- Game show based on blackjack using giant playing cards.
- Wink Martindale originally hosted this game show involving giant playing cards which pitted two married couples in a game of blackjack. The first couple to answer a question asked by Wink had the opportunity to take a card or pass it to their opponents. Each team had to get as close as they could to 21 without going over.—Marty McKee <mmckee@soltec.net>
- On September 4-8, 1972 CBS-TV debuts "GAMBIT" plays with Blackjack 21 and answering general knowledge questions and that features 2 Married Couples and 1 of these 2 Wedded Couples are the returning champions are both competed for cash & prizes. The Card Dealer (Elaine Stewart) 1st breaks the seal and cutting the cards carefully by the challenging couple and shows a card (e.g.: Ace of Spades=1 point or 11 points) and The Host (Wink Martindale) reads a question and the couples buzz-in for the answer. When they right, They Take/Keep the Card or Giveaway/Pass the Card to the Challenging/Champion Couple. When they Wrong, Another Couple will have the Card by default. Whenever The Couple freezes the Hand {e.g.: The Couple's Hand: 20} and that all led to that couple will beat the Total Number of points of the Couples Hand. The Couple goes close to 21 without going over wins $100 per game and added to "The GAMBIT (Cash) Jackpot" and starts at $500 plus $100 when 21 wasn't made through the 2-out-of-3 Match and $500 will added to "The GAMBIT (Cash) Jackpot" when they lost that day (Later in the Run from February 5, 1973 to December 10, 1976, It's just $500 and added to the same amount every day before the 21 had made it.) The Couple wins 2-out-of-3 Match wins $200 and plays "The GAMBIT Board" and consisted of 21 flip cards and the Champion Couple 1st cut the cards and then they will call out the number 1 at a time {e.g.: "17" is "$500" per card suit (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds & Clubs)} gets 1 card at a time. When 21 has made they wins "The GAMBIT (Cash) Jackpot", The Prizes & The New Car. Busted over 21 lose everything except "The GAMBIT (Cash) Jackpot." The Card Values on "GAMBIT" are Ace=1/11 Points & 2-K= 2 to 10 points. Couples must compete before defeated or having winning up the $25,000 Limit made by CBS-TV. In 1980 NBC-TV debuts "LAS VEGAS GAMBIT" and several changes: 1. The Regular Game. 2. "GAMBIT Jackpot" is still active 3. New Card Dealer (Beverly Maudlin from October 27, 1980 to June 6, 1981) & (Lee Menning from June 9 to November 27, 1981). 4. "The GAMBIT Board" lowered from 21 to 18 flip cards are now video spaces. 5. In November 1980 "The GAMBIT Board" replaced by "The Living Deck" of 52 Cards (a la "LET'S MAKE A DEAL" in Cards) when the Champion Couple will call the Number of a person's shirt {e.g.: "40" for the "King of Hearts."} 6. On June 9-13, 1981 "LAS VEGAS GAMBIT" features "HIGH ROLLERS" Bonus Game "The Big Numbers" called itself "The GAMBIT Galaxy" and the roll of 2 Dice to knockout all 9 numbers from 1 to 9 to win all 9 prizes before crapping out and Couples will compete before defeated.—Ben Hallums<benhallums1@hotmail.com>
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