Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
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- koam
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Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
Spirited article about J! Strategies and our reigning Champion, Arthur Chu. (And Chuck Forrest, Ken Jennings, Brad Rutter, Roger Craig, etc.)
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/gaming-the-g ... en-to-win/
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/gaming-the-g ... en-to-win/
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
Great article!
I did get a kick out of this, but not for the purpose it was written:
"Pray that you compete against two nice old grandparents and that the categories don’t involve “Hit Songs of the 1930′s.”
I'd love that category, even if it WAS in a game against two <s>nice</s> bitchy, nasty old grandparents...
Unless one or both were musicians or music critics or somesuch, I'd be confident that I'd take 'em to the cleaners
But, of course, they'd kill me on Politicians or World History or Shakescrap...
I did get a kick out of this, but not for the purpose it was written:
"Pray that you compete against two nice old grandparents and that the categories don’t involve “Hit Songs of the 1930′s.”
I'd love that category, even if it WAS in a game against two <s>nice</s> bitchy, nasty old grandparents...
Unless one or both were musicians or music critics or somesuch, I'd be confident that I'd take 'em to the cleaners
But, of course, they'd kill me on Politicians or World History or Shakescrap...
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
<snark>How can I take an article seriously when the author uses "affect" as a noun in a non-psychological sense?</snark>
Fun reading, though.
Fun reading, though.
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
Some mildly interesting points which those of us around here have heard many times. But she did get wrong the number of contestants on the show each year. No way do they get up to 600. They have 46 weeks of new shows a year for a total of 230 total shows. Typically, they have 2 new contestants per show (let's not worry about the few ties a year that they have) for a total of 460. During the TOC (if there is one), they don't have any new contestants, so subtract 20. During the Teen, College and Teachers tournaments, they have 15 instead of 20 new contestants for each two week period. So, subtract another 15 to get to a total of 425. And then anything special they do (30th Anniversary Tournament, Celebrity Week, IBM Watson, etc...) will reduce the number of contestants. So, they'll never get close to 600 and probably average something in the 400 to 425 range.
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
She also mentioned Roger using "an online database of every single episode of Jeopardy that’s ever aired." And here I've been limping along with the J! Archive. Anybody know the URL of the more complete database? I'm totally switching to it.
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
I'll add mine that I plan to use when I get the call.*
If I find the daily double in the first round, I'll make it a true daily double (unless I find it so early I have less than $1000, then I'd bet $1000).
This strategy came to me when reflecting back on my years as an SAT Prep teacher. My thinking is it's likely the easiest question I'd get for a DD, so go for broke. Plus there's a full round to recoup my losses if I get it wrong.
Similarly, I'd bet a sliding scale if I get one in Double Jeopardy depending on how much I have, the clue value and the category.
Example, if I have $6000 and I'm in a category I know pretty well, I'd risk $2000 + (2000 - clue value) * 5. $2000 for a $2000 clue, $3000 for a $1600 clue, $4000 for a $1200 clue, $5000 for an $800 clue, $6000 for a $400 clue.
Risking less than a clue's value makes ZERO sense to me. I mean, these people picked the clue for a reason, go for it! The only time this would make sense, and the exception to my Double Jeopardy Daily Double wagering rule is if it's a category I'm not good in and I picked it because it was all that's left.
*I'm using Linus Van Pelt's philosophy from "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" where he knows the GP won't show up if he uses "if" instead of "when".
If I find the daily double in the first round, I'll make it a true daily double (unless I find it so early I have less than $1000, then I'd bet $1000).
This strategy came to me when reflecting back on my years as an SAT Prep teacher. My thinking is it's likely the easiest question I'd get for a DD, so go for broke. Plus there's a full round to recoup my losses if I get it wrong.
Similarly, I'd bet a sliding scale if I get one in Double Jeopardy depending on how much I have, the clue value and the category.
Example, if I have $6000 and I'm in a category I know pretty well, I'd risk $2000 + (2000 - clue value) * 5. $2000 for a $2000 clue, $3000 for a $1600 clue, $4000 for a $1200 clue, $5000 for an $800 clue, $6000 for a $400 clue.
Risking less than a clue's value makes ZERO sense to me. I mean, these people picked the clue for a reason, go for it! The only time this would make sense, and the exception to my Double Jeopardy Daily Double wagering rule is if it's a category I'm not good in and I picked it because it was all that's left.
*I'm using Linus Van Pelt's philosophy from "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" where he knows the GP won't show up if he uses "if" instead of "when".
