The other day I played a game of Monopoly with two friends. Played strictly by the rules and with an understanding of the odds and values of the different properties, it was a close tight game. I lost, but it was a good night of gaming. Not bad for a game that hit the big time in 1938.

People can say that this game is luck dependent, I will counter that Settlers of Catan also has a high luck factor. Is it as strategic as some of the newer games coming from Europe?, maybe not. It is though a classic which should be seen as one of the best games ever produced.

Game snobs will prefer some of the newer products, I will always see this game as a standard which should be in any gamer's library.

Monopoly is in effect a rummy variant which is enlivened with some bidding and trading. Having lasted over 70 years, Parker Brothers need not fear the reviews below. This remains an excellent family game. It is highly luck dependent and more recent games have certainly an improved design, but Monopoly is part of the American and even the gaming culture. Yes, Acquire and countless German games are much more to a Gamer's tastes, but remember we are into games. There is a world out there that doesn't await the next release from some favorite designer. A gamer would say that Diplomacy is a much better multi-player conflict game than Risk. In the real world, (Even though I love Diplomacy) I've never seen anyone but gamers into the game. Well, let me leave these reviews, I have a meeting back on planet earth. The special effects in the old King Kong are laughable compared to what can be done today, but the old flick is still a great movie. Lighten up gamers!

Virtually 90% of the people I know have said at one point in their life that they hate Monopoly. Everyone is convinced that it is the most luck-based game, and that it is only popular because of how long it has been in existence.

But I would guess that 90% of those same people have never read the rules and followed them. Everyone thinks they know how to play because their parents or friends taught them growing up. But when you're a kid, parents make games easier to fit your capacity for understanding.

First of all, there is no Free Parking Jackpot. This "house rule" ruins many a game, causing it to last longer and changing the money leader in the matter of one turn. I never really understood this anyway, since when does the word "free" mean you get a five hundred dollar bill?

But more than anything else people ignore the auction rule. When you decide not to purchase a property it is supposed to go up for auction. By auctioning it off you give players an opportunity to purchase that property below it's retail value. Also the auction process allows someone who really needs that property to outbid his opponents and grab a monopoly without having to do any trading. This is where there is added strategy in the game. (i.e. "Should I purchase this property for $200 or can I put it up for auction and get it for cheaper?")

I challenge you to pick up this classic again (or one of the thousands of spin-offs that has a theme you might enjoy) and read the rules and follow them. Hey, it's worth a try to resurrect something you probably loved as a child.