# One of the stupiest bets ever on Jeopardy tonight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961 "2011-02-03T00:39:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/1 "2011-02-03T00:39:24Z")
Spoiler space for those places where it isn’t done airing yet. So it’s final Jeopardy. The winner is in the lead with 16,000, the second place has something in the 13,000 range, IIRC. So, in theory, the leader only needed to bet ~10,000-11,000. And yet…she bet everything…and everyone got it wrong, so the second place guy won because he had ~$3000 left. Why did she bet everything?! You never, NEVER bet everything when you’re in the lead. Even if it’s a category you are positive you know every single thing about, you do not bet everything just to take home more money. NEVER. And she was cute, too, which is the biggest shame of all…☹ (She kind of looks like Summer Glau) ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/2 "2011-02-03T00:57:14Z")
I have a hard time watching Jeopardy! because of bad betting tactics seen on almost every episode. For daily doubles it’s forgivable because they’re under a quick timer, but for the final J! bet, no excuses. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/3 "2011-02-03T01:03:40Z")
So, OP, can you spoil the category and question for those of us who aren’t planning to tune in anyway? ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/4 "2011-02-03T01:11:19Z")
For kalaysdad Clue: US Presidents Something to the effect of “name two out of the three US presidents who were elected to a 2nd term but did not complete that term” Answer Lincoln Nixon and McKinley ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/5 "2011-02-03T01:20:16Z")
Then all three of them are stupid for getting it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/6 "2011-02-03T01:22:07Z")
i was thinking, the salt on the wound is that the question isn’t a tough one at all. the girl NAILED the letter-initials category (which i thought was pretty tough) and then blanks HARD on the final jeopardy question? rough. (not just the girl. everyone blanked. i mean… lincoln and nixon! two of the most notorious unfinished presidencies ever!) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/7 "2011-02-03T01:38:27Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > For kalaysdad > > Clue: > > US Presidents > Something to the effect of “name two out of the three US presidents who were elected to a 2nd term but did not complete that term” > > Answer > > Lincoln Nixon and McKinley Thanks. Now spoil some of the wrong answers that were given! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/8 "2011-02-03T01:42:42Z")
(placings before final jeopardy) distant 3rd: nixon and… ? (lost almost all of it. down to like, $200?) distant 2nd: lincoln and kennedy (lost most of it. down to, $3200?) 1st place: lincoln and FDR (lost all of her 16,000) so, 2nd place won. the 1st place ended last. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/9 "2011-02-03T02:00:47Z")
The funny thing was, I walked out of the room when second place guy got the wrong answer and I saw that he bet enough to put him below the (very distant, less then half) third place player. I couldn’t believe it when my dad came and told me he ended up winning. I just assumed that if she made a big bet it would have been just big enough to put her ahead of #2 if he went all in, I mean, any more then that is just stupid. ---
**Author:** ![AshenLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@AshenLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AshenLady)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/10 "2011-02-03T02:16:59Z")
I never saw a contestent be so stupid as tonite…goodbye to the whole wad…where’s her brains? ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/11 "2011-02-03T02:22:16Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Thanks. > > Now spoil some of the wrong answers that were given! 😃 [Cliffy:] Name three people who have never been in my kitchen [/Cliffy] Hah! ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/12 "2011-02-03T03:16:22Z")
Eh, it was stupid to get it wrong, but I’d always go for broke on a game show - especially Jeopardy, where I’d know it was a mixture of trivia knowledge and luck that put me in a position to win, and that mixture would likely not turn into a streak – so I’d get one payday. Now if the category was was Ancient Greek Theorems, and I didn’t think they’d be asking about Pythagoras, I’d bet conservatively. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/13 "2011-02-03T04:45:17Z")
It was a stupid bet, and they all deserve to get smacked around for not knowing the question. Too simple by far. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/14 "2011-02-03T05:00:14Z")
She almost pulled a Cliff Claven. Only Cliff bet it all when he had a runaway. And he’s a fictional character. Incidentally, I got Lincoln and McKinley, but blanked on Nixon. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/15 "2011-02-03T05:34:44Z")
If I’m ever on Jeopardy, and the topic for Final Jeopardy (or a Daily Double) is physics, or one of my other areas of specialization, then I’m betting it all no matter what the rest of the players have. To do anything else would be to just walk away from money that could be mine, for no reason. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/16 "2011-02-03T07:16:16Z")
This happens to me all the time. I think nobody could possibly miss such an easy clue . . . then they all miss it. Yeah, they all deserved to lose. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/17 "2011-02-03T14:41:14Z")
Ha, I saw this episode and remarked to my wife that it might be the first time where I got the Final Jeopardy question right and ALL the players missed it. I also couldn’t believe the idiocy of betting the farm when she had about 5k more than the 2nd place guy. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/18 "2011-02-03T14:56:13Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > So it’s final Jeopardy. The winner is in the lead with 16,000, the second place has something in the 13,000 range, IIRC. So, in theory, the leader only needed to bet ~10,000-11,000. And yet…she bet everything…and everyone got it wrong, so the second place guy won because he had ~$3000 left. > > Why did she bet everything?! You never, NEVER bet everything when you’re in the lead. Even if it’s a category you are positive you know every single thing about, you do not bet everything just to take home more money. NEVER. Well, it’s maybe not so simple as you describe. From the sounds of it, the second player’s bet doesn’t make much sense either. The second player would normally assume that the leader is going to bet enough to double them. In this case (assuming scores of 16,000 and 13,000), that’s a bet of 10k. This means that the only chance to win for the second player is for the first player to be wrong. The first player will then finish with 6k. So the second player’s only task is to not fall below 6k, and they should bet something in the 0 - 7k range. Since they are close, they would probably bet 3k or so to pass the first player’s current total. Now for the first player. You might think that based on the above, the result of the game only depends on your own FJ answer. You win if you’re right, and you lose if you’re wrong. So you may as well bet everything, since if you’re wrong you lose and it doesn’t matter, but if you’re right you get extra money. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/19 "2011-02-03T15:20:54Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > So it’s final Jeopardy. The winner is in the lead with 16,000, the second place has something in the 13,000 range, IIRC. Molly had $16,000 and Fred had $11,200. According to traditional Jeopardy strategy she should have been $6,401. If she’d done that and still mised the answer, she would have won with $9,599, or almost exactly triple Fred’s score. I saw this thread title before I watched the episode, so I was curious to see who screwed up. When Molly missed the question I got that “oh no” feeling before they revealed her bet. It would have looked bold if she got the question right, but the bet just didn’t make any sense. And no, the question was _not_ hard. All you have to do is go through the presidents. I didn’t get McKinley, but you don’t need to be a historian to know Nixon and Lincoln didn’t finish their second terms. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961/20 "2011-02-03T15:27:52Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > Well, it’s maybe not so simple as you describe. From the sounds of it, the second player’s bet doesn’t make much sense either. No, it did not make much sense, and for a minute there I wondered if it was Fred who made the OP’s bad bet. He started with $11,2000 and bet $8,000. I’m guessing he either didn’t think about his strategy or just bet based on his confidence in the subject. It seems like Molly and Fred were both overconfident. The third place player had $3,200, so Fred’s bet actually put him back in contention (though the third-place guy couldn’t have known that). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-the-stupiest-bets-ever-on-jeopardy-tonight/569961.md?page=2)