How to Win at Monopoly

There's a strong element of luck involved in playing Monopoly, but there's also enough strategy that skilled players will win more often than not. Use these tips and hints next time you play, and you'll be smiling all the way to Boardwalk.

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:

1. No other player owns one of the same group.
2. The purchase would give you two or three of the same group.
3. It blocks someone else from completing a set.

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!