Jeopardy! execs warn future contestants against gameplay move they 'never want to see'
JEOPARDY! insiders have begged future contestants to compete with only one mindset about Daily Doubles.
They pleaded on their weekly podcast: "If you go on the show, we don't wanna see you making those tiny wagers."
On Monday's episode of the podcast Inside Jeopardy, longtime producer, Sarah Foss, was joined by former champion Buzzy Cohen.
They brought up a contestant last week who may have missed their chance to win because they wagered too low.\
Buzzy said: "I want to talk a little about these low Daily Double wagers.
"Every time someone hits a Daily Double I say bet it all. More times than not, people get Daily Doubles correct.
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'DON'T MAKE THOSE TINY WAGERS'
"I just want to remind everyone. Please wager big on your Daily Doubles.
Sarah Foss chimed in: "If you go on the show we don't wanna see you making those tiny Daily Double wagers."
The nine-time and 2016 Tournament of Champions winner added: "I have a strategic point of view here.
"Which is that 1. You've already played a couple of clues in the category, probably."
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They continued: "You kind of get what the writers are asking for. You know where it is on the board so you get the level of difficulty.
"[And] You have way more information than you do on Final Jeopardy. Why not bet more there on these Daily Doubles?
"When there are more clues on the board you can make it up [if you miss it]."
"Than ending up in a close Final Jeopardy and having to bet a ton of money and ending up in a situation where you might not be able to get it?" they added.
'WHERE DID HE PULL THAT NUMBER FROM?'
The frustrating bet to which the insiders were referring took place on May 30's episode.
Nathan Dennis - who had revealed he tried out for Jeopardy! three times - landed on a Daily Double and had $7400, while returning champ Ilhana had $8400, and Diandra had only $2800.
Host Mayim Bilaik, 47, reminded Nathan: “You're $1000 behind Ilhana in second place, how much would you like to wager?”
He replied: “$1356,” to which Mayim chuckled and replied in a slightly sarcastic voice: “Alright, here’s your clue."
Under the category Cat Breeds it read: “This place associated with a tiger subspecies is also the name of a beautiful cat breed.”
Nathan was correct with the answer: “Bengal,” but his small wager didn't really help him jump to a wide lead when it could have.
He wound up losing the game.
“Weird bet from Nathan," one fan put it plainly on Reddit.
“That $1356 Daily Double wager ended up being a huge factor, as he finished just in touching distance of first place heading into Final Jeopardy.
"I wonder where he pulled that number from LOL," wrote another.
“I feel like he was picking his bet sizing using numbers of personal importance instead of using numbers of strategic importance, chances of winning be damned," accused a third.
“I don't understand why someone in second place in what was then a close game wouldn't wager at least enough to take the lead," wrote a fourth.
A Daily Double allows a contestant to bet however much they want from their existing score.
There are three crucial hidden clues on the clue board per game.
Viewers, who watched the recent Masters' contestants go all in upon finding them, know how important Daily Doubles can be.
WHAT IS: THE JEOPARDY! HOST SCHEDULE
Ken wrapped the thrilling Jeopardy! Masters special, which was won by James Holzhauer.
Underdog Mattea Roach, 24, came in a close second last month.
Mayim, who is Ken's co-successor to Alex Trebek, is finishing out the regular season until the summer.
Ken won't be seen until the 2023 Tournament of Champions, which will kick off Season 40 in September, barring the last week of Season 39.
Many Jeopardy! viewers who tuned in last week were not overly impressed with Mayim and her hosting style.
In particular, they noticed that the star takes too long to respond to contestants when they give their responses.
Taking to Twitter, one viewer fumed: "As hard as I have tried I do not care for Mayim Bialik hosting Jeopardy!. She pauses before she answers and it drives me crazy. And I’m spoiled from the Masters."
A second person agreed and replied: "My sentiments exactly. I think she waits for somebody in her ear to tell her whether the answer is accepted and it annoys me to no end. Then there’s the Masters hangover I have also. Ken Jennings has humor & charisma."
Earlier last week, other viewers begged Jeopardy! producers to address the issue.
Many people expressed that since Mayim isn't fast enough to mark the responses right or wrong, contestants have started adding to their responses while they wait for her to rule.
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One player did so twice last week, including on a $6,000 Daily Double.
However, thankfully the additions he made to his responders did not render him incorrect.
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