Money!
🐸 Dettagli da BoardGameGeek
Consiglio BGG sul numero di giocatori
Categorie
Meccaniche
Design & Art
Lingua
Si abbina bene con
The FroGames tab
Everyone reveals. Some dared too little, some too much. And the guy who threw away three worthless cards takes home your poker of 50. In five minutes, you play again.
WHAT IT IS ABOUT
Currencies, bluffing, and a scoring system that punishes
Reiner Knizia published Money! in 1999 for Goldsieber, and since then the game has been reissued by publishers around the world. The Allplay 2025 edition includes official 2-player rules for the first time, and artwork by Anne Heidsieck, Paul Niemeyer, Cristal Portau, Marek Szyszko, and Franz Vohwinkel.
At the table, you manage a hand of currency cards (seven denominations from 20 to 60, plus 10-coin cards) and each round you simultaneously bid cards to claim one of two lots revealed next to the deck. The highest bidder chooses first, but the final scoring system is a trap: currencies under 200 lose points, over 200 they are worth everything. Complete sets give bonuses. The game lasts until the deck runs out.
What they say abroad
"Your goal in Money!"
— Allplay
Money! is proof that Knizia can build tension with three rules and a deck of cards.
— FroGames
Money!
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews, and play sessionsThe currencies in play
What's in the deck
Currency cards 20-60
Seven denominations, three cards of each type. The higher the number, the more it's worth, but if you don't reach 200 in that currency, you lose points. The whole game is about this: accumulating without sinking.
10-coin cards
Always worth 10 points, no penalty. They are the escape valve when a currency is doomed, but they don't win games.
Open lots
Four face-up cards to the left and four to the right of the deck. Win the auction, choose a lot (or steal an opponent's bid). Lots change each round.
Complete set bonus
If you collect all three 20 or all three 30 cards of a currency, you earn an extra 100 points. A game-changing bonus, if you spot it in time.
Recommended sleeves 382 cards in 5 sizes ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting your cards with clear sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 58 × 88 mm | 80 |
| 63 × 88 mm | 80 |
| 56 × 87 mm | 74 |
| 70 × 110 mm | 74 |
| 55 × 86 mm | 74 |
| Total cards | 382 |
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each round
Simultaneous bidding, resolution in order of value, drawing and starting over. Fast and brutal.
From your hand, choose one or more cards to bid. Do not reveal them. Your bid is the sum of the values of the cards you play.
Everyone reveals. The highest bidder chooses first: they can take one of the two lots next to the deck, or steal an opponent's bid (the cards they played).
The second highest bid chooses from what remains, and so on. If you take a lot or a bid, add those cards to your hand. Your bid goes next to the deck (or in front of the robbed opponent).
Fill the two lots with four cards each by drawing from the deck. When the deck runs out, play one last round, then final scoring.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
First hands, first assessments
Draw six cards. Look at the lots. Someone already has a pair of 50s, someone a handful of 20s. The first rounds are timid: low bids, wait-and-see tactics. No one wants to waste their big cards early.
The first serious auction
A lot with three cards of the same currency comes out. Everyone reveals, someone dared a 60. They take the spoils, the others are left empty-handed. You start to understand who is accumulating what.
The race to the thresholds
Half the deck is gone. Someone has 180 in one currency and must reach 200 or lose points. Bids become aggressive, you steal opponents' lots to cripple them. Tension rises.
The last round, empty deck
You know what everyone is missing. The last lot can save or sink an entire currency. Someone throws everything in to get it, someone bluffs with useless cards. Cards are open but no one knows what others will do.
Ruthless scoring
Count currency by currency. Those with 200+ score everything, those with less subtract 100 (minimum 0). Bonus sets come out. Someone who seemed behind wins by 50 points. Prepare the deck, play again.
🐸What to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
What to know beforehand
Three honest things
Scoring is punishing
If you have less than 200 in a currency, you lose points (subtract 100, minimum 0). You cannot play it safe: you either push a currency beyond the threshold or abandon it. This system forces brutal choices and sometimes you find yourself discarding big cards just to stay afloat. It's counterintuitive the first game.
It loses bite with 2 players
The Allplay 2025 edition includes official rules for dueling, but Money! was designed for 3-5 players. With two, bluffing fades (you read your opponent too easily), lots are less contested, and the chaos of multi-player auctions is missing. It works, but it's a different game.
Non-existent theme
These are cards with numbers. Knizia never pretended there was a story: you're optimizing sets, not exchanging currencies. If you're looking for thematic immersion, this isn't the right table. If you're looking for elegant mathematics under pressure, sit down.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the end rewards▼
How it ends
How to win
The deck runs out, you play the last round, then count everything. The player with the most points wins.
Victory conditions
- Each currency with 200+ points is worth its total
- Each currency under 200 loses 100 points (minimum 0)
- Complete sets of three 20 or 30 cards give +100 bonus
- Add everything + the 10 coins. Highest score wins
Defeat
- You wasted big cards in lost auctions
- You stayed under 200 in too many currencies and lost points
- You didn't see the bonus sets in time
- You played too safe and someone out-performed you by 150 points
Money! is Knizia in its purest form: rules in five minutes, hidden depth, zero compromises. If you like counting, bluffing, and playing at the table with people who count better than you, this is your filler.
💬Frequently asked questionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently asked questions
FAQ about Money!
What mechanics does Money! use?
Simultaneous Auction/Bidding (everyone bids together, no turns), Set Collection (you collect currencies to exceed thresholds), Simultaneous Action Selection (you choose which cards to play without knowing what others are doing). The core is risk/reward assessment: every card played is a card you no longer have in hand.
Does it play well with 2 players?
The Allplay 2025 edition includes official rules for dueling, but Money! is designed for 3-5 players. With two, some of the bluffing and lot competition is lost. It is still playable (identical rules), but it truly shines with three or more, when auctions become chaotic and no one knows who will take what.
How long does a game last?
15-30 minutes. With experienced players who count quickly, even less. The deck has a fixed number of cards, so the duration is predictable. Usually you replay immediately: setup is instant.
Is the scoring really that punishing?
Yes. If you have 190 in a currency, you lose 100 points (190 - 100 = 90, which becomes 0 if negative). You must reach 200 or abandon that currency. This system forces aggressive choices: you cannot accumulate a little bit of everything. The first game is disorienting, then you understand that it is the salt of the game.
Is it available in Italian?
This is the Allplay English edition. The game is language independent: the cards only have numbers and currency symbols, the rulebook is read once and that's it. No translation is needed to play.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Money! is a card game for 2-5 players by Reiner Knizia, lasting 15-30 minutes, recommended age 10+. Simultaneous auction and set collection system: you collect currencies to exceed the 200 point threshold, otherwise you lose. The Allplay 2025 edition includes official rules for 2 players for the first time. Mechanics: Auction/Bidding, Set Collection, Simultaneous Action Selection. Available on FroGames.it with immediate shipping.
Money!
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
Pre-order the game before release, payment is immediate, and the game is reserved for you. As soon as it arrives, we'll ship it right away! If there are any delays, we'll update you promptly.
🔒Can I trust buying here?
Absolutely! Secure payments, tracked shipments, and a team that loves board games as much as you do. If something goes wrong, we'll do our best to fix it.
🛠There's a problem with my order, what should I do?
Write to us now! Whether it's a missing part, damage, or an error, we'll help you resolve it as soon as possible. Your experience truly matters to us.