How to use stats to win at Monopoly

03 Jul 2014
Giacomo Bagnara


Monopoly might seem like a game of chance: roll the dice, hope you don't go bankrupt. Actually, it contains layers of maths just waiting to be exploited. We asked Monopoly expert Philip Orbanes, author of Monopoly, Money, and You (McGraw-Hill Professional, £14.99), how to play the stats next time you play your friends.

Control your cash flow

If there are no opposing monopolies, you only need £150 to £200 for each lap of the board. "But if there are one or more developed monopolies against you, you should have at least £300," says Orbanes. If you need money, mortgage single properties first.

  1. Learn the hierarchyAhead of the pricier dark blues, develop the oranges. Players often land there soon after release from jail, and the chance of rolling one of those numbers is 39 per cent. "In most tournament competitions," says Orbanes, "players are reluctant to trade an orange."
  2. Buy strategicallyIf you're rich, buy everything you can. "You need trading material to make deals," says Orbanes. If money is tight, buy to block an opponent getting the final property in a high-value group or to complete a monopoly. Railways are also useful for generating regular income.
  3. Moneyball your building workIf you own a group, quickly build three houses on each property, as there's a big leap in rent after the second house. Certain properties also generate higher returns on investment. Oranges move from 58 to 62 per cent, whereas there's no increase with dark blues and greens.
  4. Create a housing shortage"If you have only low-rent monopolies," says Orbanes, "you should quickly build three or four houses on each property -- and don't upgrade them to hotels -- to restrict the availability of houses to owners of high-rent monopolies."
  5. Sometimes life is better on the insideEarly on, when it's all up for grabs, pay £50 to get out of jail quickly. "Later," says Orbanes, "when big rents loom, stay put if possible. You can still collect rent and make deals, while someone else might land on your properties before you land on theirs."