Winter is a good time for inside work:  spiritual reflections, cleaning out the house, and… board game nights!!!!

My kids, neighbors and I just finished a complete game of monopoly in under 2 hours!!!!!

How is this possible? By setting up the game at its climax and playing the downward spiral!!

Here is the setup:

• Distribute the standard allotment of cash to each player (total $1500)
• Sort all 28 properties in color order from highest to lowest value, ending with railroads and finally utilities
• Divide the 28 properties one per player until they run out.  No need to buy houses or hotels, all properties collect Hotel-style rent right off the bat.  No need to have all three colors to cash in mad money.
• Distribute the 11 token markers evenly among the players.  This fills up the board with pieces to maximize the chances that your properties will collect (and the chances that you will pay up).  If there are only 3 or less players, using 3 markers each will work.
• When a player goes out, all his money and property goes to the player whose property he landed on.  If there are 4 or more players, continue redistributing the ousted player’s token markers so that mad rent is being collected.
• Play continues until there is one player left or by counting up winnings and property as time allows.
• 2 hours is the average time to complete in this style, but it can be shorter as the odds may go against a player early.

Lots of fun!