Daily analysis, November 25

After two weeks of Teachers, Rani Peffer returns for her fifth game. How will she do? We’ll actually look at a Penultimate Wager situation in the video.

Word to the wise: there are two Daily Doubles in Double Jeopardy!, and they show up in different categories. If there are two categories remaining, and you haven’t seen a Daily Double yet, it’s time to go on the hunt.

You can tell Rani knows there’s a Daily Double under the $800 clue in ALL SYSTEMS GO; she even guesses Columbus on a $1200 clue to try to get control of the board. Yet James doesn’t try to nab it, and Rani ultimately picks it up.

James should get a black grade just for that. And Rani’s Penultimate Wager is dubious, but that’s for another time.

Anyway, on to the reason we’re here, eh?

Rani Peffer: 14,600
Johnna Mahoney: 8,600
James Kosmatka: 5,400

Rani’s looking good for her fifth win.

Rani should wager 2,600. If she’s so inclined, she can wager up to 3,800, although the upside (a little extra money) might not be worth the risk of losing to a minimum wager by Johnna.

Johnna has to wager at least 3,400 to have a shot. She might as well go for broke, unless she’s really concerned about second.

James, unfortunately, has no chance of winning. His only hope is to wager less than 200 to give him second place if Johnna wagers properly and misses.

James, unfortunately, didn’t do his preparation for the show, and it cost him not only a crack at a gimme Daily Double (it was under the $800 clue!) but an extra thou in his bank account.

The Final Jeopardy! clue for November 25, 2013:

NOBEL LAUREATES
THE 1991 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER FROM THIS COUNTRY WAS UNDER ARREST AT THE TIME OF THE AWARD

Correct response: What is Myanmar (Burma)? [The award was given to Aung San Suu Kyi.]