately. A player can declare victory at any moment. While only the Host can win on their turn by playing a Wild or Steal card (during Phase 2), a non-host player can win immediately if they complete their third set by either winning an auction (in Phase 3) or by completing a trade. As soon as the third set is complete, that player declares victory and the game ends.
This section addresses common questions and clarifies specific card interactions to resolve potential disputes that may arise during play.
🃏 Can I move a Wild Card once I have placed it in a property set?
No. Once a Wild Card is placed on the table and you declare what color it represents, it is permanently locked into that property set. You cannot move it to help complete a different set later.
🕵️ Can I use a Steal card to take a Wild Card from an opponent?
Yes. A Wild Card is a property card. If the Wild Card is part of an incomplete set, an opponent can use a Steal card to take it. This is why it is often best to save a Wild Card until it can complete a set.
🔢 How do I know how many cards are needed for a complete set?
The number of cards required is printed right on the colored Property Cards themselves (for example, 2 for the Dark Blue set, 3 for the Red set).
💸 What happens if I run out of Money Cards?
If you have no Money Cards, you simply cannot bid in the auction. You must wait until you draw more Money Cards in Phase 1 of a turn or use a Draw 2 Action Card to get more money and actions.
♻️ What if the entire Draw Deck runs out?
If the Draw Deck runs out, simply shuffle the Discard Pile (the stack containing used Money Cards and Action Cards) to create a new Draw Deck.
🏆 If I win a bid, where does my money go?
The Money Cards you used for the winning bid are placed directly into the Discard Pile—they are spent.
🙌 If I lose a bid, where does my money go?
If you bid but do not win, you get all of your bid money back into your hand. You only spend money when you win.
⚔️ Can I play a Steal card on an opponent who just won a property in the auction?
No. Action Cards (like Steal and Wild) are played only by the Auction Host in Phase 2 of their turn, before the auction begins. Once the auction starts, no more Action Cards can be played until the next player becomes the host.
❌ What is the difference between a Steal card and a Forced Deal card?
Monopoly Bid only has the Steal card, which takes a single card from an incomplete set. The Forced Deal card (which allows trading an opponent's property for your own) is from the Monopoly Deal card game and is not included in Monopoly Bid.
🙅 Can I "Nope!" a "Nope!" card?
Yes! If an opponent cancels your action with a Nope! card, another player (including you) can immediately play a second Nope! to cancel the first one. The chain of Nope! cards continues until a final Nope! is either played or goes unchallenged.
📦 Are Property Cards ever held in a player's hand?
No. Property Cards are never held in a player's hand. They start in the Property Pile and, once won in an auction, are placed face-up in a player's collection on the table. Your hand only contains Money Cards and Action Cards.
📣 How do I announce I am stealing a card?
When you play a Steal card during Phase 2, you must clearly announce which player you are targeting and which specific card from their incomplete sets you are taking. For example: "I am playing Steal on Player B, and I am taking their Light Blue property card."
⚖️ What happens if two players tie for the highest bid, but a third player bids a lower amount?
This is still a tie bid. The lower bid is irrelevant. Because the highest bid was tied, all players (including the lowest bidder) take their bid money back into their hand. The property card is then placed on the bottom of the Property Pile, and the host starts a new auction for the next property.
🎁 Can a player give a property card to another player for free (a "gift")?
Yes. This is allowed as part of the Player Deals & Trading rule. A player can give a card to another player for nothing in return, as long as the card is from an incomplete set. Completed sets cannot be gifted or traded.