To play the Sheriff of Nottingham Second Edition, first, decide who will be the Sheriff and who will be the Merchants. The Merchants try to fill their stalls with good items, some of which might be contraband. The Sheriff then takes turns inspecting the Merchants' bags. When you're the Sheriff, choose which bag to check wisely because if the Merchant is honest, you'll have to pay a penalty. When you're a Merchant, try to sneak your best goods past the Sheriff. As for maintenance, keep the game pieces in a dry place and away from small children who might swallow them. After each game, put all the pieces back in the box neatly to keep them organized for the next play.