Daily analysis, Thursday, September 18

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We haven’t had a complicated situation all season. Will Thursday give it to us?

Absolutely not – and we’re just shy of a double-lock scenario, thanks in part to Bill’s lowball Penultimate Wager (click for my analysis).

Bill Cossen: 18,200
Jesse Henning: 9,400
Carrie Delapeña: 2,400

The Final Jeopardy! category: FOREIGN WORDS

Straightforward, once again.

Basic strategy – first vs. second

Bill should wager 600 to lock out Jesse.

Jesse needs to get it right, so he should wager everything (but at least 8,200).

Carrie is out of contention, so she should focus on second.

Basic strategy – second vs. third

Jesse will have at most 1,200 with a proper wager. So Carrie should cap her wager at 1,199, so as not to hit or fall below that total.

What actually happened

I guess even with nearly a full season of The Final Wager available before taping, neither of our challengers sought guidance. Carrie lost a cool grand, and Jesse lucked into it. Yikes.

The Final Jeopardy! clue

FOREIGN WORDS

THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE FROM 800 TO 1806 WAS THE FIRST; THE GERMAN EMPIRE FROM 1871 TO 1918 WAS THE SECOND

[spoiler]What is Reich?[/spoiler]

 

⇦ Season 30	same week					following week
	15	16	17	18	19	22	23	24	25	26