Wheedle

About this board game

Wheedle is a fast-paced stock-trading and deal-making card game for 4–6 players, with rounds taking about 30 minutes. Released in 2002, it challenges players to jockey for corporate control through simultaneous, freewheeling trades.

At the start of a round, one card is placed face down in the center and the rest of the deck is dealt out. Once the central card is revealed, everyone begins trading at once, calling out the stocks they want or are ready to give away. You can trade with any player, exchange any number of cards, and even make unequal trades.

You may also swap one card from your hand with the central card. The aim is to collect majorities in the stock types you hold. For example, you might control 4 of the 7 green cards and 3 of the 5 blue cards. When a player believes they have a majority in every stock type represented in their hand, they can stop the round for scoring.

• +5 points go to the player who stops the round—or -5 if they do not actually have the required majorities.
• A monopoly earns +2 points per card.
• A majority without a monopoly earns +1 point per card.
• Cards matching the central, “bankrupt” stock cost -1 point each.
• Cards belonging to neither a majority nor the bankrupt company score 0.

After each player has dealt once, the game ends, and the player with the highest score wins. With its simultaneous trading and no-holds-barred bargaining, Wheedle rewards quick thinking, persuasive calls, and crafty timing.