Masterpiece is a classic board game released by Parker Brothers in 1970 that simulates an art auction. The game is designed for 3-6 players and is suitable for ages 10 and up. The objective of the game is to be the player with the most money at the end of the auction.

Gameplay:

Players take on the role of art dealers and are given a budget of $15,000 in game money to bid on works of art. The game comes with 16 reproduction paintings by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Monet, and Van Gogh. Each painting is assigned a value ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

Players take turns being the auctioneer and selling one of the paintings to the highest bidder. The auctioneer sets the opening bid for each painting, and players take turns bidding until the highest bid is reached. Once the highest bid is reached, the painting is sold to that player and the auctioneer moves on to the next painting.

The twist in the game is that not all of the paintings are authentic. Some are forgeries, and some are worth more than their assigned value. Players can choose to take a risk and bid high on a painting they believe is authentic and valuable, or play it safe and bid on a painting with a lower assigned value.

Once all of the paintings have been sold, players reveal the value of their paintings. The player with the most valuable collection of paintings is declared the winner.

Strategy:

Masterpiece is a game that rewards risk-taking and knowledge of art history. Players who are able to identify the authentic paintings and their true value have an advantage over those who do not. However, players must also be careful not to overspend on a single painting and end up bankrupt.

Players can also use bluffing and psychology to their advantage. By bidding high on a painting they do not necessarily want, players can force their opponents to overspend and drain their budgets. Similarly, players can bluff by pretending to be interested in a painting they know to be a forgery in order to trick their opponents into overbidding.

Conclusion:

Masterpiece is a timeless classic that combines elements of strategy, risk-taking, and art appreciation. It is a great game for families and friends to enjoy together and is sure to spark discussions about art and art history. The game has been reissued several times over the years and remains popular to this day. If you are looking for a fun and engaging game to play with friends or family, Masterpiece is definitely worth checking out.