Mortgaging is essential to raise money at crucial moments in the game.
Follow these guidelines when it comes time to mortgage.
Mortgage single properties first. Try not to mortgage a property from a
group where you own 2 or more properties unless you absolutely have to.
(You can't build on a color group you own if one of its properties is
mortgaged!)
Mortgage single properties to raise cash if it helps you develop a
color group up to at least three houses per property, (or hotels on the
Light Blues or either Purple group).
When you must decide between mortgaging properties, use this list to
prioritize. Try to mortgage:
1st. Colored properties closest to GO
2nd. A Single Utility
3rd. Railroads
4th. The Utilities
(Utilities produce a lot of cash, and you will need cash to unmortgage
properties!)
Bear in mind, though, that Illinois, New York, and Boardwalk have
higher chances of getting landed on than many of the other properties,
with Illinois the highest. Don't mortgage these properties if you can
avoid it.
If your opponents develop more expensive color groups, resist the
temptation to mortgage heavily to develop a lower-rent color group to
your limit, unless you're in an "all-or-nothing" situation late in the
game.
Pay off mortgages only if you have developed your completed color
groups to at least three houses per property and can afford to
unmortgage.
When paying off mortgages, pay them off in the reverse order in which
you mortgaged them, unless you can develop a new unmortgaged color
group by doing otherwise.
Know how to trade
To make beneficial trades, you need to be familiar with some basic
principles.
Early in the game, for instance, trade to get low cost, steady income
producing properties: namely, the Railroads or Utilities! (Railroads
are preferable over Utilities.)
Try to trade for a complete color group that can "dominate" quickly
(see the Tip Sheets).
To complete a color group, your best trading material might include the
Railroads, the Utilities, or the Dark Purple group, as well as single
properties that do not yield an opponent a more dominant color group.
When trading developable properties, try to trade for properties of
equal or greater value and those that lie closer to Free Parking.
Use the Property Tip Sheets to determine which color groups to trade
for, based on what you can afford to develop, and which groups have a
better chance if redeeming your investment.
If you end up with a completed color group whose dominance comes later
in the game, don't overextend yourself. The lower-rent color groups are
likely to give you trouble if you deplete your cash too early. Be
patient until your assets grow.
Trade for cash only if your "gain" is likely to be more than your
opponent's. This means that he or she shouldn't be able to afford to
develop a completed color group as a result of the trade. You, on the
other hand, should be in a position to put the cash to good advantage -
by building further or bolstering your cash reserves.
Use common sense. Make a trade only if you're sure it will improve your
chances of winning. Don't allow another player to persuade you to trade
just for the sake of trading.
When you interest an opponent in a trade, try to let your adversary do
most of the suggesting. You may get more than you thought you could.
(Nevertheless, if you feel you can show your opponent why a particular
trade is worthwhile for both of you, don't hesitate to demonstrate
why.) Try to show your opponent why his or her demands are too high if
you are unwilling to pay his price.
Know how to conduct yourself as a player (This is the most important
principle of all!)
Present yourself as the type of player others won't mind losing to.
Most players don't like losing to:
- browbeaters
- insulters
- know-it-alls
- careless players
- inconsiderate players
Most players don't mind losing to opponents who are...
- diplomatic
- gracious
- knowledgeable
- careful
- considerate
Why is this so important? MONOPOLY usually cannot be won without
gaining the cooperation of players in trades and financial settlements.
If you don't have a reasonable rapport with your opponents, you'll have
a tough time making beneficial trades. Go to the next part