Monopoly Auction Rules (With Strategy Tips & Variations)

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Learn these overlooked rules to make your Monopoly game more fun
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If you want to speed up your Monopoly game, holding auctions for properties is actually the correct way to play. Auctions let players buy properties for cheaper than the listed price and add a lot more fun and interaction to your game. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through when and how to hold auctions, plus how to use them strategically.

How to Auction in a Monopoly Game

If a player lands on a property and chooses not to buy it, the banker starts an auction for it. All players, including the one who landed on the property, can bid (starting at $10) at the same time. Whoever makes the highest bid receives the property card.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Auction Properties in Monopoly

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  1. When you're playing Monopoly , a player has the option to purchase an unowned property from the bank when they land on it. If the player doesn’t want the property for the list price, then the banker immediately puts it up for a public auction. [1]
    • When a player goes bankrupt , it also triggers a single auction for all the properties that the player owned.
    • If multiple players want to build houses, hotels, or skyscrapers but there aren’t enough pieces left , the banker starts an auction for them.
    • If you land on the Auction board space in Monopoly: Mega Edition , an auction begins. The player can choose any unowned property to put up for auction if there’s one available. [2]
    • Auctions speed up the game so that all properties are sold quickly and the game can progress to the trading and development phase.
  2. During the auction, players can yell out any price they’re willing to pay for the property, starting at $10. All the players, including the one who initially landed on the property, are allowed to bid in the auction. [3]
    • Each bid must be higher than the bid made before it.
    • The player order doesn’t matter during an auction, so any player at any time can shout out their bid.
    • The player who didn’t originally buy the property can bid to jack up the price so an opponent pays more, or they can try to get the property for cheaper so they save money.
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  3. Players can keep bidding until they want to stop or if they can’t make a higher bid than the previous player. If no one else wants to put out a bid, the banker collects the money from the highest bidder and gives them the matching property card. [4]
    • It’s possible that the bids go higher than the price listed on the property card. This may happen if multiple players want the property to gain a monopoly over a certain color.
    • If no one bids on the property at all, then the auction ends and the property stays unowned.
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Section 2 of 3:

Monopoly Auction Strategies

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  1. Expert Monopoly players rarely pass up an opportunity to purchase a property. The costs of most properties are reasonable and you will likely end up getting into a bidding war and paying more. If you have enough money, always opt to purchase the property right away.
    • Buying the property right away keeps it away from your opponents who may need it to complete a monopoly. That way, you can offer a trade later in the game for other properties that benefit you.
  2. If you purchase the property, you could trade it with another player later for a property you need or cash. Choosing to go to auction when you could buy the property gives your opponents a chance to get it for cheaper, or drive up the price so you aren’t able to buy it. Even if you’re afraid of running out of money or aren’t collecting that particular property color, avoid letting it go to auction if you’re able to.
  3. If a property goes up for auction during a game of Monopoly, try not to get caught up in a bidding war. Always keep in mind the original cost of the property and do not pay more than that price. You may be able to get a property for a deal periodically, but in most cases, people will end up paying more for a property through an auction.
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Section 3 of 3:

Auction House Rules & Variations

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  1. Rather than going to an auction when a player doesn’t buy a property, let it stay unowned until someone lands on it and purchases it. [5]
    • Playing without auctions can increase the length of the game.
  2. Rather than playing with the fixed prices on each property card, start an auction any time a player lands on a property. Give all the players an opportunity to bid on the property. [6]
    • This is a fun variation of the game because it allows players to interact more and lets them bluff and trick their opponents into overpaying for certain properties.
  3. If you decide to play with house rules, discuss the rules with each player before you begin playing. Come to an agreement on how you’ll follow the auction rule throughout the game. That way, you’ll get in fewer disagreements about the rules while you play.
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  • Question
    How are auctions done when only two players are playing?
    Community Answer
    As one player has skipped buying and auctioned it, it gives the other player an unfair advantage, for example, someone may put Mayfair up for auction, and the only other player could pay £1 for it and win. So its best not to do auctions with only 2 players.
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  • Question
    When you meant double? Does it mean 6, 6?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Two 2s on the dice is doubles, two 3s on the dice is doubles, and so on.
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  • Question
    What if no one wants to bid?
    Community Answer
    In this case, the auction is over and the card is returned to the bank.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/monins.pdf
      2. ↑ https://winning-moves.com/images/megamonopolyrules.pdf
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/4nz-_hvFw44?t=258
      4. ↑ https://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/00009.pdf
      5. ↑ https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Monopoly/House_Rules
      6. ↑ https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Monopoly/House_Rules

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