Wordplay (game Show) - The Main Game

The Main Game

Two players, one usually a returning champion, competed in a three-round game where the object was to guess the definitions of any of nine random words displayed on a screen, arranged in a 3-by-3 grid with the middle row of the grid raised one level above the others. The player in control chose a word and three celebrity panelists would give a definition with an accompanying humorous anecdote. The contestant had to determine which one of the three definitions was correct, and doing so won the amount of money that was concealed behind the word. If that player answered incorrectly his/her opponent chose between the remaining two definitions. If the correct definition was not found by either player, a block was placed on the word and no money could be won from it. Two words were played per round and for the first two rounds, the players took turns as to who would go first. The trailing player would be given that opportunity in round three.

Every word was connected to at least one other word on the board either horizontally or vertically. As the game progressed these connections became crucial, as if a player got the correct definition of the word in play in the second or third round he/she won the money behind the word as well as the money from connected words that had already been played. If a word was connected to a blocked word, no additional money was added unless the word was connected to another word.

One word per game was designated as a bonus word. Choosing this word and guessing its definition correctly awarded a bonus prize to the contestant, which was his/hers to keep regardless of the game's outcome.