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Secret “X”

Secret “X” is an enduring game on The Price is Right based on Tic-Tac-Toe.

A giant “Tic-Tac-Toe” board is shown with the middle column blocked off, with a Secret “X” hiding behind one of the three middle squares. The contestant is given one “X” for free, which they may place anywhere in the first or third column, and may win up to two more by guessing the prices of two small prizes.

After the contestant places all their “X”s, the location of the Secret “X” is revealed. If the contestant can make three “X”s in a row horizontally or diagonally, they win a large prize!

A contestant stands near the Secret 'X' game board on The Price is Right, displaying a Tic-Tac-Toe grid. The middle column is blocked, and two squares show 'X's while the remaining squares are marked with question marks.
35th pricing game to debut
S6, September 14 1977 – Present
Created by Kathy Greco
Strategy
Stats
FAQ
S6, Sep 21 1977
A model poses beside a colorful jukebox featuring vibrant lights and a retro design, set against a backdrop of palm plants and art deco elements.

If Diana can make a Tic-Tac-Toe, she’ll win this stylish jukebox worth $2,445!

A contestant and host stand beside the Secret 'X' game board on The Price is Right, featuring a large Tic-Tac-Toe grid with two red squares and five white squares.

One of the three red squares contains the Secret “X”. Diana needs to use that “X” to form three in a row either horizontally or diagonally.

A female contestant smiles while holding a large letter 'X' as she interacts with the host of The Price is Right.

To start the game, Bob gives Diana an “X” for free…

A contestant places an 'X' on a Tic-Tac-Toe board during the Secret 'X' game on The Price is Right, with the host looking on.

…which she places in the corner.

A game show contestant stands next to two prize displays featuring a scale priced at or and a set of encyclopedias priced at or , with X marks visible on the display boards.

Diana can win up to two more “X”s if she knows anything about this bathroom scale, and this dictionary set.

Audience members watching a game show, with some cheering and reacting to the event.

Is the scale $25 or $36? Diana listens to her friends in the audience who say the scale is $25…

and price options displayed on game show panel with a contestant's arm partially visible.

…and she’s right!

A contestant places an 'X' on a Tic-Tac-Toe board while the host of The Price is Right looks on.

Diana places her “X” banking on a center square win.

A game board displaying three price tags: on the top and bottom squares and in the middle square, with a hand reaching towards the board.

She also wins the two-volume dictionary, and with it, another “X” for insurance.

A game show host points at a Tic-Tac-Toe board titled 'Secret X,' with one 'X' in place and a contestant observing.

If the Secret “X” is in the center or bottom square, Diana’s a winner. Where is it?

The crowd and contestant celebrate as the Secret X is revealed.

Tic-Tac-Toe! Diana becomes the first contestant to conquer Secret “X”!

S6, Sep 14 1977
A contestant and host discuss the game 'Secret X' on 'The Price is Right' in front of a Tic-Tac-Toe board displaying red X's.

The debut was a textbook example of how not to play the game. Forget three in a row, this contestant couldn’t even get two!

S6, Oct 26 1977
A contestant holds a red 'X' while standing in front of the Secret 'X' game board, which features a Tic-Tac-Toe layout with the middle column blocked off and question marks in the remaining squares.

Within a month, the column hiding the Secret “X” had question marks added to it to set it apart from other playable spaces.

S9, Feb 12 1981
A game board for Secret 'X' from The Price is Right, featuring a Tic-Tac-Toe layout with a visible 'X' in the middle. A contestant and the host are interacting in front of the board.

By 1981, the squares had gone from white Velcro to yellow Velcro. Aurelia claims to know how the game works, but Bob chides her on her “X” placement with a “you can do better than that!”

A female contestant in a blue dress examines two prize displays on The Price is Right, featuring cosmetics and a clock, with price tags visible.

The prize podiums got a matching paint job.

S12, Feb 1 1984
A contestant watches as the game host opens the doors to the Secret 'X' game on The Price is Right, revealing a giant Tic-Tac-Toe board with red 'X's.

Bob had to turn the center section manually after the button failed.

S15, Nov 10 1986
A contestant places an 'X' on the Tic-Tac-Toe board during the Secret 'X' game on The Price is Right, while the host observes.

The board got a new sign and paint job in 1986…

Doug Davidson S1, Dec 9 1994 (primetime syndicated)
A contestant points to a game board displaying two price options, and 3, for a massage device.

…and a podium update not long after.

S23, Mar 7 1995
A contestant and host stand next to a Tic-Tac-Toe board for the game Secret 'X', featuring question marks in the middle column and an 'X' in one of the outer squares.

Nothing happens when Bob hits the button to reveal the Secret “X”… and to make matters worse, the center panel is jammed!

Bob Barker and Roger Dobkowitz have to manually turn the Secret X board around in order to reveal that the contestant has lost the game.

“Never in the history of television has there been a more technical payoff of a game than what you have just seen!”

S27, Apr 27 1999
A contestant stands next to Bob Barker in front of the Secret 'X' game board, which displays the game layout with two 'X's placed and several question marks.

Amy begins jumping up and down when Bob mentions she might be able to get three “X”s in a row in the left column… only to realize her mistake when Bob repeated that she had to get three in a row horizontally or diagonally.

S37, Nov 9 2008
A contestant stands next to a giant Tic-Tac-Toe board labeled 'Secret X' while a host explains the game. The board shows two empty squares and one marked with an 'X'.

The early Drew era briefly experimented with different shots and stagings.

S38, Sep 9 2009
A contestant from The Price is Right game show presents a game box for the Nintendo DS, displaying prices of , , and on red banners.

It’s the Price is Right video game for Nintendo DS! Yours for only $30!

S39, Jan 12 2011
Price is Right producer Kathy "Fingers" Greco, creator of Secret X, is shown with short blonde hair, wearing a headset and a scarf, smiles while holding a clipboard in a studio setting.

Producer Kathy “Fingers” Greco retired in 2011 after being with TPIR for over 6,600 episodes. Secret “X”, which she created 34 years ago, was the final game played on her final episode.

A contestant excitedly participates in the Secret 'X' game on The Price is Right, standing next to a giant Tic-Tac-Toe board with some red 'X's already placed.

For the final time, you can’t fool the Fingers!

S40, Dec 5 2012
A contestant in a blue dress stands next to a vintage maroon car on a game show set, gesturing towards it.

For a grandparents special, the game was played for a restored 1951 Chevy Bel-Air.

S48, Apr 15 2020
A model stands beside the Stanley Cup on a table, showcasing NHL jerseys from various teams, with a background displaying the Stanley Cup Final logo.

And the actual Stanley Cup was brought to the studio as Secret “X” was played for a trip to Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

S50, Sep 15 2021
A modern tiny house featuring a combination of wooden and gray paneling, with a front door painted in red and surrounded by potted greenery.

But the most extravagant prize ever offered in Secret “X” has to be this 26′ tiny house to be erected at the location of the contestants choosing. Offered during the 50th Season Premiere Week!

A contestant celebrates on the set of The Price is Right, kneeling with raised arms in excitement, next to the Secret 'X' game board displaying three red X's on a yellow background.

“X” Gon’ Give It To Ya! Stephen won that $131,765 prize!

S53, Apr 4 2025
A contestant poses next to the Secret 'X' game board, featuring a Tic-Tac-Toe grid with one red 'X' already placed in the left column and two other spaces marked with question marks.

Paul has been applying some… interesting Tic-Tac-Toe strategy…

A contestant and host stand next to a large Tic-Tac-Toe board in the game 'Secret X' on The Price is Right, showcasing red 'X's placed on the board.

Against all odds, he won!