- Jeopardy is a trivia game where the answer is given and players must respond with a question
- The board has 5 categories and 5 point values - 25 clues per game
- Answering correctly adds the dollar value to your score; wrong answers deduct it
- DoQuizzes has 25+ free Jeopardy games and a quiz maker to build your own board
- You can create a custom game in minutes - Great for classrooms and quiz nights
How do you play Jeopardy?
Jeopardy is a trivia quiz game with a twist: you are given the answer and must respond with the matching question. For example, if the clue is "The capital of France," the correct response is "What is Paris?" not just "Paris."
The game board has 5 categories across the top, each with 5 clues at increasing dollar values ($200 to $1,000). Players choose clues from anywhere on the board, answer them, and accumulate a score. The player with the highest score at the end wins.
What are the rules of Jeopardy?
- All responses must be phrased as a question beginning with "What is," "Who is," "Where is," or similar
- Answer correctly and you earn the dollar value of the clue
- Answer incorrectly and you lose that dollar value from your score (your score can go negative)
- If you choose not to attempt a clue, no points are gained or lost
- Players take turns selecting clues - The player who answered correctly most recently goes next
On DoQuizzes, the Jeopardy Quiz is a single-player experience. You choose clues in any order, submit your response, and the game checks your answer automatically. You can also manually mark yourself correct or incorrect if your phrasing is close but not exact.
Do you have to phrase your answer as a question?
In official Jeopardy! on television, yes - Contestants who give the correct fact without phrasing it as a question are ruled incorrect. In the DoQuizzes version, we check your response intelligently: typing "Paris" or "What is Paris?" will both be accepted for a clue about the French capital.
The spirit of the game is correct knowledge - The "phrase it as a question" format is a fun tradition that makes Jeopardy distinct from ordinary trivia.
How does Jeopardy scoring work?
Each clue has a dollar value from $200 to $1,000. Correct answers add that value to your total score. Incorrect answers subtract that value. Your score can go below zero if you get several wrong answers on high-value clues.
| Clue Value | Correct Answer | Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|
| $200 | +$200 | -$200 |
| $400 | +$400 | -$400 |
| $600 | +$600 | -$600 |
| $800 | +$800 | -$800 |
| $1,000 | +$1,000 | -$1,000 |
A perfect game (all 25 clues correct) scores $15,000. Your goal is to answer as many clues correctly as possible, starting with categories you are confident in to build a safe lead before tackling harder clues.
What is a Daily Double in Jeopardy?
A Daily Double is a hidden clue on the board. Before hearing the clue, the player wagers any amount up to their total current score (or a minimum of $5 in the TV show). If they answer correctly, they win the wager; if wrong, they lose it.
Daily Doubles can completely change the game - A player in last place can catch up or take the lead with a bold wager on a clue they feel confident about.
Can you lose money in Jeopardy if you answer wrong?
Yes. Getting a clue wrong deducts the full dollar value of that clue from your score. On the TV show and in our Jeopardy Quiz, your score can go negative. This is why experienced players choose lower-value clues when unsure and save high-value attempts for categories they know well.
What happens if you do not know the answer?
In the TV game, you simply do not buzz in. On DoQuizzes, you can click "Skip" to move past any clue without penalty - No points gained or lost. Skipping is a valid strategy when you are genuinely unsure about a clue.
How do I play Jeopardy on DoQuizzes?
- Go to the Jeopardy Quiz page
- Browse the available games - 25+ categories including Science, History, Pop Culture, and more
- Click "Play" on any game
- The board appears with 5 category columns and 5 value rows
- Click any dollar value to reveal the clue
- Type your response in the box (no need to phrase it as a question - We accept both)
- Click Submit or press Enter to check your answer
- Your score updates automatically - Complete all 25 clues to finish the game
Can I create my own Jeopardy game?
Yes. The Jeopardy Quiz Maker lets any logged-in user build a custom 5-category, 25-clue board. You write the clue text (the answer) and the correct response, and the board is ready to play immediately.
Custom Jeopardy games are great for:
- Classrooms - Create a game from your lesson topic and have students play to review
- Quiz nights - Build a custom round and play it on-screen with friends
- Family fun - Personalise categories around your family's interests
- Revision - Turn your study notes into Jeopardy clues for active recall practice
Is Jeopardy good for studying?
Yes - Jeopardy-format quizzes are an excellent revision tool. The question-answer structure forces active recall, the scoring system creates stakes that sharpen focus, and the category-based board lets you identify which topics you know well and which need more work.
You can read more about how quiz-based study improves memory in our guide: How Quizzing Yourself Helps You Revise.