How To Play: Executive Decision

Overview

If you’ve ever tried to make a shady business deal with your best mate while eating pizza, then Executive Decision is your game. In this guide, I’ll break down the basic rules (so you don’t look confused at the table), plus share the best tips for crushing your friends and becoming the business boss. Bring your bluffing face and let’s get started! And yes, I’ve tested all these moves myself.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 6 Player screens
• 6 Secret bid cards
• 60 Commodity cards
• 6 Player tokens
• Paper money (various denominations)
• 1 Rulebook
• 1 Market marker
• 36 Decision chips

How To Play Executive Decision: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, place the board in the center. Give everyone a screen, their own set of bid cards, and some chips for secret deals.

2. Next, shuffle the commodity cards and keep them ready. Give players the starting money. Trust me, you’ll wish you had more soon.

3. Finally, place the marker on the current round and the chips where everyone can reach them. Hide your snacks from greedy friends.

Gameplay

1. To begin, read the current commodity out loud. Now, everyone secretly picks a price to offer for it. You can’t peek, no matter how much you want to.

2. Once everyone chooses, reveal bids at the same time. If there are ties, the game has rules for that—it’s fair, I promise.

3. Buy or sell according to the game’s price chart. Sometimes, you strike gold. More often, you just wish you did.

4. Negotiate with your friends—alliances are allowed, but backstabbing is basically encouraged. My cousin still hasn’t forgiven me for that one round.

5. Continue to the next round and repeat until the chips run out or someone faints from laughter (not an official rule, but it happens).

Winning

1. After the final round, count your money. If you have the most, stand up and perform a victory dance. It’s required. Okay, not really, but you’ll want to.

2. In case of a tie, split the win… or just challenge the other player to a staring contest. House rules apply!

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Some commodities have special events. Watch for these: they can flip the game faster than a pancake at brunch.

2. Don’t run out of money. Otherwise, you’re out of the action for that round, which is no fun. Ask me how I know.

3. Keep deals secret—no shouting your plans. Whisper, wink, or use interpretive dance, just don’t say it out loud.

Best Executive Decision Strategies

Seize the Moment: Mastering Market Timing in Executive Decision

Spot the Perfect Opportunity

I once missed a golden chance to buy low and sell high, just because I got distracted by my snack. Timing is everything! Here’s what works for me:

1. Watch the price trends every round.
2. Act fast when prices dip.
3. Don’t wait too long or someone else will grab it.

React to Other Players

You can’t ignore your friends at the table, even the loud ones. Instead, keep an eye on their moves:

1. Notice when others hesitate. That’s your signal.
2. If someone is rushing a buy, consider holding back. They might panic and pay too much.

Use the Clock

Time runs out faster than you’d think. Here’s what helps me keep ahead:

1. Set rough goals for each round.
2. Don’t linger over choices. Decide, then commit!

With these How To Play executive decision market timing tips, you’ll have everyone guessing your next move—except the snacks. They never guess anything.

Master the Art of Negotiation in Executive Decision

Know When to Hold Back

Sometimes, silence says more than words. When players get too chatty, I lean back. This makes them wonder if I have a killer plan. The less I reveal, the more nervous they get.

1. Stay quiet about your true goals.
2. Let others argue first.

Make Fake Promises (But Don’t Get Caught!)

Yes, I know, lying is bad… but only off the board! In Executive Decision, I tease with offers I might not keep—just enough to get a better deal. But if you do it too much, everyone will gang up on you. Trust me, it happened at my last game night and I still hear about it.

1. Offer help, then back out if it suits you.
2. Blame someone else for a bad outcome.

Trade Like a Pro

A small trade now can set up a bigger win later. I swap small favors for info or resources. After a few games, my friends said I should wear a tie to game night—I was that good at deals.

1. Swap resources for info.
2. Offer small trades to build trust.

With these negotiation tactics in Executive Decision, you’ll have players begging to make deals with you. But remember, next time you need backup, don’t burn every bridge!

Risk vs. Reward: Winning Big or Crashing Hard in Executive Decision

Know When to Bet Big

Sometimes you see a deal and your gut says, “Go for it!” But before you mortgage your board game house, weigh the odds. In my last game, I gambled everything on jet fuel and ended up with nothing but regret (and stale chips).

1. Check the market before each deal.
2. Only risk big if you’re ahead or desperate.
3. Remember, surviving is better than losing everything.

Small Bets Add Up

If you avoid giant risks, you can slowly build a fortune. I once played it safe and won thanks to steady gains. Boring? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.

1. Invest modestly in several markets.
2. Keep a cash buffer.
3. Never go all-in unless you love drama.

How To Play executive decision: Smart Hedging

Hedge your bets by mixing high-risk with stable moves. This keeps you in the game while others crash and burn. When you learn how to play executive decision, master this balance!

1. Balance risky and safe deals.
2. Watch others’ moves for clues.
3. Celebrate your safe wins with a victory dance.

Ready to Rule the Boardroom?

Well, you made it. You now know more about Executive Decision than my Uncle Larry pretends to know about stocks. Use these tricks, trust your gut, and remember that being sneaky is part of the fun. My friends still talk about the time I bluffed so hard they thought I was running a real company. Put these tips into action next game night and maybe you’ll finally steal the CEO mug from your smug cousin. Now go make those executive decisions! And if you forget, just yell out, “How To Play executive decision!” and hope for the best.

Want to know what we think of Executive Decision? Read our detailed review of Executive Decision here