Daily analysis, Monday, April 21

We’ve had a few days to process the wild week that was. Will Monday treat us differently?

It’s a low-scoring affair, but a tight one. Our two-time defending champ fell to second on the last clue, thanks to a correct response by Julia.

Frédérique Delaprée: 7,800
Julia Collins: 8,000
Kris Voss: 5,200

The Final Jeopardy! category: HISTORIC GROUPS

Let’s look at the basics.

Basic strategy

Julia should wager 7,600 to take things into her own hands.

Frédérique has an interesting situation against Kris. She needs to wager 2,600 to cover him, but leads by 2,600. Therefore, she needs to wager exactly this amount. (Kris has exactly 2/3 her score – a wager-to-tie situation.)

Kris can wager either 0 or 5,200, depending on whether he thinks Frédérique will play this properly – and whether Julia will enact some mind games.

Mind games

Julia might risk between 2,400 (to cover the tie wager by Frédérique) and 2,800 (so as not to fall below a 0 wager by Kris).

Frédérique might wager between 3,000 (to cover the 2,800 wager by Julia) and 7,400 (so as not to fall below the lockout wager by Julia).

Two good wagers and a hopeful one.

The Final Jeopardy! clue for April 21, 2014 (HISTORIC GROUPS):

WITH FEWER THAN 10 MEMBER CITIES IN ATTENDANCE, THIS ASSOCIATION BASED IN LUBECK HELD ITS LAST ASSEMBLY IN 1669

Correct response: What is the Hanseatic League?