Chicago Stock Exchange
Chicago Stock Exchange Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Overview
Chicago Stock Exchange is a collecting game for 2 to 4 players, aged 8+. Time required: 15 minutes.
Principle
A scarce commodity is an expensive commodity! Each turn, the players must tactically acquire 2 commodities by moving the "Trader/Pawn" used by all players. This enables you to either buy (keep 1) or sell (sell 1) at the Stock Exchange. Selling makes it possible to drive down the value of commodities by a notch on the Commodity Price Board. This board constantly displays the value of each commodity, which changes after each turn. Theoretically, the value of a commodity can vary from 7 to 1 for Wheat or from 6 to 0 for the others.
Equipment
A "Trader" pawn + 36 pieces representing the commodities divided into different families: Wheat, Rice, Cocoa, Coffee, Sugar, Corn + a board to record the commodity prices as you go along and 6 tokens.
Setting Up
Mix the 36 pieces and then randomly lay out 9 stacks of commodities, facing upwards, arranged in a circle. You should then place the "Trader" on one of the 9 stacks. (Fig. 1)
The players agree among themselves who should start.
Note: when there are 4 players, you should play in teams of 2.
Gameplay
Each person plays in turn. The player who starts moves the Trader in a clockwise direction, from stack to stack. He moves by 1, 2 or 3 squares at a time. (Fig. 2)
He then takes the 2 commodities from the top of the two stacks around him (please see Fig. 3). Tactically, he keeps 1 for himself and puts 1 in the Bank. He finishes his turn by updating the Commodity Price Board. To do so, he moves the token for the commodity he has sold down by one notch. This reduces its value by the same amount. Its price cannot increase.
Game End
The game is over when there are only 2 stacks left in the game. (Fig. 4). You should then add up your points. Each player calculates the value of his commodities according to the trading price shown on the final board. The player with the most points is the winner!
"Expert" Version
Instead of moving the Trader forward by 1, 2 or 3 stacks, you can move him by as many stacks as you wish, in a clockwise direction, up to a square displaying the same commodity as the one shown on the square he just left, without going beyond it. If the next square contains the same commodity, in this case he will only move by a single square. If it's behind him, he may possibly go all the way around.