As a child the strongest memory I have of my maternal grandparents is either visiting them and playing cards or ludo or them visiting us and having a family game of Monopoly in the afternoon. My Grandad, bless him, was a terrible cheat and would cause endless hours of laughter and joy every time we played - and was definitely an influence on my game playing style!

Monopoly, if for some reason you've never played it before, is a game based on buying property and houses and charging those who land on your spaces rent whilst avoiding bankruptcy as you can't afford to pay rent to another player. The age range of Monopoly is dependent on how easily children grasp the concept really; and as long as they can hold their concentration for a decent amount of time there's no reason why a younger child should play it with the help of an adult. You can play with anywhere between two and 8 players with the only limitation being the number of playing pieces available. As you get more players involved, the game gets harder as more people are fighting for properties!

The game now comes in many different themes including those themed around TV shows, locations, films and others. There are also now lots of new editions that include electronic cash machines and even a junior version for kids to use. Personally, I've only ever played the classic version - but in many different versions such as Dr Who, The Simpsons and Anglesey town. The only difference in the variations is that the places are obviously named differently, the currency and chance/community chest cards are themed, and there may be one or two counter pieces that are different (for example, in the Dr Who set there's a Tardis playing piece). If you're mad about a certain theme then they make a nice gift but generally, they don't add anything exciting or new to the game. Personally my favourite set I've seen is the 'nostalgia' wooden box set - it's very smart!

The actual game play of Monopoly is very simple; you roll the two dice and move around the board. If you land on a property square that has not yet been bought, you can buy it for the price on the board. When you land on a square that has been bought by another player, you have to pay them rent (if they notice you have landed there - remain vigilant!). As you move around the board your aim is to buy buy buy and to build on complete sets in order to bankrupt your opponent. Once you have a full set of properties, you can buy houses and hotels which make the property cost more every time you land on them. However, all the other players are trying to do the exact same thing and there's no rules on who can buy what so it can lead to some tense moments when someone else lands on a space you really need! The game ends when all players bar one are bankrupt or you reach a previously agreed time. We normally play a timed game because it can last for hours if you don't - 3 hours is generally a good time. There are rules you can instill if you want a quicker game but they tend to detract from the full enjoyment!

The one downside to Monopoly is that it nearly always results in an argument in my household. Whether it's over a property that I want to make a full set or the amount of rent that's due, there's always something to shout about. I think tensions run especially high as Monopoly has a really competitive element in it which old and young alike enjoy. It can be a good idea to have a mediator at hand to solve those tricky disputes that arise. Also making sure the rule book is to hand is a good idea as well!

A set of Monopoly can be bought in many places; from high street stores such as WHSmiths and House of Fraser to online stores such as Amazon.co.uk. I've never bought my own set as they've either belonged to my parents or they've been presents but the game tends to retail between £15 and £35 depending on the recency of the edition and the time of year. However once you have a set, it's a timeless classic that will never get old.