OBJECT: Accumulate money from a series of head-to-head two-player showdowns -- then spend the money on boxes to find three matching images.

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SHOWDOWN: When a game starts, three categories will be positioned on the category board.  The third of three categories is usually, but not always, a general knowledge category.

The player in control (whether the contestant is the returning champion, winner of the previous showdown, or, if no returning champion, randomly designated contestant) selects one of the categories and the amount behind the category is revealed.  Amounts range from $40 to $100.

After the category is selected -- and, if necessary, the host clarifies the category's content -- five riddlegrams are posted.

A riddlegram is a common phrase or familiar title (of a book, TV show, movie, etc.) expressed in other words.  For example, "The Sum of One Plus Two Atop the Lookalike" is another way of saying "Three on a Match". 

When a riddlegram is surrounded by quotation marks, they're an indication the correct solution is a title or quotation.  The exact title/quotation must be given. 

When five riddlegrams are posted, the two players must PM the host their answers to the respective riddlegrams -- as well as their buzzcodes from 1-100 to their respective answers.

The host will then activate random.org org for five buzzcodes from the website.  The player whose buzzcode is closer to random.org's buzzcode will have that contestant's answer recognized.  If the player is ruled correct, the player scores one point.  A wrong answer means the opponent scores one point. 

The player who accumulates more points in the five-riddlegram showdown wins the award from the category.  Scoring all five points in the showdown awards $50 more.  Further, each player scores $10 per point.  Then the points are reset to zero and the two unselected categories are joined by a new third category.  In case a showdown ends in a tie, a tie-breaker riddlegram from the third category on the board will be utilized to break the tie.

Any category may have a doubler or as many as three free boxes attached to the cash award.  The certain number of free boxes would be attached to the amount ("$70 + TWO FREE BOXES", for example).

The doubler would double all values for the category ("$40 + DOUBLER" means the category is actually worth $80 with $20 awarded per point in the showdown and $100 for a sweep of all five points in the showdown). 

The winner of the showdown may then pick another category or go to the grid and spend the money on boxes to try and win the game.

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THE GRID: In the event the player more than $80 but less than $200, the contestant is allowed go to the grid.  If the player has $200 or more, with or without free boxes, the player must go to the grid. 

If the player has less than $90 but earned free boxes combined with the money score would make it possible to go to the grid, the player must either go to the grid or select another category.  If the player selects another category, the contestant must forfeit the free boxes.  Free boxes are of a "use 'em or lose 'em" nature.

The grid will have four different images, united by a common theme, in the $20 column.  The images' matching mates are replicated in the $30 column -- and replicated again for the $40 column.  To make the game challenging, one of the images will be replaced either with a stop sign or a card that reads "no match".

If the player goes to the grid with at least $200, the stop sign will be on the board.  Finding the stop sign immediately ends the player's turn at the board (and also forfeits any earned free boxes).

If the player goes to the grid with less than $200, the "no match" card will be on the board.  Finding "no match" doesn't end the turn at the grid immediately.

To be credited with a match, the player must find images in the $20, $30, and $40 columns that are exactly alike.  To spend money on a particular box, the player must say "(price) on the (color)".  

For example, let's say a contestant takes $110 to the grid and starts by spending "$20 on the red" and then "$30 on the green".

To score a match, the player must find the third star that could be in the $40 column.   With $60 left to spend, let's say the player puts "$40 on the blue"...

...and finds a depiction of a moon instead.   The player has $20 left -- but there's no way to score a match.  The player keeps the $20 and then must pick a new category to win more money from the next showdown.

As a new showdown begins, the images and "no match" card are shuffled.  If necessary per earlier rules, the "no match" card is replaced with the stop sign.

However, staying with this sample grid, if the player actually put $20 on the red, $30 on the green, and $40 on the green...

...then the player would be credited with a match.

During a player's trip to the grid, any earned free boxes can be used once the contestant's money score is less than $20.  To use a free box, the player still says "(price) on the (color)". 

Also, once three boxes are selected in a column -- either with a free box or spending money -- the column is closed.  Closure of a column is indicated when the respective $20, $30, or $40 header light is turned off.  Any closed column(s) will be reactivated on any player's next trip to the grid.

