The Antique Auction Game

Players take the roles of antique dealers bidding for items at auction. At the start of the game each player secretly selects eight items, represented by nicely illustrated cards, of the sixteen different antiques available (the deck includes three of each type) recording these on a score pad. Each item is likely to have a different value, representing the resale value for each player. The object therefore is to purchase as many of the selected items as possible for less than the resale price. Players take it in turns to auction the cards. The progress of each auction is unusual in being determined by die rolls. The auctioneer rolls a die to "establish the reserve". The next player in rotation can either roll again, the value shown being added to the reserve price or drop out. This continues until only one player remains in the bidding. The cost of the item is then the sum of all the die rolls! Items other than the eight may be purchased but at the game end they will represent a loss there is no resale value) and at any point a player may offer an item or items for sale at a price to be negotiated. The game continues until one player has accumulated his or her portfolio of eight items, the game ends immediately and all players calculate their profits. The largest profit wins.