<p>There are multiple issues with the way this played out.</p>
<p>First of all, trading 2 wood for 1 wood is not a legal trade, as outlined in <a href="https://www.catan.com/files/downloads/catan_base_rules_2020_200707.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the rulebook</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>You may <strong>not</strong> trade like resources (e.g., 2 wool for 1 wool).</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But aside from that, simply stating &quot;I will take any (1) resource for (2) woods&quot; is not actually making a trade, it is simply proposing a general offer. Once players respond to that offer, there can be negotiation and then eventually an actual trade is made.</p>
<p>In this case, Player B doesn't just &quot;give him 1 wood&quot;, rather player B would say &quot;ok, how about 1 wood?&quot; at which point Player A can say &quot;no, what else you got?&quot;</p>
<p>It is important to distinguish between &quot;proposing a trade&quot; and &quot;making a trade&quot;. I can say &quot;I will give a sheep for a wood&quot;, but if the only player willing to do it is someone who has 9 points so I don't want to trade with them, I don't have to trade with them. I can always just say &quot;sorry, not trading with you&quot;. Making statements about what sort of trade you want is not a binding agreement; the actual agreement comes when 2 different players say &quot;ok&quot; to a specific set of resources exchanging with other resources.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-06T13:55:54.643Z
2021-04-08T18:50:37.457Z
2021-04-08T18:50:37.457Z
GendoIkari
<p>Is the following allowed?</p>
<p>Player A: holds up two woods and says &quot;I will take any one resource for two woods&quot;</p>
<p>Player B: Gives him a wood for his two woods.</p>
<p>Player A: tries to say he meant any resource besides wood since this trade is not allowed.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-06T12:11:05.123Z
Does this answer your question? [Giving cards away in Catan](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/44161/giving-cards-away-in-catan)
Null
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-06T12:11:45.810Z
Not only is it illegal, but Player A could have just rejected the trade. Just because you offer a trade suggestion doesn't mean you have to ultimately make the trade.
Null
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-06T13:56:19.877Z
I think there are 2 separate things going on in this scenario, and only 1 of them is covered by the linked duplicate.
GendoIkari
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-07T19:14:52.477Z
I don't see this as a duplicate, the questioner doesn't appear to be attempting to give away resources.
Pat Ludwig
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-07T19:25:27.640Z
@PatLudwig, the (only) answer to "Giving cards away..." states the rule that like-for-like trades are not allowed. But if that's not enough, there's also [Is it legal to trade 1 wood for 1 wood + 1 hay?](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/50275/is-it-legal-to-trade-1-wood-for-1-wood-1-hay)  (Both are marked as a duplicates of the very same question.)
ilkkachu
<catan>
Is a player locked in to a poorly worded trade offer?
Leroy
# Is a player locked in to a poorly worded trade offer?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-06)

Is the following allowed?

Player A: holds up two woods and says "I will take any one resource for two woods"

Player B: Gives him a wood for his two woods.

Player A: tries to say he meant any resource besides wood since this trade is not allowed.

**Tags:** catan

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does this answer your question? [Giving cards away in Catan](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/44161/giving-cards-away-in-catan)  
> **username_1**: Not only is it illegal, but Player A could have just rejected the trade. Just because you offer a trade suggestion doesn't mean you have to ultimately make the trade.  
> **username_2**: I think there are 2 separate things going on in this scenario, and only 1 of them is covered by the linked duplicate.  
> **username_3**: I don't see this as a duplicate, the questioner doesn't appear to be attempting to give away resources.  
> **username_4**: @username_3, the (only) answer to "Giving cards away..." states the rule that like-for-like trades are not allowed. But if that's not enough, there's also [Is it legal to trade 1 wood for 1 wood + 1 hay?](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/questions/50275/is-it-legal-to-trade-1-wood-for-1-wood-1-hay)  (Both are marked as a duplicates of the very same question.)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-06. Score: 12

There are multiple issues with the way this played out.

First of all, trading 2 wood for 1 wood is not a legal trade, as outlined in [the rulebook](https://www.catan.com/files/downloads/catan_base_rules_2020_200707.pdf):

> You may **not** trade like resources (e.g., 2 wool for 1 wool).

But aside from that, simply stating "I will take any (1) resource for (2) woods" is not actually making a trade, it is simply proposing a general offer. Once players respond to that offer, there can be negotiation and then eventually an actual trade is made.

In this case, Player B doesn't just "give him 1 wood", rather player B would say "ok, how about 1 wood?" at which point Player A can say "no, what else you got?"

It is important to distinguish between "proposing a trade" and "making a trade". I can say "I will give a sheep for a wood", but if the only player willing to do it is someone who has 9 points so I don't want to trade with them, I don't have to trade with them. I can always just say "sorry, not trading with you". Making statements about what sort of trade you want is not a binding agreement; the actual agreement comes when 2 different players say "ok" to a specific set of resources exchanging with other resources.


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