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Check game

A “quick” pricing game that is played for a prize and cash.

A prize is shown, along with a large novelty check. The contestant is asked to consider the price of the prize. The contestant is then asked to fill out the check with an amount that, when added to the price of the prize, will total at least $8,000, but not over $9,000. If the contestant succeeds, they win the prize and the money in the amount of the check they wrote.

A game that is “infamous” for its supposedly confusing play. Many contestants that were originally baffled by its rules have gone on to win this game.

50th pricing game to debut
S10, October 14 1981 – Present
Created by Roger Dobkowitz
Strategy
Stats
FAQ
S10, Nov 16 1981
A game show set featuring a large colorful backdrop with a jukebox displayed, and a model standing beside it.

Billie will be trying to win this jukebox…

Contestant interacting with the host near a game display labeled 'BLANK CHECK', featuring a large novelty check and various informational elements.

…playing ‘Blank Check’, the name under which the game was originally known.

A large novelty check for the contestant Billie Ulshafer on the set of The Price Is Right, featuring the show's logo in the background.

After winning the Item Up for Bids, the staff quickly writes Billie’s full name on the check before the game is revealed on the turntable.

A contestant fills out a large novelty check for a pricing game on The Price is Right, aiming for a winning total.

To win the jukebox she must write an amount to the check which, added to the price of the jukebox, totals at least $3,000, but not more than $3,500.

Dollar check showing an amount of ,710 with a decorative design in the background.

The amount she wrote is juuuuuust a bit high…

Contestant filling out a large novelty check while a host stands nearby, during a The Price is Right.

Bob allows her to change the amount, which she does…to $3,110. He even makes sure she completely fills out the check.

Display board showing the amount of the check as ,110, with slots for prize value and total amount ranging from ,000 to ,500.

The amount of the check, which by ITSELF was already in the winning range, is shown in the top display.

,625 price display held by a smiling woman during a game show.

Dian, with a very sympathetic look, shows the price of the jukebox as $2,625.

A game show host points to a display that shows the amount of a check as ,110, the price of a jukebox as ,625, and a total of ,735, with a winning range indicated as ,000 to ,500.

Total: $5,735. Billie is over the range by $2,235!

S11, Jun 30 1983
A voided check from 'The Price is Right' game show, prominently featuring the word 'VOID' in red, along with the name 'Buddy Meijer' and other handwritten details.

When the contestant loses, no prize nor money is won, but they do receive a voided check as a souvenir.

S11, Dec 27 1982
A contestant stands with a host beside a large wooden game display during the 'Check Game' segment on a game show, with a colorful background and lights.

Egged on by Bob, it did not take very long for audience members to start to groan when Blank Check came around the turntable.

Contestant writing a check for ,000 during the game 'Check Game' on 'The Price is Right'.

After three minutes and two explanations, Carol writes a check for $1,000.

Host pointing to game display with amounts indicating the check, prize size, and total range for winning.

Success! The price of the hot tub is $2,295, making her total $3,295. Carol wins!

A contestant named Carol smiles broadly while holding a large check on The Price is Right, with host Bob Barker standing beside her.

She takes home a hot tub, $1,000 cash and a large uncanceled check!

S11, Oct 4 1982
A large novelty check from 'The Price is Right,' made out to William Cox for 0.00, featuring a yellow background with the show's logo and Bob Barker's signature.

Bob personally signed each check before every playing. To test the staff and the audience, he purposefully signed this check “Bob Baker”!

S12, Feb 29, 1984
Contestant and host on the set of the game show 'Blank Check,' featuring a colorful backdrop and a large wooden game display.

We don’t need to add the Now and Then sign, this game already has enough going on!

S11, Jan 10 1983
A visual showing a jet ski and a blank check, indicating the price range of ,000 to ,500 for a game on The Price Is Right.

Bob tried various ways to get the contestants to understand the rules of the game, from using diagrams with him using his Plinko stick as a pointer…

S11, Apr 28 1983
Janice Pennington and a contestant on 'The Price is Right' discussing the Blank Check game, with a large novelty check in the background.

…to having Janice explain the rules…

S13, Feb 19 1985
A man holding a feather pen sits on a colorful stage while interacting with a host who is holding a microphone.

…to sitting down and having heart to heart talks with the contestant.

“Blank Check”, Jan 8 1975
A colorful game show set featuring the title 'BLANK CHECK' illuminated in bright lights, with a host and contestant standing at a central podium in front of a cheering audience.

On top of all this, in 1986 Dan Enright from Barry & Enright Productions decided to sue Mark Goodson Productions because “Blank Check” was also the name of a short-lived game show from their production company a decade prior.

S16, Oct 27 1988
Contestants participating in a pricing game titled 'Check Game' featuring a large wooden display with sections showing the amount of the check, the prize value, and the total. One contestant is seen with his hand raised while the host points at the display.

To avoid any legal hassles, Blank Check was removed from the pricing game rotation in November 1986. The producers chose to simply rename the game Check Game and it made its return in January 1987.

S17, Apr 20 1989
,000 to ,000 display on the game board during the Check Game.

By 1989, the winning range was increased to between $5,000 and $6,000. This was to cover inflation and to allow the game to be played for more expensive prizes.

A contestant is signing a large novelty check during a game show segment.