Once a player scores a match, the winning contestant collects an additional $500 and takes unspent money into the three in a row bonus game.

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THREE IN A ROW: The bonus game is played on this smaller three-by-three grid...

...and the game is played in two phases.

In the first phase, the player must align three numbers straight across, up-and-down or diagonally -- a la tic-tac-toe.  The grid hides nine single digit numbers from 1 through 9 inclusive with no duplicates.  The catch is the numbers are randomized and in no particular order (in other words, the grid, in full, would look like one-ninth of a Sudoku grid; the 5 would not necessarily be in the center box, the 2 would not necessarily be just above the center box, and the 8 would not necessarily be below the center box).

To advance to the second phase, the player must spend money on the numbers at the rate of $100 per number.  So, let's say the winning player had 20 unspent dollars after earning the match.  The $20 combined with the $500 earned for the match means the player may buy as many as five numbers.

To buy a number, much like the game, the player must say "$100 on the (number)".  In this example, let's say the player starts with $100 on the 3...

...which was hidden in the upper left box.  Then, the player puts $100 on the 8...

...which appears in the center.  Buying the number hidden in the lower right box would make three in a row and would advance to the next phase.  So, with $320 to go, the player puts $100 on the 7...

...which keeps the bonus game in the first phase since the 7 is just below the 3 and next to the 8.  Fortunately, the player has options.  Buying the number located just below the 7, located to the right (from our view) of the 8 or that same lower right box would complete three in a row.

With $220 to go, the player puts $100 on the 6...

...which completes the diagonal line from upper left to lower right.

In the second phase, the player has a chance to win more cash.  In additional to the single digit numbers, the bonus grid hides cash awards -- also with no duplicates.

The player may choose up to three visible numbers, one at a time.  When a number is selected, the cash award behind the number is revealed.  The player may then stop the bonus game and keep the cash -- or pass it up for another number and award.

The cash values are determined by how many consecutive matches the player has made in competion.  If the player has made one match, the bonus grid will hide values from $1000 to $10,000 inclusive.  If the player has made two consecutive matches, the grid's cash awards increase in range from $2000 to $20,000 -- also with no duplicates.  Three or more straight matches means the values range from $3000 to $30,000.

Should the player fail to uncover three numbers in a row, the player receives a consolation prize of the lowest anount on the board.

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MISC. RULES: Should a player score a match in the main game, or make three in a row in the bonus game, on just three matches, the player is credited with a bonus of $50,000.  Should the $50,000 bonus be won in the main game, the $50,000 is not spendable cash in Three in a Row (but the $500 for the match is still spendable at Three in a Row).  If the $50,000 bonus is awarded in Three in a Row, the contestant is still eligible to win up to $10,000; $20,000; or $30,000 more dependent on the players' status in the main game.

When one player makes three on a match in the main game, the runner-up is assessed one strike.  Two strikes means elimination and the eliminated player will be replaced.  An instant three on a match, however, would wipe out a lone strike against a player.

When one match is earned by a player, a new main game grid will include three special symbols announced by the host.  The three special symbols will always be in the grid and none of them will be replaced by a stop sign or "no match".  Earning the match with the three special symbols earns the player the announced prize or a chance to win more cash and/or prizes in the announced special sidebar game.

During main game play, after three failed attempts to score a match, the stop sign or "no match" card will be replaced with a "wild" card.  Finding the "wild" card immediately closes the column where it's discovered and the player continues to spend money in the other columbs until scoring a match.  "Wild" from one column plus two natural identical symbols from other columns would count as a match.

Eventually after a showdown, the two unselected categories are joined by a new category.  After a session with Three in a Row, the category board will have three new categories.

In the event of a missed deadline at the grid, the turn at the grid ends.  A new showdown starts with the third category on the board automatically selected.  In the event of a missed deadline with rergard to picking a category, the selection defaults to the third category.

A champion retires after winning at least $250,000 -- at which time the money quadruples to at least $1,000,000.

For questions, please message the host at dougmorrisontheair at Net Game Central.