Streetcar
(Fall 1996 GA REPORT). For Sale is short, easy to
learn and enjoyable to play. FLASHBACK:
FOR SALE
(Back in the Fall 1997 issue of GA REPORT, Steve Kurzban took a look at a little game called For Sale. With the new version of this game hitting the marketplace, we thought we'd flashback to see what Kban said about this great little game 8 years ago! )
FOR SALE (Ravensburger; out of print)
For Sale
is a card game for 3-5 players (best with 5) that demands replay. The game is by
Stefan Dorra whose other works include Intrige
(Winter 1995 GA REPORT) and Streetcar
(Fall 1996 GA REPORT). For Sale is short, easy to
learn and enjoyable to play.
For Sale is played in two phases, each taking about five minutes. In the first phase, twenty pieces of property (cards with values of 1 to 20 million) get dealt face up and auctioned off in groups equal to the number of players. Bidding is done by anteing up chips equal to or greater than the previous bid. Players start the game with a supply of 15 bidding chips. The first bidder to drop from the bidding gets the lowest valued property and forfeits HALF his bid (rounded down). The last bidder receives the most valuable property but must pay the FULL amount bid! Once all twenty property cards have been auctioned, the second phase, competing for checks, commences.
Twenty checks (2 zeroes and 3 through 20) get dealt face up as in the first phase. Players use their property cards to compete for the checks. In each round, the highest property card wins the highest valued check - down to the lowest property card winning the lowest check. Players add up their checks plus $1 million for each unused bidding chip from the first phase to arrive at their final score.
That's it- short and sweet! A perfect late night filler game that has surprisingly strategic decisions regarding perceived value and bidding. For Sale has become our playtesting group's favorite "closer" of late. Highly recommended. - - - - Kban
copyright © 1997, all rights reserved
