Use the following trick to defeat the CPU with two to four players under the hard difficulty setting. Go to "Custom Rules" and set the houses to 88 and apartments to 22. Turn the jackpot on and set the Landing On Go bonus to $400.00. Pick Land On Free Parking and set the jackpot to $750.00. Use the classic view, as it is easier to see before choosing whichever board you desire. When you start the game, buy only the properties you can get three of and avoid the railroads and utilities. Do not bid top high on the properties that you cannot get much money for. Never bid more money than you have, as you do not want to mortgage properties. Try to get a set, even if it means trading with the CPU or offering them money. Sometimes you will have to offer them both. Once you get a set of two or three, put houses on the cheapest house first, unless you have Boardwalk and Park Place, so you can save money and eventually put up hotels on all your properties. If you have many houses or hotels and get in jail, try to stay in there as long as you can and collect your money. You can also stay in jail if the CPU has many houses or hotels to remain on the safe side. Try to have at least $100 to $200 or more to stay safe. Even if you have to wait to pass Go or land on Free Parking, once you start getting sets and hotels on those properties, try to get sets that are next to each other, or on an entire side of the board.
When you have a full set of properties, build immediately until you have no money remaining to build. You can always take down unimportant houses or hotels, or mortgage unimportant properties if your "bill" becomes too large.
Properties
Try and get all three orange properties and Boardwalk and Park Place. The orange properties are the most hit, and Boardwalk and Park Place are the most expensive when hit.