Monopoly Deal General Rules & FAQ


Comprehensive list of Monopoly Deal General Rules & Frequently Asked Questions

By Two Game Enthusiasts

The general Monopoly Deal Rules & FAQ section has a list of Rules and frequently asked questions pertaining to general gameplay. Topics range from basic "how to play" to "what does each player do on their turn". The official Monopoly Rules are used to answer as many of the questions as possible. If the official rules are not known for that question then the generally accepted answer is used.

1. How to play Monopoly Deal?

The objective of the game is to be the first player to complete 3 full property sets on the table in front of you. Each property card tells you how many property cards you need of that color to complete the set. For example, the dark blue set only needs 2 dark blue property cards to be completed and the black railroad set needs 4 railroad property cards to be a completed set.


There are 3 places where cards can be played during a turn:

1. A player can place money cards or action cards (rent, house, hotel, force deal, pass go, etc) face up in their bank.

2. A player can play property cards face up in front of them in their property section.

3. A player can play action cards in the middle discard pile.


Each player is dealt 5 cards at the start of the game and then picks up 2 cards from the remaining draw pile at the beginning of each turn.


Each player can play up to 3 cards per turn. A play is considered any time a card is laid on the table (such as money into your bank, property cards on the table, action cards played into the middle, etc). You do not need to play all 3 cards per turn if you do not want to.


At the end of each player’s turn, they cannot have more than 7 cards in their hand. If they do, they need to discard the excess cards into the discard pile.


Play clockwise around the table until someone completes 3 full property sets and they are the winner of that Monopoly Deal game!


2. How to Start and Deal out the Monopoly Deal cards?

1. Take out the 4 cards that say “Quick Start Rules” from the deck.
2. Shuffle the deck.
3. Deal out 5 cards to each player.
4. Put the remaining cards in the center face down. This will be the draw pile.
5. All players can pick up the cards that have been dealt to them but do not show anyone else your cards.

3. What does a player do on their turn?

Each player must pick up 2 cards from the draw pile during each turn.


Then each player can play up to 3 cards on their turn. (a play is considered any card that is laid on the table such as money into your bank, property cards on the table, action cards played into the middle, etc). You do not need to lay all 3 card plays if you do not want to.


There will be 3 places where cards can be played during a turn: A player can place money cards or action cards (rent, house, hotel, force deal, pass go, etc) face up in their bank, a player can play property cards face up in front of them in their property section, and a player can play action cards in the middle discard pile.


At the end of a turn, a player cannot have more than 7 cards in their hand. If they do, they need to discard the excess cards into the discard pile in the middle.


4. How do you win at Monopoly Deal?

The winner of the game is the first player to complete 3 full property sets and have them down on the table. Each property card tells you how many cards you need of that color to complete the set. For example the dark blue set only needs 2 dark blue property cards to be completed and the black railroad set needs 4 railroad property cards to be a completed set.


5. How many cards are there in a Monopoly Deal deck?

There are a total of 110 cards in the Deck.


6. How many of each type of Monopoly cards are there?

The 110 playing cards in the deck includes:
4 Quick Start Rule cards
20 Money Cards:
6 cards of 1M
5 cards of 2M
3 cards of 3M
3 cards of 4M
2 cards of 5M
1 card of 10M

34 Action Cards:
2 Deal Breakers
3 Just Say No
10 Pass Go
3 Forced Deal
3 Sly Deal
3 Debt Collectors
3 It’s My Birthday
2 Double the Rent
3 Houses
2 Hotels

13 Rent Cards:
2 Dark Blue/Green
2 Red/Yellow
2 Pink/Orange
2 Light Blue/Brown
2 Railroad/Utility
3 Wild Rent

28 Property Cards:
2 Blue
2 Brown
2 Utility
3 Green
3 Yellow
3 Red
3 Orange
3 Pink
3 Light Blue
4 Railroad

11 Property Wildcards:
1 Dark Blue/Green
1 Green/Railroad
1 Utility/Railroad
1 Light Blue/Railroad
1 Light Blue/Brown
2 Pink/Orange
2 Red/Yellow
2 multi-color Property Wildcards


7. What is the rule for when a player runs out of Monopoly cards in their hand?

If a player runs out of cards during their turn, they can pick up 5 cards on their next turn. Until then, they have no cards in their hand to defend what they have on the table in front of them so bombs away!


Check out the Monopoly Deal Strategy section on ways to quickly get rid of your cards and how this can help you win Monopoly Deal.

8. What happens when you run out of cards when playing?

If a player runs out of cards during their turn, they have to wait until their next turn to pick up a total of 5 cards. Until then, they have no cards in their hand to defend what they have on the table in front of them so bombs away!



9. How many plays does each player get when playing Monopoly Deal? What are the rules for what can or can't be done during your turn?

