Catch 21 Is a blackjack-themed game show on GSN similar to Gambit; the title itself is a pun on the best-selling novel Catch-22. The show is hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, And Dealt By Mikki Padilla/Witney Carson
Main Game Rules:
Three contestants competed in a game of blackjack with questions. The object of the game was to make a blackjack hand total 21, or come closer to 21 than the other contestants without going over. If the contestant gets anything over 21 was busted and eliminated from the round or the game.
Old Catch 21 Rules:
The First 2 Rounds
Each round started with Padilla dealing three cards to the contestants (one for each contestant). Then Ribeiro started reading toss-up general knowledge questions with three multiple-choice answers (in Season 1 only, the multiple-choice answers were shown on the screen). The first contestant to buzz-in got a chance to answer. An incorrect answer gave the opponent's a chance to answer; if another miss occurred, the question was thrown out (unless there were two or three choices left; in this case, the last contestant got a chance to answer). But if another miss occurred, then Ribeiro told them the answer. But A correct answer scored 100 points. The player with a correct guess also won the right to see another card dealt by Padilla. When the card was revealed, the player in control had a choice to make. The contestant could either keep the card and add its value to the opponent's hand or pass it to one of their opponents in an attempt to bust that player. When a player exceeded 12-20, and was in control, the contestant could "freeze" (the player also had that option after getting the question right). When that happens, ties were not allowed: once a player was frozen on that number, the number was theirs. The person who caught a 21, wins the round. If 2 contestants bust, the last player automatically wins this round, because if they continue with 1 player after 2 contestants bust, the last player could bust and no one could win this round. If there was only one contestant left playing, after 1 contestant busted or 1 or 2 contestants froze, no more questions were asked; only cards were dealt, the remaining contestant continues drawing cards until either beating the highest frozen hand or busting. The winner would also receive an additional 500 points and one Power Chip to be used in the Bonus Round. Starting in Season 2, if any player got the first 21 of the day, they also won a special prize (in season 2, it was an Oreck vacuum worth $599, in season 3-4, it would be a 3-day/2-night trip for two, presumably valued at approx. $500-$600). On Celebrity episodes played for charity if any celebrity player get the first 21 of the day, they also won $500 for their charity and a extra Power Chip. The two players with the highest scores advanced to Round 3, and the player with the lowest score was eliminated from the game. (If the player has the lowest score in the second round and busts with 2 contestants remaining or 1 player froze, they're out of this round and out of the game.) If there is a tie for 2nd place, the two contestants played a high card tiebreaker. Each contestant decided (sight unseen) to keep either the first or second of the next two cards in the deck (both would then be shown), and the player with the highest card won. An ace was always high.
Third Round
This round was played the same as before, except, points are no longer awarded for correct answers or winning the round, and with 2 players. The player with the best hand won the game, $1,000, one more Power Chip, (Starting in Season 2, two Power Chips were awarded in this round; one for winning the round and an additional one [two for celebrity episodes] for winning the overall game,) and the right to play for $25,000.
Bonus Round
In the bonus round, the winning contestant faces a board with three columns. Each column was given one card to start. Padilla then dealt more cards one by one. On each card, the winning contestant had to place that card on a hand. Along the way, if the contestant saw a card that they didn't like, they could turn in a Power Chip to throw that card out. Whenever a Power Chip was used, the next card had to be played. In Season 1, the contestant could earn up to three Power Chips, and starting in Season 2, the contestant could earn up to four Power Chips (five in case of celebrities playing for charity). The idea was to catch a 21 exactly. If they do that on any hand, will earn bonus money plus the $1,000 from earlier. Doing in a single hand awarded $1,000, for total cash winnings of $2,000. Doing it twice awarded $5,000, for a total of $6,000 cash. Catching a 21 in all three hands awarded the top prize of $25,000, for a grand total of $26,000. If at any time the contestant busted on any 1 of the 3 hands, they forfeited all of the money earned in the bonus round, but the $1,000 (and the prize if it was won) were not at risk. If a contestant is in danger of busting a hand, the player can end the game and kept whatever they won in the round in addition to the main game cash (and potentially the prize from earlier), or to keep play for $5,000 and/or $25,000. The contestant cannot stop immediately after playing a chip or if a contestant didn't won anything by playing a card. The contestant can stop immediately after playing a card and if they have $1,000 and/or $5,000. Once the contestant stops, they find out what would've happened, if they decided to play on. If the next card was the card that they were looking for, then they would've won $5,000 and/or $25,000. But if the next card was less than a card they were looking for and still had power chips, they would've made the decision to power chip it, or play it and had to option to stop again. If the next card was less than a card they were looking for and had no more power chips, they would've played it and had to option to stop again. If the card is more than the card that they were looking for if they still have chips, then they would've used it. And if the next card was more than the card that they're looking for and had no more power chips, they made they right choice and would've busted.
