# Jeopardy discussion

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** reality-or-game-show\
**Created:** [January 4, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207 "2022-01-04T18:16:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 24

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**Author:** ![mjmartin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3d9bf3/32.png) [@mjmartin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmartin)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/461 "2022-04-14T20:36:56Z")

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Agreed. This would be especially helpful when players like Matt or James are on a streak. Imagine waiting your whole life to be on Jeopardy, and playing someone that has won 20 games in a row and your only likely outcomes are to leave with either $1000 or $2000.

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**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/462 "2022-04-14T21:37:55Z")

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They used to do this before the second and third place players got gifts (IIRC, the second finisher got a decent-if-not-extravagant vacation). Also IIRC, the problem was that they were running into people who had a particular amount in mind, and when they reached that point they essentially checked out of the game. Kind of took an edge off the proceedings.

ETA: If you were up against James or Matt, you might be lucky to accumulate $1000 in the first place. But point taken.

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**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/463 "2022-04-14T21:45:16Z")

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If you can make one heap of all your winnings  
And risk it on Double or Final Jeopardy,  
And lose, and start again at your beginnings  
And never breathe a word about your loss  
You will be a man my son!

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**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2022, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/464 "2022-04-14T23:02:47Z")

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> [@Robot\_Arm](#):
>
> I thought the goal was to maximize the amount of money you win.

And here I thought the goal was to win the game.

But if that’s your point, then my original proposed wager for Mattea would have maximized her winnings while still being a bet that would give her a chance to win even if she missed the question.

I think we can agree to disagree.

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**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2022, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/465 "2022-04-15T02:23:22Z")

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I thought for a second that Matteo would bet $0 and possibly end up in a tie. Then at the playoff question, she would be able to buzz in first. Her buzzer timing is impeccable.

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**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/466 "2022-04-16T18:32:41Z")

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What happens if you buzz in on the Tie breaker clue and get it wrong.

Does the other player win automatically? Or does the other player have to come up with the correct “question”?

I guess if neither player buzzes in, then they go to another clue.

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**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2022, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/467 "2022-04-16T22:09:15Z")

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Yes, the other person wins automatically if you get it wrong.

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**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/468 "2022-04-19T03:01:10Z")

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Ken’s little stand-up routine about Canada was rather cringeworthy.

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**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/469 "2022-04-19T03:32:49Z")

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The final jeopardy answer contained its own solution, unless one was confused by Sir Richard Burton as the original translator, as opposed to the first non-bowderized.

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**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/470 "2022-04-19T14:25:16Z")

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> [@Wheelz](#):
>
> Ken’s little stand-up routine about Canada was rather cringeworthy.

IMHO, it definitely would have been better if it was about 50% shorter.

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/471 "2022-04-19T17:12:49Z")

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Is there some reason we’ve seen a LOT of long streaks lately? This season alone, Matteo is only the fourth longest reigning champion, far behind Amy Schneider and Matt Amodio, and still one game behind Johnathan Fisher, who won 11 games in a row.

There have been only twelve players to win at least 11 straight:

Jennings - 74  
Schneider - 40  
Amodio - 38  
James Holzhauer - 32  
Julia Collins - 20  
David Madden - 19  
Jason Zuffraneiri - 19  
Matt Jackson - 13  
Austin Rogers - 12  
Seth Wilson - 12  
Arthur Chu - 11  
Fisher - 11

It seems odd to me that if Mattea Roach can win #11, four of the top 13 will have happened in one season. Long winning streaks have been possible for 20 years or so, but after Jennings won 74 in a row in 2004, David MAdden was the only streak that made the above leaderboard until Julia Collins in 2014.

I would have assumed long streaks were getting LESS likely as more players adopted the aggressive strategy employed by the greatest champions.

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**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/472 "2022-04-20T22:01:34Z")

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Unlike recent clues about Russia, the clue about Zelensky didn’t have a “Recorded in Jan 2022” disclaimer. I guess no one is upset about Ukraine.

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**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/473 "2022-04-20T22:16:42Z")

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I _kinda_ got yesterday’s FJ right. Considering the clue regarding French words, I did in fact come up with “Cote d’(French word for Ivory),” but had no idea on the spelling or even correct pronunciation.

If I were on the show, I likely would have ended up writing “Cote d’Ivory” and almost certainly been ruled incorrect.

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**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/474 "2022-04-20T22:29:22Z")

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I think “Ivory Coast” would have been accepted.

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**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/475 "2022-04-21T00:01:24Z")

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Mattea should’ve eased up on the throttle a bit and allowed the other two players to stay on the board….especially when she knew the DDs were gone and they had no chance of winning.

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**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/476 "2022-04-21T00:06:44Z")

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One clue left on the board, a $2000 answer. Two players are in the red at -$600 and -$1600. And neither of them ventures a guess?

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**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/477 "2022-04-21T01:12:14Z")

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Sorry, but I disagree. Being agressive, if politely so, is the only way to go.

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/478 "2022-04-21T01:17:39Z")

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I mean, it’s literal money. $2000 is a lot of bread. She’s a tutor living in a stupidly expensive city. She needs every damn penny.

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**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/479 "2022-04-21T02:03:38Z")

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She moves her forearms like a marionette. NTTAWWT.

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-discussion/957207/480 "2022-04-21T02:31:42Z")

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> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Unlike recent clues about Russia, the clue about Zelensky didn’t have a “Recorded in Jan 2022” disclaimer. I guess no one is upset about Ukraine.

I was wondering about that clue. Today, it’s obvious but a few months ago, Zelensky was much less known.

And she could have bet more aggressively today in final jeopardy, given she had no competition.

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