Daily analysis, November 27

Happy Hanukkah! Let’s see if I need to light up any of today’s players.

Holy crap. That was a great game! I was hoping for a wager-to-tie situation going into Final, but John was able to figure out the last clue. (Had he missed, he would have been in a tie with Mike.)

Mike Nickel: 12,000
Shanna Lafferty: 14,400
John Kyle Grady: 16,000

Analysis of this barn-burner:

John should wager 12,800.

Shanna is best off wagering at least 9,600 to cover Mike, but no more than 11,200 so as not to fall below John.

Mike should wager between 5,600 and 7,200.

I was surprised only one player got this correct, although Mike had the right idea.

Note: if Shanna insists on going small, she should wager at least 1,600 (to cover the same possibility by John) and no more than 2,400 (so as not to fall below Mike if he goes for nothing).

The Final Jeopardy! clue for November 27, 2013:

GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
OVER 8,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAVED FROM HARM BY THIS PROGRAM AUTHORIZED IN A 1970 LAW, BUT WE’RE NOT ALLOWED TO NAME ANY

Correct response: What is the Witness Protection Program?