[1] In April 2012, NBC placed a seven-episode order for the show under the original title Howie Mandel's White Elephant.

[2] On each episode, five contestants participate in a game similar to a white elephant gift exchange, attempting to win or steal more-valuable prizes each round to avoid elimination.

Once per game, each contestant may secretly choose to block the prize they hold from being stolen by any opponent for the rest of that round.

Each separately and secretly decides to "keep mine" or "take it all," similar in format to the prisoner's dilemma.

If both contestants choose "keep mine," each receives the prizes they accumulated in the first three rounds, plus the cash value of the envelope they chose.