During the week of June 1, 2009, the grand prize increased to $50,000. One contestant managed to win it, for a grand total of $51,000. But the others bust except the one where someone could've won. But all the first 2 amounts are the same.
New Catch 21 Rules:
All three players still play the first 2 rounds. Each round started with Carson dealing three cards to the contestants (one for each contestant). Then Ribeiro started reading general trivia questions instead of multiple choice off screen instead of question cards, the questions were now shown onscreen. The first contestant to buzz-in got a chance to answer. An incorrect answer gave the opponent's a chance to answer; if another miss occurred, then last contestant got a chance to answer, but if another miss occurred, then Ribeiro told them the answer. But the player with a correct answer now only won the right to see another card dealt by Carson. Points are no longer awarded for correct answers or winning the round. When the card was revealed, the player in control had a choice to make. The contestant could either keep the card and add its value to the opponent's hand or pass it to one of their opponents in an attempt to bust that player. When a player exceeded 12-20, and was in control, the contestant could still "freeze" (the player also still had that option after getting the question right). When that happens, ties were still not allowed: once a player was frozen on that number, the number was theirs. The person who caught a 21, wins the round. If 2 contestants bust, the last player automatically wins this round, because if they continue with 1 player after 2 contestants bust, the last player could bust and no one could win this round. If there was only one contestant left playing, after 1 contestant busted, no more questions were asked; only cards were dealt, the remaining contestant continues drawing cards until either beating the highest frozen hand or busting. The winner would also secure their spot in the third round (Head To Head Round) and one Power Chip to be used in the Bonus Round. The two players who won rounds advanced to Round 3, and the player who didn't win a round was eliminated. If the same player who won the first round won the second round, the two contestants played a new tiebreaker called a High Card Playoff. For the high card playoff, both players are asked another question. The player who answered it correctly wins control of the first of the following two cards in the deck, which they may keep, giving the second card to their opponent, or pass to their opponent and keep the second card for themselves. Like in the original version, the player with the high card (with Ace being considered High Card) advances to the Head-to-Head Round; in case of a tie (both players got the same value of a card), the process is repeated until a clear winner emerges.
The third round again had 2 players. The player with the best hand still won the game, $1,000, one more Power Chip, (In some episodes, two Power Chips were awarded in this round; one for winning the round and an additional one for winning the overall game,) and the right to play for $25,000. Finally, there was no bonus prize for the first 21 of the day.
Bonus Round
In the bonus round, the winning contestant faces a board with three columns still. Each column was given one card to start. Carson then dealt more cards one by one. On each card, the winning contestant had to place that card on a hand. Along the way, if the contestant saw a card that they didn't like, they could turn in a Power Chip to throw that card out. Whenever a Power Chip was used, the next card had to be played. In some episodes, the contestant could earn up to three Power Chips, and in some episodes, the contestant could earn up to four Power Chips. The idea was to catch a 21 exactly. If they do that on any hand, will earn bonus money, but they do not add the thousand from earlier unlike the original. Doing in a single hand now awarded $2,500, Doing it twice awarded $5,000, Catching a 21 in all three hands awarded the top prize of $25,000. If at any time the contestant busted on any 1 of the 3 hands, they forfeited all of the money earned in the bonus round, but the $1,000 was not at risk. If a contestant is in danger of busting a hand, the player can end the game and kept whatever they won in the round, or to keep playing for $5,000 and/or $25,000. The contestant cannot stop immediately after playing a chip or if a contestant didn't won anything by playing a card. The contestant can stop immediately after playing a card and if they have $2,500 or $5,000. Once the contestant stops, they find out what would've happened, if they decided to play on. If the next card was the card that they were looking for, then they would've won $5,000 and/or $25,000. But if the next card was less than a card they were looking for and still had power chips, they would've made the decision to power chip it, or play it and had to option to stop again. If the next card was less than a card they were looking for and had no more power chips, they would've played it and had to option to stop again. If the card is more than the card that they were looking for if they still have chips, then they would've used it. And if the next card was more than the card that they're looking for and had no more power chips, they made they right choice and would've busted.
