I assume this is some financial EV calcuation based on the prize for 2nd vs. 3rd but who the fuck cares, I would absolutely pay $2k to avoid being one of those dipshits that didn’t make it to FJ
2 Likes
It’s a negative freeroll for $1,000 in real money. There’s no prize for simply getting to FJ.
And keep in mind we’re talking about taking a wild guess (not a case of thought you knew it, but were wrong). You do that, and the most likely outcome is that you’re still “one of those dipshits that didn’t make it to Final Jeopardy” AND you cost yourself $1,000 in the process.
If this happened, people ITT would be blasting that person for doing that, and they would be correct to do so.
I’m 100% w/ pvn on this one. You’ve got to have your dignity.
1 Like
By randomly guessing something, almost certainly still missing out on FJ, and losing $1,000 in real money?
Am I in bizarro world? I can’t believe that people who bash shitty wagers all the time are actually advocating ringing in in that spot.
sorry this is dumb
Knowing you got onto the show and failed to make FJ is eternal psychic damage
1 Like
No they wouldn’t
Is anyone on my side here? I’m really shocked at how much pushback I’m getting. This seems like obvious +EV strategy to me.
2 Likes
I mean I guess if you’re dirt poor and starving to death you should hang on to the $3k but marginal utility of that money for the median jeopardy contestant is near zero.
Also you’re ignoring the fact that by not buzzing in you’re giving the third place bozo the opportunity to pass you
Not to mention the fact that the third place person absolutely should buzz in anyway from a game theory point of view.
I said exactly this earlier. I’m talking about 2nd place buzzing in with a random guess.
Right, if third place buzzes in and gets it, he passes 2nd and 2nd doesn’t get an opportunity to buzz in after that happens. So sitting still allows that to happen when buzzing in could block it.
And even if you buzz in and miss, 3rd should still buzz in and guess because presumably 3rd has dignity and wants to go to FJ. If he knows it, he would have passed you anyway, and if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. So really you’re in the same place you would have been in if you hadn’t buzzed in and just let 3rd take the shot.
buzzing in in that spot is like upgrading to business class. if you can afford to do it, you do it of course. but if you’re broke you take the voucher, or whatever, you don’t upgrade.
2 Likes
Interesting. I assumed if two people finished in the negative they would split 2nd and 3rd money
You gotta make it to FJ. No way you want to spend life knowing you got a negative score on Jep.
3 Likes
The only thing I can think of that’s worse than showing the world you’re too dumb to make FJ is showing the world that you’re such a scared money nit that $1,000 means that much to you. Contestants on Let’s Make a Deal frequently turn down more than that for a bad chance to win a car or whatever.
1 Like
I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong. It’s just not what I would do in that spot.
We’re talking about a thousand bucks in a one-off situation. It’s basically the same as $1 in marginal utility for people who are rich enough to post their own travel, room, and meals to be on a game show.
I’m with you, second shouldn’t ring in unless and until third has rung in and missed. Third not ringing in is inexcusable.
Also, the clue wasn’t even that hard for a $2000 clue, wtf at nobody even taking an educated guess.
1 Like
Of that $1,000 you get for finishing third, a bunch goes to taxes and the rest covers your travel expenses for the time you were there. Factoring in all the costs involved with getting on Jeopardy, finishing third probably leaves you in the hole
Even if you’re a poor person, you should only be playing for first.
This is a point in favor of my argument, not against it.
First is not possible in this scenario.
1 Like