It is also by this time that the game was given its own distinctive “think music” to replace the music cue from Range Game that was being used.

Display panel showing amounts for a game segment, including 'Amount of this check' as ,600, 'Prize value' as ,122, and 'Total' as ,722 with winning range of ,000 to ,000.

Matthew is able to take advantage of the rule change by winning over $5,700 in cash and prizes!

S31, Oct 2 2002
A contestant holding a large novelty check for ,000 in the game Check Game on The Price is Right.

We’ve had some confused Check Game writers, but Michael made history by writing the largest check ever: $13,000!!!

Bob Barker is seen crossing out a number on a large novelty check for a pricing game on stage.

Bob quickly crosses out the amount and declares “This kid is sick!”

Display board showing the amount of the check as ,000, the prize value as ,495, and the total amount of ,495, with a winning range of ,000 to ,000.

Fortunately, he recovers and writes the check for $2,000…AND WINS!!!!!

The greatest Check Game comeback of all time!

S28, Oct 6 1997

Oy gevalt! Bob turns his back one minute, and our left-handed check writer Timothy starts to write…

…on the eggcrate screen display! Ooof!!!

That left a mark! Bob wanted to preserve “Timothy’s Dot” for posterity…

S28, Dec 3 1997

…but it wasn’t meant to be. In a rare callback to a former contestant by name…

…Bob later revealed that “Timothy’s Dot” was no more, removed by the crew. We hardly knew ye.

S13, Feb 25 1985

There have been, over the years, a couple of savvy contestants that have played the game perfectly. Here, Lillian won with $3,500 with the original range…

S28, Jan 4 1999

…while loyal friend and true Jayme, a computer science major at Cal State University, Fullerton, improved upon that.

He wrote the amount of the check for $2,200…despite originally misspelling “twenty” and writing “Twenty-two THOUSAND dollars” on the amount line!

No matter. He still ended up with a perfect total of $6,000 with the $5,000-$6,000 range…but he wasn’t finished yet…

…Jayme later became a DOUBLE SHOWCASE WINNER, netting over $57,000 in cash and prizes! Incredible!!!!!

S34, Sep 22 2005

In later years, the reveal signs are made larger to help Bob read them better.

S37, Sept 23 2008

By 2008, the winning range was increased again to $7,000-$8,000. Unfortunately, this contestant went over.

S37, Jan 28 2009

Whoa! We’re gonna need a larger display if totals are going to start to go over $10,000 more frequently!

S39-40, 2011
The original Check Game set on The Price is Right sits on the new turntable design.

After May 2009, Check Game was removed from the rotation again; the staff evidently had mixed feelings about the game. But nobody wanted to throw the game out, either, so it sat in storage for years. (Thanks to Scott Robinson for the photo!)

S41, Jun 20 2013
A contestant in a green shirt stands beside the host, presenting a large wooden display for the Check Game, which shows the prize range of at least ,000 but not over ,000, along with a novelty check made out to Rita Kinsella.

A little over four years later in June 2013–the longest gap ever between playings of pricing games–the new Check Game redesign debuted.

A large novelty check from 'The Price is Right' made out to Rita Kinsella for kitchen appliances, signed by Drew Carey.

The new check design, with the season number as the check number.

A contestant in a green shirt is seen filling out a large novelty check with the amount of ,200.00, while a host observes.

Also new: the amount line was removed to save time writing the check.

Model holding a large display sign indicating a price of ,547 in a game show setting with kitchen appliances in the background.

Also new, the reveal sign.

Check display showing amounts: check amount ,200, prize value ,547, total ,747, with a winning range of ,000 to ,000.

Also new, sadly, the red background reveal for a loss. Hope Rita has a large picture frame for that check.

S48, Oct 22 2019
Scoreboard displaying the amount of the check as ,500, the prize value as ,430, and the total as ,930, with winning range between ,000 and ,000.

Now, THIS is what we want to see, a green background for a win! By October 2019 the winning range increased again to $8,000-$9,000.

S53, Jan 29 2025
A model smiles and gestures next to a grey SUV, displayed on a brightly colored stage with plants in the background.

Wait…we’re playing Check Game on The Price is Right at Night?! For an SUV?! HOW?!?!?!

A contestant and host discussing the Check Game on a game show, with a large check displayed that indicates a prize value related to an SUV.

With a special range of at least $45,000, but not over $50,000, that’s how! Thank goodness the digital displays can hold five digits.

A contestant writes a check for ,721 on the game show 'The Price is Right', with Drew Carey's signature visible.

Andre writes the check for $23,721.

A model smiling and holding a sign that shows the price ,515 next to a vehicle.

Actual retail price: $37,515. NOOOOO…

Display board showing the check amount of ,721, prize value of ,515, and a total of ,236 in the game 'The Price is Right at Night', with a winning range of ,000 to ,000.

He’s over the range, and by a lot!

A contestant holding a large voided check while celebrating on stage during the Check Game segment of 'The Price is Right at Night.'

At least he’ll have the stamped check to remember the show by.

  • Check the year 1981 in the Tiny Timeline
  • Don’t a-VOID the Golden-Road FAQ on Check Game
  • Be sure you understand other games that allow the contestant to draw on the set like Ten Chances and Gallery Game
  • Return to “Golden Game Gallery“

Page by Alfonzo