If time ran short during a puzzle, each of the remaining letters was put into the puzzle one at a time and the bank continued to accumulate until one of the couples answered correctly. The couple in the lead at the end of the game won their bank and played the bonus round. If there was a tie after the final puzzle, a final toss-up clue was played with sudden death rules; a correct answer won the game, but an incorrect answer resulted in an automatic loss. Losing couples received consolation prizes, including a copy of the show's home game. Bonus round In the bonus round, the couple had to solve six words or phrases within 60 seconds. Before the round, they were presented with three categories to choose from. Once they made the selection, the show's on-stage security guard led them into an isolation booth which was wired so they could only hear Lange and could only see the game board screen. The round began on Lange's command and one letter at a time was placed in the word or phrase. Letters were revealed at a rate of approximately one per 1.5 seconds, and the couple simply kept guessing until coming up with a correct answer. The process continued until the couple either got all six correct answers to win the round or the 60 second time limit expired. If the couple successfully completed the bonus round in their first attempt, they were offered $5,000 and a choice to retire as undefeated champions or to return the next day and face another couple on the following show. If the couple chose to return and then completed the bonus round a second time, the offer increased to $10,000. If the couple advanced to the bonus round for a third day, they played for the top prize of $1,000,000. In the first season, the grand prize was an annuity, with the couple receiving $40,000 a year for 25 years. For the second season, the couple received over $900,000 as an annuity and an additional $100,000 in prizes, including a pair of automobiles and 20 round-trip tickets on Delta Air Lines valid for any destination in the continental United States. If at any time the couple failed to win the bonus round, they were retired as champions and left with whatever they had won in the main game to that point. During