Trader
Trader Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Material
- 5 Capital cards: Paris, Berlin, London, Rome and Brussels
- 35 Stocks (7 different value cards from 2 to 6 in 5 colours)
- 40 Euro Bills in the following amounts:
- 1 million (11 cards)
- 2 million (6 cards)
- 5 million (7 cards)
- 10 million (12 cards)
- 20 million (4 cards)
- 3 Joker Stocks worth "2"
- One "Market closed" card
- One set of game rules
Rules for 2 Players
Game Preparation
Each player puts a Joker Stock face up in front of himself (the third Joker Stock and the "Market closed" card are put back in the box).
Place the 5 Capital cards side by side in the centre of the table.
Shuffle the 35 Stocks and place a column of 7 Stocks face up under each Capital card (the value of each Stock must remain visible).
Distribute 20 million to each player (five 1 million notes and three 5 million notes). During the game the players keep their money in their hand without showing their opponent.
The remaining notes make up the Bank. Arrange them by value on the table, accessible to both players. Money can be exchanged for change from the bank at any time.
The Game
The player who most recently made a purchase begins the game. The players then each take their turn.
On his turn, the player must carry out one of the following two operations:
- Purchase a Stock; OR
- Sell two Stocks.
Buying a Stock
In each of the five columns, only the Stock at the bottom of the column can be purchased.
The price of a Stock corresponds to the value printed on the card: a "6" Stock costs 6 million.
The player chooses one of the available Stocks, places it face up in front of him and pays the bank the value of the Stock.
Selling Two Stocks
On his turn, the player can sell two of his Stocks. To be able to be sold, the two Stocks placed in front of him must be the same colour.
The player receives the amount corresponding to the multiplication of the values of the two sold Stocks from the Bank.
For example: selling a "4" red Stock and a "5" red Stock earns 20 million (4×5 = 20).
All the sold Stocks form a face down pile close to the Bank. They cannot be used during the game.
Using the Joker Stock
Once only during the game, instead of selling two same colour Stocks, a player can sell just one of his Stocks with his Joker Stock worth "2".
The player receives an amount corresponding to the value of the sold Stock multiplied by 2.
For example: Selling a Stock worth "3" with the Joker Stock earns 6 million (2×3 = 6).
The sold Stock and the Joker Stock go on the pile of sold Stocks close to the Bank.
The Winner
The game ends as soon as 3 columns have no more available Stocks. Each player can then choose to carry out a last sales operation (sell two of his same colour Stocks or use his Joker Stock).
The Stocks which are left in front of the players are worthless.
The players then count their money and the richest one wins the game.
To Play Even More!!!
The game can be played in several sets, the number being determined by the 2 players before the start.
- Note the sum of money gained by the players at the end of each set;
- After the final set, add up the scores of the various sets;
- The winner is the player with the highest total.
Publisher's advice: switch the first player at the beginning of each new set.
Option for 3 Players
The game is played following the previous rules but with the following modifications:
Game Preparation
- Each player takes a Joker Stock.
- Each player begins the game with 17 million.
- The "Market closed" card is placed on the Stock at the bottom of the central column.
The Game
It is forbidden to purchase the Stock covered by the "Market closed" card.
On his turn, after purchasing a Stock or making a sale, the player must move the "Market closed" card to an available Stock. He cannot leave it on the same column.
As soon as 2 columns have no more available Stocks, the "Market closed" card is removed from the game for good. The game continues (without the "Market closed" card) until another column has no more Stock.
Option for 4 Players
The game is played according to the rules for 2 players with the following modifications:
Game Preparation
- The game is played in teams of 2. The players sit alternately around the table so that they are not next to their partner. They will each take their turn clockwise.
- The players decide together whether communication between partners is allowed.
- Each player begins the game with 15 million.
- Each team has a Joker Stock (the third Joker Stock and the "Market closed" card remain in the box).
The Game
- When a player decides to sell: he must select a Stock in front of him, and another the same colour in front of his partner. He then pockets the profits from his sale.
- Each team only has one Joker Stock, which can be used once in the game by either of the 2 players. The Joker Stock can be sold with a Stock taken in front of himself or in front of his partner. In both cases, the profit from the sale goes to the player who used it.
At the end of the game, each team must make one last sale to the Bank, respecting the above rules. Then the team who gains the largest sum of money wins the game.