Jeopardy!

[Jiri Hrdina]

^Despite ANOTHER bad betting error that opened the door to a tie for no necessary reason.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Yeah, no idea what her thought was there.

I get the strategy of betting a little to minimize a loss if you're wrong in a category you aren't comfortable with. But she should have bet $1 more in case the leader bet $0.

Now the leader betting $0 would also have been incredibly stupid, a $0 bet really is the strategy of someone in 3rd.

[mile]

After seeing Mattea qualify for the Tournament of Champions, it made me wonder about how other Canadians have fared on J!. Best source I could found was this article from 2016.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/jeopa...list-1.3458543

It does look like with one more win, Mattea could be the most successful regular season Canadian player on J! Especially impressive considering her age.

[FireGilbert]

Had to laugh at the two Americans guessing the very American specific French and Indian War while Mattea was able to grasp the bigger picture Seven Years War taking place internationally.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Had to laugh at the two Americans guessing the very American specific French and Indian War while Mattea was able to grasp the bigger picture Seven Years War taking place internationally.

Yeah, but I can't believe she wagered $1? Like you either go big because you know you know history super well and are going to get that right, or you wager zero and make sure that you come back today.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Slava

Yeah, but I can't believe she wagered $1? Like you either go big because you know you know history super well and are going to get that right, or you wager zero and make sure that you come back today.

I actually think $1 was the correct bet.

If you get it right no matter what you win ($20,401)

If you get it wrong you're maximizing your final total ($20,399).

If the guy in second wagered less than everything, got it right, but Mattea wagered big and got it wrong she'd be in a bigger position to lose. (eg: Mattea wagered $10,000 and go it wrong she would have been at $10,400; whereas if Adam wagered $10,000 and got it right he'd have been at 20,200)

You're playing to win, first and foremost.

That begs the question if you were Adam and got a category you knew nothing about, would you still bet it all or hedge your bet hoping the others didn't know it either?

Last thing you want to do is pull a Cliff Clavin.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I actually think $1 was the correct bet.

If you get it right no matter what you win ($20,401)

If you get it wrong you're maximizing your final total ($20,399).

If the guy in second wagered less than everything, got it right, but Mattea wagered big and got it wrong she'd be in a bigger position to lose. (eg: Mattea wagered $10,000 and go it wrong she would have been at $10,400; whereas if Adam wagered $10,000 and got it right he'd have been at 20,200)

You're playing to win, first and foremost.

That begs the question if you were Adam and got a category you knew nothing about, would you still bet it all or hedge your bet hoping the others didn't know it either?

Last thing you want to do is pull a Cliff Clavin.

Sure, but if you're second, you don't keep the money you won that day either? So it's really a question of playing tomorrow or not (assuming you get it wrong).

[Jiri Hrdina]

The most common betting mistake I see is with Daily Doubles, where contestants bet large enough that if they are wrong they are out of it, but not large enough to over-take the leader if they are right. The worst of both. Someone will bet a huge amount, that leaves them $600 shy of the leader. Idiotic.

And if you are going against a multi-time champion, where it is demonstrated early in the game that they are quicker on the buzzer than you, and getting more answers right, the playbook to beat them is clear. Bet big on daily doubles. That's your only chance.

I'm fascinated about how common it is that these really smart people are so awful when it comes to the betting side of the game. You should be entering the game with a clear plan on what you will do in different scenarios. Yes, a big considerations is your comfort level with the category, but sometimes your only chance of winning is to maximize those doubles. Play to win. Too many seem to realize early they aren't going to win and are playing for 2nd. Or playing not to embarrass themselves.

[troutman]

I've been playing the Jeopardy app on my iPad. It's ok, but the questions get repeated a lot, and there are ads and many requests to pay for upgrades. But, you can play for free.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Slava

Sure, but if you're second, you don't keep the money you won that day either? So it's really a question of playing tomorrow or not (assuming you get it wrong).

No if you're second you win $2,000.

Let's say the category is Nuclear Physics.

