Example: Leader has $20k, 2nd has $10k, 3rd has $2k.

Most approach this thinking 2nd will always wager everything, which of course they should. Therefore the leader can wager any amount between $1 and $9999 and it will show the same winning chances. Seems simple right?

But it's not, because for reasons only known to math teachers across the country, 2nd place doesn't always wager everything. Here are the statistics derived from the archive of this scenario over the years.

53 lock/tie scenarios.

40 times 2nd place wagers everything.

3 times 2nd place wagers all but $1.

10 times 2nd place wagers some other random number.

So while it's hard to believe, almost 25% of the time 2nd place has failed to wager everything over the years. Almost 6% of the time 2nd place has wagered all but $1.

The above paragraph is why wagering $0 shows basically the same winning chances as wagering $1, because 25% of the time wagering $0 guarantees victory where it should not assuming 2nd place wagers rationally.

And because of the propensity of 2nd place to wager all but $1 one reason why any wager greater than $1 shows much less chances to win. The leader can wager $1 and still tie when 2nd place makes the all but $1 wager.

Furthermore, because of the other seemingly random wagers from 2nd, if the leader wanted to wager more than $1 they would have no clue as to how much was a safe wager.

Summary, if 2nd place always wagered rationally, betting $1 from the lead would be the correct play. Because 2nd does not always wager rationally, a $0 wager from the lead shows similar winning chances to $1. And this irrational behavior is also why any wager greater than $1 from the lead lessens winning chances tremendously. I've also skipped all the detailed math because nobody really cares about it. And if you do, it's out there in various places.

5 weeks into the eligibility period for 2028 postseason games, let's see which of these champions have the chance to compete at Champions Wildcard & Tournament of Champions.

Current Champion:  Frank Merchlewitz ( 1 game champion)

The probability chances of 1-2 game champions at the upcoming Champions Wildcard (based on the trends from the 2026 CWC qualification & selection) will change as the regular games continue to air especially with a longer eligibility period.

Seems like a warm, friendly, interesting guy; would’ve been nice to see him stick around a while—but he was up against 2 beasts! Props to Kim and her clutch performance

DD1 - $800 - FLOWERS & PLANTS - Bachelor's buttons are individual blue flowers; this other "B.B." is branches with numerous tiny white florets

DD2 - $1,600 - 2-LETTER WORDS - It's the title of a Kipling poem & begins 13 of the 32 lines

DD3 - $1,600 - COMMISSION ACCOMPLISHED - A 1970 report of the President's Commission on Campus Unrest discusses rules of engagement for the national guard of this state

Correct Qs: DD1 - What is baby's breath? DD2 - What is if? DD3 - What is Ohio?

View Poll

Does anyone else feel bad for people who have an acheivment worthy of being a Jeopardy clue but then end up as a triple-srumper?

Now I know we haven’t seen a new Jeopardy video game for console in a while, so my question would be: if you were to have a new video game, what’s your idea? I’m thinking more of a decades style similar to Price Is Right, like you play current-day Jeopardy with Ken Jennings and then unlock different sets like the original ’ 84 set grid, then Sushi Bar and Metallic Ces and present day. And maybe it can be on iPad or iPhones and Xbox and PlayStation and maybe pc that’s my idea, but tell me what you think or your opinions on it.

WOMEN AUTHORS

Using Nantucket as a backdrop, Elin Hilderbrand earned the title the "Queen of" this, added to Merriam-Webster in 2024

What is the beach read?

WRONG ANSWER 1: vibe coding

WRONG ANSWER 2: six seven

WRONG ANSWER 3: quiet quitting

For those who have GSN the last 2 episodes filmed before Alex’s passing should be aired Friday afternoon starting at 3 PM Eastern. They recently started playing the final season and the episodes from Tuesday and Wednesday of that week aired yesterday.

RIP Alex

What is the correct response, and which of the contestants did NOT get it right?

https://j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=3015

That was the 20th season when the "sky's the limit" rule was put in place that allowed players to remain on the show as long as they kept on winning.

Later that same season, Tom Walsh would break that record with 7 wins. And then some software engineer from Salt Lake City would win a couple of more games. Not sure if I remember that correctly.

Am I the only one who doesn’t want to root for any of the contestants when they overreact to wrong answers? I don’t know what I’d do but tonite’s episode was a hard one to watch.

If any contestants can wave 👋 at some point during the introductions my 2 year old would appreciate it greatly.

I believe he thinks this is a show where he waves at the contestants in the intro, claps during Ken's entrance and vibes to the final jeopardy music. (He makes us play the music at least 3 times so he can head bob and point.) I understand you may not be able to or want to wave but please know that if you do wave, you bring immense joy to this 2 year old. Thank you for your consideration.

What will be Ron Clarke's chances of competing at 2028 Champions Wildcard if he will get one of the 12/13 spots? Narrative wise, he has the high chance of getting invited since he won the tiebreaker against 3 game champion Greg Monson but statistically wise he is currently in the bottom of the pack among 1-2 game champions in terms of adjusted number of correct responses & Coryat.

The next summary will be posted this Saturday.

Via YouTube's Instagram account.

UPDATE, now that the show has posted the news on its own site:

• Angela Giarratana plays for The Trevor Project.
• Michelle Khare plays for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
• Mythical Chef Josh Scherer plays for Project Angel Food.

DD1 - $600 - "R"TISTS - Pope Julius II commissioned the frescoes by this man that adorn a suite of rooms named for him at the Vatican museums

DD2 - $1,600 - THOMAS HARDY BOYS (AND MEN) - "I am Mr." this, says Alec to Tess; later, he does very bad things

DD3 - $800 - MOUNTAINS - This mountain that lies in China & Pakistan has been known locally as Dapsang or Chogori

Correct Qs: DD1 - Who was Raphael? DD2 - What is d'Urberville? DD3 - What is K2?

View Poll

We got another YouTube edition of the show coming up next week. I actually don't mind this version since y'all think I hate everything. I enjoy watching it more than espn, pop culture and masters(obviously). However, I do thing they should give them a little bit more money to work with since they are playing for charity and they're doing only 1 round, but overall, it's not bad

Interestingly enough I’ve actually been in all of these buildings.

The clue was: Ordinal term for a Jerusalem structure built starting in 20 B.C., with no Ark of the Covenant this time

They wanted Second Temple -- which was constructed in either the 4th or 5th century BCE depending on which source you trust.

The was a renovation undertaken by Herod roughly around that time, but it was not built starting then.

Very curious what their source was.

WELCOME TO PHILADELPHIA

Eager to get started, he was the first non-Pennsylvanian to arrive at the Constitutional Convention

Who was James Madison?

WRONG ANSWER 1: John Hancock

WRONG ANSWER 2: Thomas Jefferson

WRONG ANSWER 3: George Washington

I just want a podcast with straight facts. Something I can listen to over and over at work to learn the state and world capitals and memorize the U.S. presidents and vice presidents? I don't want editorializing or guests or anything. Just a robotic voice going over the very basics of Jeopardy!.

That sort of thing?

I already have Rudyard Kipling down pat... just his name, and that he wrote the Jungle Book. So, I'm already like 50% a Jeopardy! master.

That has to exist, right?