How to Play The Chase

The Chase is a high-stakes quiz show where four contestants compete individually and collectively against a professional quizzer known as "The Chaser." The format combines solo competition, strategic decision-making, and teamwork, creating a uniquely thrilling game show experience where knowledge, luck, and nerve determine success.

The Cash Builder Round

The game begins with each contestant playing individually in the Cash Builder round. In this rapid-fire segment, a contestant faces a stream of quick-fire trivia questions for 60 seconds. Each correct answer earns £1,000 (or the equivalent in the American version). The contestant continues answering as many questions as possible within the time limit, trying to build up their personal cash total. The Cash Builder tests pure trivia knowledge under time pressure and establishes each player's earning potential for the individual chases to follow.

The Chase Offer

After building their cash, each contestant faces a crucial decision. They are presented with three options: a higher offer (which places them closer to The Chaser on the board), their earned Cash Builder amount, or a lower offer (which places them further from The Chaser). The higher offer is more lucrative but means starting closer to the opponent, while the lower offer provides safety but smaller winnings. This decision involves risk assessment and strategy, as contestants must decide whether to go for bigger money or safer positioning.

The Individual Chase

Once a contestant chooses their starting position, the head-to-head battle with The Chaser begins. Both the contestant and The Chaser are asked the same multiple-choice trivia questions with three possible answers. They must secretly press buttons to lock in their answers simultaneously. When one player locks in their answer, the other is given five seconds to do the same, or they get locked out. The contestant wins if they correctly answer more questions than The Chaser before the Chaser catches up to them on the board. Successfully surviving an individual chase means moving forward to the team's Final Chase with the prize money intact.

The Chaser's Role

The Chaser is a professional quizzer hired to prevent contestants from winning. On the British version, there are six chasers: Mark Labbett (known as "The Beast"), Shaun Wallace (known as "The Dark Destroyer"), Anne Hegerty (known as "The Governess"), Paul Sinha (known as "The Sinnerman"), Jenny Ryan (known as "The Vixen"), and Darragh Ennis (known as "The Menace"). Each Chaser brings expertise, personality, and their own competitive style to the game. The Chaser's job is to answer correctly and catch the contestant before they reach the bottom of the board.

The Final Chase

All contestants who survived their individual chases (made it through without being caught by The Chaser) play together as a unified team in the Final Chase. The team collectively faces The Chaser and attempts to answer as many questions as possible in two minutes. Every correct answer adds to the team's total. The Chaser then has the same two minutes to answer questions, trying to match or exceed the team's score. If the team's score is higher than The Chaser's, they win the combined prize fund and split it equally among surviving team members. If The Chaser matches or exceeds their score, the team wins nothing.

Strategy and Teamwork

The Chase rewards knowledge, quick thinking, and strategic decision-making. Contestants must decide whether to take higher-risk/higher-reward offers, and teams in the Final Chase must work together and communicate efficiently to maximize their score. Unlike many game shows, The Chase emphasizes both individual competition and team dynamics, creating a unique entertainment experience.