# Pit

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 1903
- **BGG Rating**: 6.4
- **BGG Rank**: #2245
- **Players**: 3-8 (Best with: 8)
- **Duration**: 30-90 min
- **Weight**: 1.15 / 5
- **Designers**: Edgar Cayce, George S. Parker, Harry Gavitt
- **Artists**: Andrea Trewhela, Nick the Rat, Olivier Fagnère, Paul Couture, Paul T., Peekasso, Randy Asher, Thoren
- **Publishers**: (Self-Published), Arclight Games, Clipper, Copp Clark Publishing Company, Crown & Andrews Ltd., Editorial Dos Pasos, Editrice Giochi, Fractal Juegos, Fundex, Grimaud, Hasbro, Holdson, John Waddington Ltd., Juegos Si-Lo, Kaissa Chess & Games, Korea Boardgames, Lighthouse Games, Nordic Games ehf, Parker Brothers, Repos Production, Russimco Games, Schmidt Spiele, Spear's Games, Top Cards, Waddingtons, Winning Moves Games (USA), Yetem S.A.
- **Categories**: Card Game, Economic, Party Game
- **Mechanics**: Commodity Speculation, Negotiation, Real-Time, Set Collection, Trading

## Verdict
Perfect for those who love loud games and total interaction; the chaos is the best part!Intense and frenetic social interactionExtremely simple and fast rulesWorks great with large groupsFun tension of the race against timeCan be too noisy for some playersLack of complex strategic depthRECOMMENDED

## Description
Imagine the chaos of an early 20th-century stock exchange floor, where everyone is shouting at once to secure the best deal. That is exactly the vibe of Pit! Originally released in 1903, this game is an absolute classic of real-time negotiation. The objective is simple, but the execution is pure adrenaline: you need to collect all the cards of a single commodity (such as wheat or flax) before anyone else does.

Forget etiquette and organized turns. Here, the rule is agitation. You offer trades by shouting the number of cards you want to swap—for example, "Two! Two! Two!"—but you never reveal which commodity you are offering. The fun lies in the chaos of trying to get rid of what you don't need and snagging what's missing to complete your set, all while trying not to be tricked by your opponents. Once you finally achieve a monopoly on a commodity, you ring the bell (if available) and shout "Corner on Wheat!" (or whatever commodity you collected) to end the round and score points.

Some commodities are more valuable than others, so the strategy involves deciding whether to take the easiest path or the most profitable one. Later versions added the Bull and Bear cards, which act as wildcards or penalties, adding more spice to the competition. With a curious history involving patent disputes and even the involvement of a famous psychic, Pit has survived the test of time because it delivers exactly what every party game needs: laughter, noise, and that sense of urgency that gets everyone hyped. It's the perfect game to break the ice in large groups and see who can keep their cool in the middle of the storm.

## How to Play
Game Objective
Welcome to Pit, a frenzied trading game that simulates the hustle and bustle of a commodity exchange! The game's theme revolves around being a trader trying to "corner the market" on one of the following commodities: Wheat, Barley, Coffee, Corn, Sugar, Oats, Soybeans, or Oranges. To corner the market on a commodity, you must have all 9 cards of that same commodity in your hand. The main objective is to be the first player to reach a total of 500 points. This usually takes several rounds of play.

Setup
To set up the game, follow these steps:

    Place the trading bell in the center of the table.
    Prepare a scoresheet.
    Select a dealer.
    The dealer prepares the deck for play:
        
            Use one complete set of 9 cards of the same suit for each player in the game.
            Leave the remaining sets out of play for the entire game.
        
    
    The dealer shuffles the cards and deals 9 cards, face down, to each player.
    Take your cards and sort them by suit. Make sure no one else can see them.
    As you sort your cards, decide which commodity you will try to corner. It is usually best to try to corner the commodity of which you start with the most cards.
    After everyone has had a chance to sort their cards, the dealer rings the bell and announces, "The market is open."


Gameplay Flow
The game proceeds through trading between players. As soon as the bell rings and the announcement "The market is open" is made, players begin trading. The game continues until one player manages to corner the market on a commodity.

