Many players mistakenly believe they can skip an auction or that only certain players can participate, but the official rules provide a specific process for property sales.
According to the Monopoly Official Rulebook, if a player lands on an unowned property and chooses not to buy it at the printed price, the Banker must sell it at auction to the highest bidder.
Monopoly Official Rules, [edition not specified]
These rules correspond to the UK edition of Monopoly.
Official Rule Breakdown
In Monopoly, when a player lands on a property that is not owned by anyone else, they have the option to buy it from the Bank at its printed price. If the player chooses not to buy the property, the Banker must then sell it at auction to the highest bidder. Any player, including the one who originally declined the option to buy the property at the printed price, is eligible to participate in the bidding. Bidding may start at any price, and the winner pays the Bank the amount of the bid in cash and receives the corresponding Title Deed card.
Step-by-Step
- Step 1: A player lands on an unowned property.
- Step 2: The player decides whether to buy the property at the printed price.
- Step 3: If the player declines, the Banker initiates an auction.
- Step 4: All players participate in bidding, starting at any price.
- Step 5: The highest bidder pays the Bank the bid amount and receives the Title Deed card.
Example Play Situation
Alice lands on Boardwalk and chooses not to buy it at the printed price. The Banker then starts an auction. Bob bids £400 and Charlie bids £450. Bob wins the auction by paying the Bank £450 and receiving the Title Deed.
Common Misconceptions
- Only players who didn't land on the space can bid
- Auctions must start at the printed price of the property
- The Banker can choose to skip the auction if they want
Quick Reference
| You Can | You Cannot |
|---|---|
| You can bid any amount during the auction | You cannot skip the auction if the player declines the property |
| You can participate in the auction even if you were the player who landed on the space | You cannot borrow money from other players to fund an auction bid |
| You can pay the Bank in cash to receive the Title Deed |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the official rule for auctioning in Monopoly?
- If a player declines to buy a property at its printed price, the Banker auctions it to the highest bidder.
- Can I bid on a property if I was the one who landed on it?
- Yes, any player is allowed to participate in the auction, including the player who declined the initial purchase.
- Does the auction have to start at the property's printed price?
- No, bidding may start at any price chosen by the participants.
- What happens if no one bids during the auction?
- The rules state the property is auctioned to the highest bidder; if no bids occur, the property remains unowned.