Daily analysis, Thursday, July 3

Whom – or what – am I telling to “shush” tonight?

For the second night in a row, the New York showing of Jeopardy! was interrupted by a severe weather warning. Last night: flash floods. Tonight: thunderstorms.

During the video, which should be up around 9:30 EDT, the National Weather Service made sure to get its point across.

Christi Esterle: 12,200
Jeff Versteeg: 11,700
Beverly Garcia: 6,000

The Final Jeopardy! category: FAMOUS OBJECTS

Anyway, we’ve got a game to be played (several months ago in sunny L.A.), so let’s get to the good stuff.

Basic strategy – first vs. second

Christi should wager 11,200.

If she’s wrong and goes for the lockout, that means Jeff can wager up to 10,700 and Beverly, up to 5,000.

Basic strategy – second vs. third

Jeff needs to wager at least 300 to cover Beverly.

Beverly should respond by going all-in – or at least 5,400.

Basic strategy – Rule #3

Jeff needs to wager 500 and 1,000 to cover zero and “unsafe” wagers by Christi.

He should also cap his maximum wager at 5,700 so as not to fall below Beverly.

Mind games

Assuming Beverly wagers 5,000, Jeff will want to cap his smaller (and better) range at 700, so as not to lose to her if she wagers that amount.

Christi might wager just 200, which would tie or beat Jeff if he wagers in that 500 – 700 range, and stay above a double-up by Beverly regardless.

What actually happened

Our challengers did well. I was tempted to give Christi a red here because she loses to a rational 5,400 wager by Beverly; however, given his Chu-like bouncing, Jeff seemed certain to wager properly.

The Final Jeopardy! clue for July 3, 2014 (FAMOUS OBJECTS):

IN 1950 THE ENGLAND-SCOTLAND BORDER WAS CLOSED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 400 YEARS TO TRY TO RECOVER THIS STOLEN ITEM

[spoiler]What is the Stone of Scone?[/spoiler]