*English/Non-English: For translations, see notes at the bottom of this page.

The Monopoly™ Guru**

The Monopoly™ Guru**The Monopoly™ Guru**The Monopoly™ Guru**
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The Monopoly™ Guru**

The Monopoly™ Guru**The Monopoly™ Guru**The Monopoly™ Guru**
Home
Rules
  • Introduction
  • Rules - Generally
  • Playing Order
  • Doubles
  • Take Out the Dice
  • Auction Everything
  • Non-property Squares
  • Rent
  • Go, Just Visiting, Etc.
  • Jail
  • Side Deals
  • Most Important Negotiatio
Strategy
  • Official or Modified?
  • The Need for Speed
  • Major & Minor Monopolies
  • Building
  • Mortgaging
  • Housing shortages
  • Cash reserves
  • Cash reserves
Negotiation
  • Negotiation Relationships
  • Knowing the Values
  • Overcoming the "Bad Deal"
  • Don't be a jerk
Ultimate Monopoly
  • Who Is the Best Player?
  • How Many Players?
  • Five or More is Best.
  • Remove the Dice.
  • Free Passes & Immunity
  • Skip Non-property Squares
  • Simplify Rent.
  • You're Ready to Play.
Miscellany
  • Books on Monopoly
More
  • Home
  • Rules
    • Introduction
    • Rules - Generally
    • Playing Order
    • Doubles
    • Take Out the Dice
    • Auction Everything
    • Non-property Squares
    • Rent
    • Go, Just Visiting, Etc.
    • Jail
    • Side Deals
    • Most Important Negotiatio
  • Strategy
    • Official or Modified?
    • The Need for Speed
    • Major & Minor Monopolies
    • Building
    • Mortgaging
    • Housing shortages
    • Cash reserves
    • Cash reserves
  • Negotiation
    • Negotiation Relationships
    • Knowing the Values
    • Overcoming the "Bad Deal"
    • Don't be a jerk
  • Ultimate Monopoly
    • Who Is the Best Player?
    • How Many Players?
    • Five or More is Best.
    • Remove the Dice.
    • Free Passes & Immunity
    • Skip Non-property Squares
    • Simplify Rent.
    • You're Ready to Play.
  • Miscellany
    • Books on Monopoly

  • Home
  • Rules
  • Strategy
  • Negotiation
  • Ultimate Monopoly
  • Miscellany

creating a housing shortage

the best offense may be a good defense.

Students of Monopoly™ rules, unlike many casual players, are not only aware the official rules allow for only so many houses and hotels to be used in a game, they also know this limitation can be used to strategic advantage, particularly toward the end of a game.


Once all of either the houses or hotels have been sold, no further building of that particular structure may occur.  The limitation can be a huge advantage for the player who controls a large number of buildings.  


To gain such an advantage, a player may put more value on monopolies where housing is cheaper.  Acquiring such an advantage may also affect how a player builds, for example, limiting the use of hotels, so as to keep control over as many houses as possible.  (The effect of such manipulation can be so powerful, it has been addressed by adding a rule to some official Monopoly™ tournaments.)


A strategic Monopoly™ player MUST be completely familiar with the housing shortage rule and practice its use in various game scenarios.  Strategies will include, as mentioned, refraining from building hotels to maintain control over as large a number of houses as possible, or building a hotel so as to free houses for other monopolies.  Understanding the rule must also take into account that buildings that are desired by more than one player must be auctioned.  This rule may affect how a player sells buildings back to the Bank, since the process will inherently subject the building to potential auction.  A player may want to sell a building so as to make it available to move it to a more advantageous monopoly.  It may be useful in such a process to sell buildings one at a time, so as to maintain control over a potential auction.

Go to Cash reserves

*Translations: If you are having trouble reading this website in English, consider using the Papago or similar app to visually translate to a more familiar language.  You may need to use a separate device from the one you are using to access this site.


Copyright © 2021 THE MONOPOLY™ GURU* - All Rights Reserved.  

**Note: This is an independent website and unaffiliated with Hasbro, Inc., owners of the Monopoly™ game, as well as Parker Brothers and Milton Bradley.  All information and opinions presented on this site are entirely those of The Monopoly™ Guru and subscribers to the site, and are presented to enhance enjoyment of the game.  Information regarding Hasbro, Inc. may be found on their website, Hasbro.com

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