Daily analysis, Tuesday, January 28

Why is Alex asking a voiceover artist if he’s ever heard of Don LaFontaine?

In response to my crush comment yesterday, a few people emailed me to point out that Julie has a reputation among the quiz bowl community.

“Watching her cruelly flirt with helpless, pathetic quizbowl males was a predictably dreary sight at tournaments of the late-90s.”

OK, I’m over it. Let’s get on to the situation – and it’s a good one.

Julie Singer: 18,600
Arthur Chu: 20,000
Cesar Perez-Gonzales: 9,000

The Final Jeopardy! category: LITERARY QUOTES

There’s some mind-game potential here, but Julie has proven so strong she will likely bet on herself.

Arthur should wager to lock her out: 17,200.

Julie, if she wants to play it safe, can wager up to 600 against Cesar. More likely, though, she’ll want to put up between 2,800 (to cover an unsafe wager by Arthur) and 15,800 (to stay above Arthur if he’s wrong). Ideally she’ll cap it at 3,400 to stay above a rational Cesar wager.

Cesar should wager no more than 6,200, to stay above Arthur. If he’s afraid Julie will play some tricks, he can wager everything.

What?! Arthur went for the tie?! We could have a situation on our hands.

Also of note: in Ken Jennings’s first game, he lead 20,000 – 18,600 heading into Final. (Third had 7,400.) He did not wager for the tie.

The Final Jeopardy! clue for January 28, 2014 (LITERARY QUOTES):

A MAXIM OF AYN RAND WAS “MAN’S EGO IS” THIS “OF HUMAN PROGRESS”

Correct response: What is the fountainhead?