Well I know sweet bugger all about that. If I was in second should I risk it all in hopes that I luck into the right answer? Or, bet little to none, hope that the person in first wagers a ton and gets it wrong?

I don't actually know the 'correct' strategy there. Mind you when I play the Jeopardy app on my phone, unless I'm in a runaway position I bet it all everytime.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The most common betting mistake I see is with Daily Doubles, where contestants bet large enough that if they are wrong they are out of it, but not large enough to over-take the leader if they are right. The worst of both. Someone will bet a huge amount, that leaves them $600 shy of the leader. Idiotic.

And if you are going against a multi-time champion, where it is demonstrated early in the game that they are quicker on the buzzer than you, and getting more answers right, the playbook to beat them is clear. Bet big on daily doubles. That's your only chance.

I'm fascinated about how common it is that these really smart people are so awful when it comes to the betting side of the game. You should be entering the game with a clear plan on what you will do in different scenarios. Yes, a big considerations is your comfort level with the category, but sometimes your only chance of winning is to maximize those doubles. Play to win. Too many seem to realize early they aren't going to win and are playing for 2nd. Or playing not to embarrass themselves.

If I ever make it on Jeopardy, my goals are simple:

First, buzz in and get one question right.

That's it. Just one.

Second, make it to Final Jeopardy

Third, win one game

Fourth, with one more game

That's it.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

No if you're second you win $2,000.

Let's say the category is Nuclear Physics.

Well I know sweet bugger all about that. If I was in second should I risk it all in hopes that I luck into the right answer? Or, bet little to none, hope that the person in first wagers a ton and gets it wrong?

I don't actually know the 'correct' strategy there. Mind you when I play the Jeopardy app on my phone, unless I'm in a runaway position I bet it all everytime.

In this specific scenario, where second place had exactly half of what first place had and didn't have third place covered, you would have to bet it all as the second place player.

If you had third place covered and it wasn't a strong subject for you, you might consider ensuring a second place finish, but I still think you have to go for the win. The difference between second and third is only $1,000. The difference between first and second was over $18,000 in this case (plus a chance to come back and play again).

Also, if you go down swinging, you can be satisfied that you tried your best; but if you get it right and first place gets it wrong, you'll be kicking yourself for the rest of your life if you didn't go for the win.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by troutman

I've been playing the Jeopardy app on my iPad. It's ok, but the questions get repeated a lot, and there are ads and many requests to pay for upgrades. But, you can play for free.

I agree it's ok, I don't like how you only play 5 of the 9 clues.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I enjoy that Ken shows utter disdain and disappointment when people aren't aggressive enough on their daily doubles.
Similarly he praises people for being aggressive even if it doesn't work.
Saying stuff like...
"That's the right play".

[mile]

It's disappointing when players find a DD in the Jeopardy round and don't bet the maximum - you could easily recover those losses in Double Jeopardy

Everyone is very smart, but there clearly isn't enough thought and prep put into the strategy and wagering side of the game

[getbak]

I think that's why James was such an outlier. He was both good with the trivia knowledge, but he also had the gambler's heart.

A lot of people have one or the other, but not both.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Is there some way to find out who’s hosting without tuning every day? A hosting schedule of sorts? I’ll only watch if what’s-her-face isn’t hosting.

[RW99]

My wife and I refer to Mattea as Lady T-Rex.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Is there some way to find out who’s hosting without tuning every day? A hosting schedule of sorts? I’ll only watch if what’s-her-face isn’t hosting.

It's weekly so just check on Monday and decide from there.

[mile]

No official schedule that I can find, but the best way to check is to search for Jeopardy on your TV listings, it usually mentions who the host is for each upcoming episode.

From the patterns I've noticed, it looks like Ken hosts 6 weeks worth of games (30 games), followed by 2 weeks (or 10 episodes) of Bialik. Apparently she only has time to film 10 episodes a month because her other show is taking up the majority of her time right now.

Bialik just finished her latest 2 week stint last Friday, so we probably have another 6 weeks of Ken (including this current week).

Things could always change though. If she's wrapped up filming for her other show she could very well start hosting at least half the episodes, whenever that happens.