This...... is....... Jeopardy!

There aren't too many shows that I routinely watch anymore. Jeopardy! is on that exclusive list. Since most programs are in the re-run part of their schedules and shows like Chuck, Lost, and American Idol haven't begun their new seasons yet, I can spend more time occasionally discussing America's favorite game show. Or at least my favorite game show.

Here’s a Jeopardy! wagering quiz that is taken straight from Monday night’s episode. (gotta love the official exclamation point in the title’s name) The champion, Stephen, landed on the daily double for the last question before Final Jeopardy. The scores at the time were:

Stephen- 15,100
Vince- 18,000
Kathy- 9,200

Based on these scores, how much should have Stephen guessed?



If it is assumed that the sole goal of Jeopardy! Is to come in first place, then the correct answer is anywhere between $2,900 and $5,900. Contrary to what some people may instinctively believe, Stephen’s wager should have nothing to do with the category chosen. Here’s why:

Since this is the final clue of Double Jeopardy!, Stephen should have two goals:

1) Get the answer right and move ahead to first place before Final Jeopardy! (gotta love the official exclamation point in the title’s name). This is important because then he can control his own destiny in Final Jeopardy!

2) Get the answer wrong and still:
Be in second place
Have more than half of first place’s total. This way if he gets the answer right in Final Jeopardy! And the leader gets it wrong, he wins.


If Stephen risks less than $2,900 then answering the question correctly does him no good. He’ll still have less than the leader. Getting the question wrong would put him in the same situation as he’s currently in now. In other words, risking less than $2,900 in this situation means that Stephen needs to learn how to Man Up.

If Stephen risks more than $5,900 and gets it wrong, then he’ll need incorrect answers from both Vince and Kathy in Final Jeopardy! If Stephen does get the daily double question right, then he’ll zoom ahead of Vince before final Jeopardy. But that same goal could have achieved without the consequences of risking too large a number.


So what actually happened?

Stephen’s gut reaction to the category Viva Vivaldi! was to drop his signaling device and hide behind the podium. He risked $100 which essentially made the result of his answer irrelevant. It turns out he knew the right answer. If he wagered correctly, he would have moved ahead of Vince for first place. As a result, Stephen was still in second place and would need help from Vince in order to remain champion.

In Final Jeopardy!, Stephen did what he could and practically doubled his score. Now if Vince gets the right answer and wagers correctly, Stephen’s Double Jeopardy blunder costs him the game. Luckily for our gutless champion, Vince got the final Jeopardy! answer wrong and Stephen escaped with the victory.

Bottom line #1: By risking $100 instead of $2,900, Stephen prevented himself from being in prime position for Final Jeopardy! Even if he risked $2,900 and got the answer wrong, he would have been in the same position as if he lost the $100 he actually wagered. I expect more out of a Jeopardy! champion!

Bottom Line #2: I have a lot of time on my hands during winter vacation.

Does anybody disagree with this philosophy?

Did anybody watch the show and was more offended by the sweater Stephen wore than how he actually played the game?