S3·E176 Show #631, 1987 Senior Tournament quarterfinal game 1.

Episode recap

The episode identified as season 3, episode 176 (show #631) was the first quarter‑final game of the 1987 Senior Tournament of Jeopardy!. The broadcast opened with the customary introduction by host Alex Trebek, who welcomed the studio audience and explained the rules of the game. The three senior contestants for this installment were Dorothy McClellan, Joe Dobkins and Irene Grzywacz, whose names were announced in turn by the show’s announcer Johnny Gilbert.

As with every regular edition of the series, the competition proceeded through the three traditional rounds: the Jeopardy! round, the Double Jeopardy! round and the Final Jeopardy! round. In each of the first two rounds, the board displayed a set of clues organized into six categories, each containing five clues of increasing monetary value. Contestants selected clues by stating the category and dollar amount, then responded in the form of a question. Correct responses added the clue’s value to the contestant’s score, while incorrect responses deducted the same amount and gave the remaining players an opportunity to buzz in.

During the Double Jeopardy! round, the clue values were doubled, and two “Daily Doubles” were hidden among the board. The episode followed the standard procedure for revealing and wagering on these clues, with each contestant given the chance to place a wager up to the total of their current score.

The game concluded with the Final Jeopardy! round, in which a single clue was presented and contestants wrote down their responses and wagers. After the time limit expired, the correct response was revealed, and the final scores were calculated. The episode’s closing segment featured Trebek thanking the contestants for their participation and reminding viewers of the tournament’s progression toward the semifinals.

No specific scores, winners, or tie‑breaking details are provided in the available sources, and the recap therefore limits itself to the confirmed structure and participants of the quarter‑final game. The episode exemplifies the classic Jeopardy! format, showcasing senior competitors testing their breadth of knowledge across a wide range of topics under the familiar guidance of Trebek and Gilbert.