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Card Game

The first “luck-based” game to be introduced. Played for a car.

A contestant draws a card from a special deck containing ranges (these days, $1,000 to $5,000). They must come within that amount of the car’s price without going over. One at a time, the contestant draws cards from a traditional deck of 52 cards to increase their bid. Face cards add $1,000; numbered cards add the number multiplied by $100. Aces are wild and can be made any amount the contestant wishes. The contestant may draw as many cards as they wish before freezing. If they freeze within their range without going over, they win the car!

Card Game’s rules have been frequently updated to scale the game with inflation. The set and presentation have changed just as frequently. It’s currently the only casino-themed card game in active rotation. These days they’ll push the car out right next to the prop to give the game some added flair.

Hosted game show segment featuring a contestant about to play the Card Game, with a display showing a bid of $20,000 and a stack of cards on the table.
19th pricing game to debut
S2, July 4 1974 – Present
Likely created by Frank Wayne
Strategy
Stats
FAQ
S2, Aug 9 1974
A contestant showcases a yellow AMC Gremlin car on a game show set, with colorful geometric backgrounds.

It’s an AMC Gremlin!

A scene from a game show featuring a contestant and a host at a table labeled 'CARD GAME,' with colorful set decorations and two cars visible in the background.

And Virginia can win it playing the Card Game!

A close-up view of a game table with cards laid out on a blue surface, featuring elements related to a card game.

Pick a card, any card! This will determine how close you need to get to the price of the Gremlin without going over.

A host displaying a card showing the amount of 0 in front of a colorful game set.

Virginia’s drawn $900–the second highest amount! In the 70’s, this deck ranged from $200-$1000.

Contestant with glasses smiles while holding cards on a game show, as the host gestures towards a card marked 0.

Now Virginia will “bid” on the car by drawing cards. She can draw as many as she wants to get within $900 of the Gremlin’s price, without going over.

A game show contestant and host stand at a table, discussing the contestant's 0 bid while a display board shows the target amount of ,000.

Her first card is the Queen of Diamonds! Face cards are $1,000, so we’ll start her with $1,000.

Contestant reacting in surprise while standing next to a game show host, who is revealing a bid of ,000 on a game board.

Her next card is the Jack of Diamonds, so we’ll add another $1,000.

The displayed bid shows ,000, with an additional 0 noted as the target range for the game.

Virginia chooses to freeze at $2,000, against the wishes of the audience. Actual Retail Price of the Gremlin…

Display showing a bid of 0 for the Card Game on a game show, with a contestant holding a card.

$3,273, for a difference of $1,273. She should have drawn one or two cards more to get within $900, unfortunately.

S2, Jul 4 1974
Bob Barker holding a card displaying a range of prices from 250, indicating a game on a television set.

The earliest Card Game playings had slightly different rules. For the debut, ALL of the cards were drawn from a special Price is Right deck.

A contestant smiling as she reaches for cards during the Card Game on a game show, while the host stands beside her at a table displaying the current bid of ,000.

Kathi has to come within $1,000 of the car’s price without going over!

S3 Jul 8 1975
Display board showing ,600 and a contestant holding a playing card with a 0 value.

Drawing a 3 adds $300 to the bid!

A contestant looking concerned while seated in a game show audience, wearing a blue jacket.

David’s friends in the audience say that $2,600 isn’t enough, and he should keep drawing!

A game show scene featuring a host and a contestant at a card game table, with a car visible in the background. The host, dressed in a suit, appears to explain the game rules while the contestant looks engaged.

By 1975 they began shooting the board at an angle to get the car in the shot. The contestant now stands with Bob instead of across the table.

A display showing a bid of ,600 and a card stating '0' in a game setting.

David freezes at $3,600…

A contestant in a television audience reacts with excitement and shock during a game show, covering their head with their hands.

Actual Retail Price… $3,988! Both David and his audience compatriots are ecstatic at the win!

S5, Sep 16 1976
A surprised contestant reacts as a price display shows ,000 during a card game segment.

They began experimenting with splitscreen reaction shots after expanding to an hour. Judith was just $11 away!

S11 Mar 16 1983
A colorful game display for the 'NEW CARD GAME' on a game show set, featuring a host in a suit and two contestants, set against a vibrant backdrop.

Holly unveils the “NEW” Card Game in 1983… and promptly trips over Bob’s microphone cord ripping it out of his hands!

A contestant playing the Card Game on 'The Price is Right,' with a bid of 00 displayed. The host is standing beside them, and a light-colored pickup truck is visible in the background.

The “NEW” card game started contestants with a $2,000 bid, and increased the special deck range to $500-$1,000.

A contestant holds up an Ace of Clubs during a card game, showcasing the card's value.