Actions and How to Play
At the sound of the bell, begin trading by taking one to four cards of the same commodity from your hand. These cards should be of a commodity you do NOT wish to corner. Hold the cards up (being careful that other players do not see the suit) and announce:

    "Trade One! One! One!"
    "Trade Two! Two! Two!"
    etc., depending on the number of cards you wish to trade.

You may trade cards with any opponent who is announcing the same number of cards. Sometimes, a particular opponent may want to trade fewer cards than you. In this case, you may lower your offer and trade the lesser number.
Continue trading until one player manages to get 9 cards of the same suit. If you achieve this first, ring the bell and announce "Corner on Corn!" (or whichever commodity it is). Score the points marked on the commodity you have cornered and record them on the scoresheet. The winner of the corner shuffles the cards and deals the next hand.

Playing with the Bull and Bear Cards
When you add the Bull and Bear cards to the deck, two players will receive a tenth card. If you receive ten cards, you may announce "Corner" if you have 9 cards of the same commodity and one extra card. Simply lay down the 9 matching cards and set the extra card aside.
Otherwise, the game is the same as the basic game, except for the values and penalties associated with the Bull and Bear cards.

    The Bull card can be a "wild" card or a penalty card.
    The Bear card always carries a penalty.

If you hold the Bull card when you have 8 cards of the same commodity, ring the bell, announce "Bull Corner," and score the points marked on the commodity you have cornered. If you hold the Bull card when you have 9 cards of the same commodity, ring the bell, announce "Double Corner," and score double the points marked on the commodity you have cornered.
If you hold the Bull or Bear card when an opponent announces "Corner," you lose 20 points. If you hold both the Bull and Bear cards when an opponent announces "Corner," you lose 40 points. (In Pit, your score can go below 0).
You should trade the Bear card as soon as you receive it, as 1) it will cost you points if someone goes out first; and 2) while you hold it, you cannot lay down your hand, even if you have 9 cards of one commodity. It is also a good strategy to trade the Bull card if you feel the hand is about to end and you are not going to win.
You may trade the Bull and Bear cards at any time. You may trade them individually, in combination, or along with any other cards of a suit you wish to trade. At no time, however, may you trade more than four cards at once.

End of Game and Scoring
The game ends when a player reaches the target score. For a shorter game, the first player to 250 points wins. For standard play, the first player to 500 points wins.
When a player corners the market on a commodity, they score the points marked on that commodity. For example, if you corner the market on Corn, you earn 75 points.
If you hold the Bull card when you have 8 cards of the same commodity and announce "Bull Corner," you score the points marked on the commodity you have cornered. If you hold the Bull card when you have 9 cards of the same commodity and announce "Double Corner," you score double the points marked on the commodity you have cornered.
If you hold the Bull or Bear card when an opponent announces "Corner," you lose 20 points. If you hold both the Bull and Bear cards when an opponent announces "Corner," you lose 40 points. Your score can go below 0.

Tips for Winning

    It is usually best to try to corner the commodity of which you start with the most cards.
    You should trade the Bear card as soon as you receive it, as it will cost you points if someone goes out first and will prevent you from laying down your hand.
    It is also a good strategy to trade the Bull card if you feel the hand is about to end and you are not going to win.

## FAQ
### Is the game very complex?
Not at all! The rules are super simple, and you can learn how to play in less than five minutes.

### How many people can play?
The game shines with groups of 3 to 8 people, making it ideal for parties.

### How long does a game last?
Rounds are fast, and the whole game usually lasts between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the target score.

### Do I need a bell to play?
The bell is iconic and adds a lot of fun, but it's optional; you can just shout to announce your victory.

### Is it suitable for children?
Yes, as long as they don't mind the shouting and the general commotion of the game!

## Price Comparison
### Best Offers in Brazil
- **Amazon**: R$ 119,50 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B001Y9CXK6?tag=bgbot26-20)
  - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/pit

### Best International Offers
- **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.48 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6857990&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com)
  - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/1917/pit?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com