Take Stock

About this board game

Take Stock is a 2006 stock-market game for 2–6 players, with approximately 60 minutes of play. Across four rounds, players build portfolios, influence market prices, and aim to finish with the highest score.

Each player collects certificates in five companies: Crispyflake Corn Cereal Co., Glittering Gems Ltd., Zeta-Chip Technology Ltd., Arctic Oil Drilling Co., and Movie Madness Distributors. Share cards numbered 1 through 12 can be placed in a company’s market row to raise its value, or kept in front of a player as certificates representing one, two, or three shares.

On a turn, players choose whether to increase a stock’s market value by adding a card to its row or acquire shares for their own portfolio. The value of each stock is determined by the highest number in its row, creating opportunities to push prices upward while building holdings that benefit from a strong closing market.

Market event cards add disruption and tactical possibilities. Players can trigger stock splits, crashes, insider trading, audits, freezes, market-wide changes, and other effects, including gaining or losing a stock option. After the market closes at the end of a round, options may be exercised to buy additional shares.

• 100 cards: 60 share cards and 40 market event cards
• 30 tokens: stock options allocated at the beginning of the game
• Four rounds: build positions, affect prices, and calculate returns

At the end of each round, a player’s score for each stock equals its closing price multiplied by the number of shares held. After four rounds, the player with the highest total score wins. With its mix of portfolio building and market-changing events, Take Stock puts the fate of five fictional companies in the players’ hands.