Auction Bot — Auction Game in Telegram
How to Start The Game Rules Strategy Russian version Versión en español Version française
Telegram Bot

Auction Bot

Auction game with hidden cards. Guess the true value of the lot, outsmart rivals, and avoid the winner's curse.

2-8
players
5
rounds
15
minutes
Your Bid?
Every round — a new lot. Cards 1-6, sum = price. Bid, bluff, win.
5 ? ?

How to Start the Auction in 4 Steps

Add the bot to a group with friends — and start bidding right in Telegram.

1
Add the Bot
Add @Auction_play_bot to a Telegram group with friends. The bot needs admin rights.
2
Create Game
Type /newgame in the group. The bot will create a lobby and deal cards 1–6 to everyone. You can set the count right away: /startgame 8 (8 cards instead of 6).
3
Invite Friends
Friends type /join to enter the lobby. Not enough people? Add bots with /addbots — the bot will fill empty slots automatically.
4
Start Bidding
Message the bot privately: /card 1 (or 2–6). Each card is used once per game. Bidding starts in the group!

Why is an auction
not just luck?

Every round the auctioneer chooses an item to sell. All players secretly choose one card from 1 to 6. The sum of these cards is the true value of the lot.

Then bidding begins. Players take turns either raising the bid or dropping out. When one remains, they buy the lot at their last bid.

Points = true value − purchase price. Bought cheap — get a plus. Overpaid — minus.

📊 Score Calculation Example

Players' cards: 5 + 3 + 2 + 4 = True value: 14

Winning bid: 12 → Points: 14 − 12 = +2 ✅

Overpayment: 16 → Points: 14 − 16 = −2 ❌ (winner's curse)

The game is full of Pyrrhic victories where winners are forced to pay too much for the prize. Auction economists called this phenomenon the 'winner's curse'.

30 lots

Unique items with descriptions

6 cards

Secret choice every round

Victory

More points over 5 rounds

Bluff

Play a big card, but act like it's small

5 Steps of One Round

Once you understand one round's mechanics, you've mastered the whole game.

Step 1
Lot for Sale
The auctioneer picks an item from the catalog. The bot describes it vividly — everyone will want to buy it.
Step 2
Secret Assessment
Each player privately messages the bot to choose one card from 1 to 6. Used cards are burned until the end of the game.
Step 3
True Value
Sum of all chosen cards = real lot price. Unknown to anyone until the end of bidding.
Step 4
Auction
Take turns: raise the bid or pass ("pass"). The eliminated player reveals their card — a hint for the rest.
Step 5
Purchase & Points
The last player buys the lot. The bot reveals the true value. Points = true value − your bid. Bought cheap — plus, overpaid — minus (winner's curse). After 5 rounds the bot shows the final table — the winner has the highest score.

Command Cheat Sheet

All commands you'll need for one game.

G
/newgame
Create a lobby in the group. The bot will detect language automatically.
G
/join
Join the lobby. Type in the same chat where the game was created.
G
/startgame
Start bidding. /startgame 8 — play with 8 cards (harder).
G
/card (in DM)
Message the bot privately: /card 1 (or 2–6). Card choice is secret.
G
/addbots
Add AI players. Bots will fill empty slots automatically.
G
/stop
Stop the game. Only the game creator can use this.

How to Avoid the Curse

Two approaches that separate winners from auction victims.

Bluff with a Big Card

Pick a high card (5 or 6), but act like you have little. Rivals will think the true value is high and overpay — while you win cheaply.

Bluff with a Small Card

Pick a low card (1 or 2), but act confidently. Rivals will decide the lot is cheap and exit early — while you take the lot yourself.

Watch the Cards

Players eliminated from the auction reveal their cards. This gives info about the true value range. Factor this into your bids!

Ready to Bid?

Add the bot to a group, invite friends — and find out who's the best auctioneer.

Start Game in Telegram

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