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Banner for Black Market 2 to 4 players

Envelope & Cargo

Play Black Market online

Also known as Blind Auction, Sealed-Bid Auction

Everyone bids at once in a sealed envelope — the highest bid pays and takes the lot; everyone else keeps their money.

Free · no sign-up · no download

How it plays

Schwarzmarkt is an auction game for two to four, played with play money that carries no cash value: six times, a crate lands on the loading dock — a case of bourbon, a tin of caviar, a diamond casket — its value from one to thirty printed right on it, and everyone bids at once, sealed, anywhere between nothing and their last bill. Then the envelopes open: the highest bid takes the crate and pays it, everyone else keeps their money in full. If two bids tie, they split the crate's value and both pay. If nobody can bid even one, the auction ends early. At the end, whoever has the most wealth wins — the value of their crates plus the cash still in hand.

The story

Black Market, comic panel 1 of 3
A fresh crate of cargo waits at the ramp for a secret auction.
Black Market, comic panel 2 of 3
Submit your sealed bid – the highest bidder wins the lot.
Black Market, comic panel 3 of 3
Collect the most valuable cargo, but keep enough cash for the next crates.

Goal and rules

Goal Most net worth

What counts at the end is what you have: the points of your cargo plus the cash in your till.

If nobody can bid even one anymore, it ends early. Tie: the single most valuable cargo decides.

  1. The cargo Six auctions, and a crate sits on the ramp in each. Its name and its value are printed on it: one to thirty points.
  2. Bidding sealed Everyone bids at the same time in an envelope, from zero to your last banknote. Nobody sees your bid until it's opened.
  3. The winning bid The highest bid gets the crate and pays it. If several bid the same, they split the crate and both pay.
  4. Your cash Everyone else keeps their money — in full. You only pay if you win; whoever doesn't win loses nothing.

Controls

Set your bid with the slider or type the number; "Min", "½", "2×" and "Max" are shortcuts. Then "Seal bid (secret)". With a keyboard: Tab reaches every control, Enter presses it.

In the arena, the goal and the rules are always behind the question mark, even mid-round — and between rounds, so is the story.

Quick Answers

Does Black Market cost anything?

No. Black Market is free and ad-free, and there is nothing to buy. You play for points and chips with no cash value, never for money.

How do I play Black Market with friends?

Press “Open Table” and send the link or the six-character room code to the others. 2 to 4 players take part, everyone else watches.

Do I need to download anything or sign up?

No. Black Market runs right in your browser, on your phone just as on your computer, with no app, no account and no email address.

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