Each player can play up to 3 cards on their turn. (a play is considered any card you lay onto the table such as money into your bank, property cards on the table, action cards played into the middle, etc). You do not need to lay all 3 card plays if you do not want to but you cannot have more than 7 cards in your hand at the end of your turn. If a player has more than 7 cards in their hand, they have to play all 3 card plays to get down to 7 cards in their hand. If the player plays all 3 cards but still has more than 7 cards in their hand, then the player will need to discard the excess cards into the discard pile.



10. Does a player have to play all 3 cards during their turn each time?

No, a player does not have to play all 3 cards if they do not want to but they cannot have more than 7 cards in their hand at the end of their turn. If a player has more than 7 cards in their hand, they have to play all 3 card plays to get down to 7 cards in their hand. If the player plays all 3 cards but still has more than 7 cards in their hand, then the player will need to discard the excess cards into the discard pile.


Check out the Monopoly Deal Strategy section to learn more about when it might be better not to laying down cards.

11. How many cards can a player have in their hands at the end of their turn?

A player can only have 7 cards in their hand at the end of a turn. If they have more than 7 cards, they need to discard the excess cards into the discard pile in the middle.



12. What happens when a player has more than 7 Monopoly cards in their hand at the end of their turn?

If a player has more than 7 cards in their hand at the end of a turn, they need to discard the excess cards into the discard pile in the middle.



13. What if you accidentally pick up too many cards?

Take the cards that were mistakenly picked up and reshuffle them into the draw pile.


14. Can you play cards other than money into your bank? What are the Monopoly Deal rules for your bank?

Yes and no. A player cannot lay property cards in their bank. But a player can play action cards, rent cards, house/hotel cards and of course money cards in their bank. These cards will have they monetary value on the corner of the card stating what they are worth as money in your bank. For example, a Wild Rent card is worth $3 million as money in your bank. Some players will chose to put the Wild Rent card in their bank if they are playing a 2 person game and they do not have any properties on the table where they can charge at least $3 million in rent which is the equivalent to the monetary value of the card. Since the player can only charge one player with this card, it is worth more to them to just bank the $3 million vs charge one player just $1 million in rent for example.



15. What happens when the Monopoly Deal draw pile runs out of cards when playing?

Shuffle the discard pile and flip it over face down. This is the new draw pile.


16. Can I ever put cards back in my hand?

No, a card laid is a card played. All cards on the table must stay on the table.


17. What if I play a card but want to take it back and not play it? What are the rules for a misplay?

Technically, a card laid is a card played so there are no take backs. However, if your opponents allow you to take back a card, go for it!


18. Can you rearrange Monopoly property and money cards that are on the table when playing?

Yes, you can rearrange cards on the table as many times as you want but only during your turn. Once your turn is over, your cards have to stay as they lay. You cannot rearrange cards during anyone else’s turn unless they do a force deal on you and give you a new property. At that point to can arrange the new property to where you would like it.


Check out the Monopoly Deal Strategy section on ways to optimize your turn by rearranging your cards accordingly.

19. How many people can you play Monopoly Deal with?

2-5 players. If you have more than 5 players, you can use 2 decks. You can also change up the game by taking certain cards out and adding them back in as needed.


20. What if I would like to play Monopoly with 6 or more players?

To play with 6 or more players, shuffle 2 Monopoly Deal decks together and play as usual. You can also change up the game by taking certain cards out and adding them back in as needed or changing the rules for winning, e.g. it takes 5 full sets to win vs. just three.


21. Can you look through an opponents Monopoly bank pile on the table?

No, you cannot touch an opponent’s money cards or any other cards that are on the table so pay attention to what is laid. Not knowing what your opponent has hidden on the table is all part of their strategy play. Check out the strategy section to learn what card to play on the top of your money bank to hide your cards to your advantage.


Check out the Monopoly Deal Strategy section to learn what card to play on the top of your money bank to hide your cards to your advantage.

22. Can you look through an opponent’s property cards on the table?

No, you cannot touch an opponent’s property cards or any other cards that are on the table so pay attention to what is laid. Not knowing what your opponent has hidden on the table is all part of their strategy play.


Check out the Monopoly Deal Strategy section to learn how to hide your Property Wildcards to your advantage.

23. Can you look at an opponent’s Property Wildcards on the table?

No, you cannot touch an opponent’s Property Wildcards or any other cards that are on the table so pay attention to what is laid during their turn so you know what is on the table for taking.


Check out the Monopoly Deal Strategy section to learn more about how to hide your Property Wildcards to your advantage.

24. Can you touch an opponent’s cards on the table when playing?

Never, you cannot touch or move another player’s cards to see Property Wildcards or see their money cards. When you do a deal, your opponent must hand you the card. You can look but you cannot touch.


Check out the Monopoly Deal Strategy section to learn more and how to hide your cards to your advantage.