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Give or Keep

The third game on The Price is Right to be played with small prizes, after Bonus Game and Five Price Tags .

Three pairs of small prizes were shown. In each pair, the contestant chose one to keep, and one to give away. If the contestant managed to “keep” more than they “give”, they won a large prize as a bonus.

Give or Keep was simple and to the point. Perhaps too simple–it seems the staff didn’t like it much. Finish Line and perhaps Trader Bob were created as replacements, though Give or Keep outlasted both. It seems to have a reputation as a “love it or hate” it game–some fans love it as a pure test of pricing, while others saw it as a boring game without much too it. It endured nearly eighteen years on the show.

Contestants participating in the game 'Give or Keep' standing beside the colorful game board displaying 'KEEP' and 'GIVE' sections.
11th pricing game to debut
S1, December 27 1972 – S19, October 22 1990
Created by Frank Wayne
FAQ
S1, Jan 19 1973
Contestants discussing the 'Give or Keep' game on The Price is Right, featuring a colorful game board displaying 'KEEP' and 'GIVE' sections.

Here’s the original Give or Keep board…

A woman stands beside a piano and bench, showcasing them as a prize on a game show set, with decorative plants and artwork in the background.

…and here’s the piano Wilbur can win! All he has to do is keep more than he gives.

A game board displaying the options 'TOASTER' on top and 'NECKLACE' below, with a hand hovering over the board.

The first pair of small prizes is a toaster and a necklace. Which to Give, and which to Keep?

Contestant Wilbur smiles while talking to the host on stage during the game show 'The Price is Right', featuring colorful background.

Wilbur wants to Keep the necklace…

Game board showing the prizes 'Toaster' priced at and 'Necklace' in the game 'Give or Keep' from The Price is Right.

…meaning the toaster belongs in the Give column. Bob looks at the price, and $41 is added to the Give column.

Image of a game show stage setup featuring two small prize displays: one with a green vacuum cleaner and the other with a facial kit. The background includes a patterned wall and a display board with lights.

Each pair of prizes came around on the turntable, whisking away the previous set. This next pair is a facial kit and a vacuum cleaner.

Display showing the prices of a facial kit valued at and a vacuum cleaner in a game from The Price is Right.

Wilbur Keeps the vacuum. The facial kit is valued at $25, so that gets added to the Give column…

Contestant and host interacting at the Give or Keep game on The Price is Right, displaying the prize values on a colorful game board.

…for a running total of $66 so far.

A contestant and host stand beside the 'Give or Keep' game board displaying prize options: cosmetics, vacuum, and necklace, with a current score for 'Give' at 81.

In the last pair, Wilbur chose to Keep a cosmetics set and give a food sealer worth $15. If Wilbur managed to Keep more than $81, that’s his piano…

prize amount displayed on the 'Give or Keep' game board from The Price is Right

Necklace price, $50!

displayed on a bright orange panel during a game segment.

Vacuum price… $33! He’s won with just two items!

Contestants stand in front of the Give or Keep game board on The Price is Right, displaying scores for 'KEEP' (113) and 'GIVE' (81) with items listed: cosmetics, vacuum, and necklace.

Win or lose, contestants also won the three prizes they chose to Keep. The cosmetics ran Wilbur’s score up another $30.

S1, Apr 4 1973
A game board for 'Give or Keep' showcasing a contestant with two columns titled 'KEEP' and 'GIVE' with a display of prizes including wallets, slacks, and a shower.

It didn’t take long for “KEEP” and “GIVE” to be enlarged.

S5, Oct 1 1976
Game show host presenting the 'Give or Keep' board with labeled sections for 'KEEP' and 'GIVE', while a contestant looks on.

When TPIR expanded to an hour, the set got a makeover, and Give or Keep got a green paint job to match the green shag carpet.

Two gold bars resting on a red velvet surface, one weighing 10 ounces and the other 8 ounces, both marked with 'Credit Suisse'.

Ben is playing for 15 ounces of gold… worth over $35,000 today!

S11, Apr 5 1983
A game board displaying scores for 'KEEP' and 'GIVE', both showing 90, with a coffee set labeled below.

Angela managed to run up a tie score. Fortunately, ties go to the contestant.

S12 Nov 14 1983
A television game show host speaks into a microphone while gesturing at an unseen contestant, with colorful set decorations in the background.

It was always obvious when Give or Keep was going to be played next, since the board had to be set up on stage beforehand, unlike games that rotate in on turntable.

A scene from The Price is Right game show featuring a contestant and the host interacting with the 'Give or Keep' game board. The board displays the words 'KEEP' and 'GIVE' with numbers next to them, and the host points at a prize labeled 'BAKEWARE'.

In the early 80’s, the set got a blue coat of paint. It remained this way until its retirement in 1990.