Traderwars

TraderWars is a skill-based trading game which is particularly popular with those who work in the financial industry, especially traders and brokers. TraderWars has been described by some as a hybrid between Texas Holdem poker and trading. TraderWars requires an understanding of the mechanics of trading and is generally not for consumption by those without such an understanding. The fundamental aim of the game is to buy and sell, that is to trade, for profit based on fictional values.

TraderWars is a multi-player game that requires speed and numeric ability, and is generally played by 4 players. Players simulate the role of a trader in a fictional trading pit. TraderWars is usually based upon 15 fictional stocks, or cards, ranging sequentially in value from 1 to 15. Each particular game is based upon a number of the stocks (usually 7) being randomly drawn from the total number of stocks. Players then trade with each other based upon what they believe will be the total sum of the randomly drawn stocks. At the start of each game, and in a similar vein to Texas Holdem poker, each player is usually given 1 stock. The remaining number of randomly drawn stocks in that particular game (usually 3) are then distributed face down to a central area which is described as a trading pit. Each game is usually played out over 4 periods where one of the central stock values is revealed at the end of the first three periods and all of the stock values are revealed at the end of the fourth period.

As the game progresses and the values of the central Stocks are revealed, players are able to make more accurate estimations of what will be the total sum of all of the distributed stocks, and to trade accordingly.

At the end of a game, all of the stock values are revealed and added up and presented as the ‘closing price’. Each player is then obliged to carry out opposing trades with their opponents at whatever the closing price is for that particular game. At this point the player discovers whether he or she has traded profitably or not.

TraderWars has sometimes been described as being similar to Dope Wars or Drug Wars, although it has a fundamental difference in that it requires more than one player.

External links

* [http://www.traderwars.co.uk/ TraderWars - online multiplayer version]