An Ace! Under the old rules, it could only be worth up to $1,000, but the “NEW” Card Game allows Jeanne to use this to make her bid whatever she wants. She adds $3,300 to make her bid $6,700 and freezes.

A game screen displaying the word 'OVER' with 0 shown, alongside a contestant expressing disbelief and frustration.

PAINFUL! Jeanne went over by just NINE DOLLARS!

S14, Oct 16 1985
A close-up view of a game table featuring the logo 'CARD GAME' in bright green and gold lettering.

Card Game table number 3!

A game show contestant stands beside a host, holding a card while looking at a large display board showing 2000. A stack of cards and various bills are spread across a green game table, and a red car is visible in the background.

The new display is compliant with five-digit bids.

S21 May 12 1993
A digital display showing the number '8000' above a card indicating a bid of '00' in a game setting.

By 1993, the special deck now contains values from $500-$2000. The starting range was increased to $8,000…

S31, Dec 12 2002
A contestant stands next to a game table displaying a ,000 bid, while the host explains the Card Game rules. A white car is visible in the background.

…then $10,000…

S33, May 5 2005
Two men stand at a game table with the words 'CARD GAME' displayed. One man is gesturing towards a card, while a car is visible in the background.

…and $12,000! We’re now at Card Game table number 4!

S35, Apr 6 2007
A game display board showing the number 1377 illuminated with light bulbs, indicating a contestant's bidding amount in a card game.

The special deck was also increased to $1,000-$5,000. The higher minimum means winning no longer depends on the luck of the draw if you know the price… although luck can certainly help if you don’t!

S38, Oct 15 2009
Contestant and host at the Card Game on 'The Price is Right' with a ,000 display, featuring a green table, cards, and a car in the background.

Minimum Bid in 2008: $15,000. Smallest possible range: $1,000.

Actual Retail Price of a Chevy Colbalt:

A contestant excitedly reacts while the host reveals a price card during the Card Game segment on 'The Price is Right', with a car visible in the background.

$18,429! Nicole’s a winner!

S42, May 14, 2014 (priceisright YouTube channel)
A host explaining the setup of a card game show with colorful studio lights and equipment in the background.

Card Game disappeared for over two years. The EP at the time, Mike Richards, explained they were “Vegasing up” the presentation and gave a backstage peek at the new set…

Contestants engage in the Card Game, displaying playing cards and cash on a game show set, with colorful decorations in the background.

…that’s not what they meant by “Vegas up”! Card Game table number 5.

S42, May 14, 2014
Contestants and audience are excited during a game show segment featuring the 'Card Game' with a red car on display and a colorful backdrop.

THAT’S more like it! What a cool look!

Card Game display showing a bid of ,900 with a range of ,900 to ,900 and a note for an additional ,000.

Adam’s frozen at $17,900. The range of winning prices now appears on the monitor. Actual Retail Price of the Volkswagen Golf:

Game display showing a bid of ,815 and a price range of ,900 to ,900, with a highlighted number ,000 below.

$20,815! Just BARELY made it within the range!

A contestant smiling and laughing during a game show, wearing a colorful shirt and a name tag, with a brightly colored backdrop.

Adam’s going bananas!

S48, Sep 30 2019
A game show set featuring a car, a large colorful sign that reads 'WELCOME TO CAREY'S CARD CLUB', and the hosts engaging with a contestant. The audience is visible, cheering in the background.

To make directing the game easier, the table expanded in 2019. Drew and contestant now stand behind the table, rather than to the side.

A game host gestures over a green Card Game table, displaying laid-out cards and showing the game rules.

A good look at the top of the new table.

S52, July 4 2024
A contestant in a card game is preparing to draw cards from a colorful deck laid out on a game table, featuring alternating blue and red cards.

Anthony is not only playing on the Fourth of July… it’s also Card Game’s 50th birthday! He thinks they’re hiding the lone $5,000 card on the far left…

Display board showing the amount ,000 in a colorful casino-themed design, with audience members clapping in the background.

And he was right!

A game show host presents the 'Card Game' with a scoreboard indicating a starting bid of ,000, while a contestant stands beside him at the game table, amidst an enthusiastic audience.

The opening bid fluctuates depending on the car on offer. Today it’s $20,000.

Contestants celebrate in a lively studio during a game of Card Game, featuring a gray car and festive decorations.

Anthony won this Chevy Malibu LS! Happy Fourth!

S53, Oct 15 2024
Contestants at Carey’s Card Club playing the Card Game, with a black SUV displayed on the right and a scoreboard indicating a bid of 23100.

These days they roll the car out from Door #1 for a different shot.

Image of the Card Game setup showing a display with numbers '25420' and a price range of ',100 to ,100.'

Awwwww…. Ronald drew a few cards too many!