Game overview
When you join a SolBid game, you’re entering a competitive bidding environment where:- Each bid must be at least 2x the previous bid
- The timer resets to 10 minutes after each bid
- The last bidder when the timer expires wins
- Early bidders can earn royalties from the prize pool
- A platform fee is deducted from the final prize pool
Starting a new game
Choose your initial bid
The minimum initial bid to create a game is 0.014 SOL (14,000,000 lamports). This amount starts the prize pool and begins the countdown timer.
Connect your wallet
Connect your Solana wallet (such as Phantom or Solflare) to authorize the transaction.
When you create a game, you become the first bidder. Your bid starts the prize pool at your initial bid amount, and the timer begins counting down from 10 minutes.
Gameplay flow
Placing a bid
To participate in an active game:- Check the current highest bid - Your bid must be exactly 2x this amount
- Verify the timer - Ensure the game hasn’t expired (less than 10 minutes since last bid)
- Submit your bid - The transaction transfers your bid amount to the prize pool
- Timer resets - The countdown resets to 10 minutes from your bid time
During the game
As the game progresses:- The prize pool grows with each new bid
- The timer resets to 10 minutes after every bid
- You can see all previous bids and their timestamps
- Your player state tracks your total bid amount and bid count
Game end conditions
A game ends when:- Timer expires: No bid is placed within 10 minutes (600 seconds) of the last bid
- Final distribution: The smart contract automatically distributes the prize pool according to the royalty rules
Once the timer reaches zero, the game is marked as ended and no further bids are accepted. The prize distribution happens automatically when the next transaction attempts to interact with the game.
Player status
Throughout the game, each player has a state that tracks:- Total bid amount: The sum of all SOL you’ve bid in this game
- Bid count: Which bid number you placed
- Safe status: Whether you’ve been paid out (set to true after game ends)
- Royalty earned: Amount of SOL you’ve earned from royalties
Understanding your position
Your position in the game determines your potential payout:- Last bidder (winner): Receives the largest share of the prize pool
- Last 5 bidders: Do not receive royalties (excluded from royalty distribution)
- Earlier bidders: Eligible for weighted royalty distribution based on bid amount and position
Being an early bidder can be profitable through the royalty system, even if you don’t win. The royalty calculation favors earlier, larger bids.
Strategy tips
For winners
- Watch the timer closely
- Be prepared to bid quickly if someone outbids you near the deadline
- Calculate whether the 2x requirement is within your budget
For royalty seekers
- Early bids with larger amounts receive higher royalty weights
- You need at least 6 total bids in the game to be eligible for royalties
- Your bid amount and position both affect your royalty share
General tips
- Always verify you have enough SOL for both the bid and transaction fees
- The bid requirement doubles each time, so the game can escalate quickly
- Check the current bid count to estimate potential competition
Example game flow
See a complete game example
See a complete game example
Bid 1: Alice creates the game with 0.014 SOL
- Prize pool: 0.014 SOL
- Timer: 10:00
- Prize pool: 0.042 SOL
- Timer: 10:00 (reset)
- Prize pool: 0.098 SOL
- Timer: 10:00 (reset)
- Prize pool: 0.210 SOL
- Timer: 10:00 (reset)
- Prize pool: 0.434 SOL
- Timer: 10:00 (reset)
- Prize pool: 0.882 SOL
- Timer: 10:00 (reset)
Next steps
Bidding rules
Learn the detailed mechanics of how bidding works
Prize distribution
Understand how the prize pool is split among players