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
The writer of the article has quite a potty mouth.
- Magna
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
How is "Be a computer" a strategy?
Also, other than in letters home from prep school, who writes "natch"?
Also, other than in letters home from prep school, who writes "natch"?
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
I have heard tales of these mysterious things called "jokes."Magna wrote:How is "Be a computer" a strategy?
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
If it was a joke, it wasn't a very intelligible one. I read it as a shorthand description of an ideal player and maybe a veiled critique of Arthur. But whether you read it as a joke or as a failed attempt at outlining a strategy, it leaves the article one strategy short of the promised five.zakharov wrote:I have heard tales of these mysterious things called "jokes."Magna wrote:How is "Be a computer" a strategy?
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
Whatever you say, Sheldon.Magna wrote:If it was a joke, it wasn't a very intelligible one. I read it as a shorthand description of an ideal player and maybe a veiled critique of Arthur. But whether you read it as a joke or as a failed attempt at outlining a strategy, it leaves the article one strategy short of the promised five.zakharov wrote:I have heard tales of these mysterious things called "jokes."Magna wrote:How is "Be a computer" a strategy?
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
Well now that you explain it, it's hiliarious.slam wrote:Whatever you say, Sheldon.Magna wrote:If it was a joke, it wasn't a very intelligible one. I read it as a shorthand description of an ideal player and maybe a veiled critique of Arthur. But whether you read it as a joke or as a failed attempt at outlining a strategy, it leaves the article one strategy short of the promised five.zakharov wrote:I have heard tales of these mysterious things called "jokes."Magna wrote:How is "Be a computer" a strategy?
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
JMO, I don't think the Forrest bounce gives you a strategic edge as much as staying in the same column, but not saying the whole clue name. In jumping, you are going to say the whole category name, and it always causes me to refocus in on the subject.
Last night you have "R"ANDOM HOUSE DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS and if you ask consecutive clues, you could ask for "Dictionary definitions" for the second through fifth clue, and it does allow for the other guys to forget about it starting with an "R". "SNACK FACT" becomes "Fact", and I think you helping yourself doing that. Now, add in daily double hunting, and you do the opposite of what most people do. The best strategy becomes this:
Go to the subject you feel strongest in, do not use the full name after the first clue, but start at the bottom and work upwards. Also, do not waste time on the top row clues. Take the clues from 1000 to 400 (or 2000 to 800), then go to the next subject you feel is a strength. Would you rather have the daily double in something you are strong in or something you are weak in. Doing it this way, gives you a better chance of getting the daily double where you feel strongest.
If you just jump around the high dollar clues, and you end up with the daily double in "Polish lap dances", then what have you really gained. You may have no idea what the clue is going to be about, or you know nothing about Poland, and you may not have helped yourself. Granted the Polish player beside you isn't getting that Daily double, and that might be worth something. All I will say is after you get the first clue you call the thing "Dances" and skip "Polish lap"
Last night you have "R"ANDOM HOUSE DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS and if you ask consecutive clues, you could ask for "Dictionary definitions" for the second through fifth clue, and it does allow for the other guys to forget about it starting with an "R". "SNACK FACT" becomes "Fact", and I think you helping yourself doing that. Now, add in daily double hunting, and you do the opposite of what most people do. The best strategy becomes this:
Go to the subject you feel strongest in, do not use the full name after the first clue, but start at the bottom and work upwards. Also, do not waste time on the top row clues. Take the clues from 1000 to 400 (or 2000 to 800), then go to the next subject you feel is a strength. Would you rather have the daily double in something you are strong in or something you are weak in. Doing it this way, gives you a better chance of getting the daily double where you feel strongest.
If you just jump around the high dollar clues, and you end up with the daily double in "Polish lap dances", then what have you really gained. You may have no idea what the clue is going to be about, or you know nothing about Poland, and you may not have helped yourself. Granted the Polish player beside you isn't getting that Daily double, and that might be worth something. All I will say is after you get the first clue you call the thing "Dances" and skip "Polish lap"
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
I'm trying to bring it back, myself; just used it last night, actually! Hopefully I'll have more luck than with my attempts to make "fetch" happen.Magna wrote:Also, other than in letters home from prep school, who writes "natch"?
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
I don't think you need to say the full category name the first time you choose that category as long as you make it clear which category you are selecting. Can someone who has been on the show confirm that?Sherm wrote:JMO, I don't think the Forrest bounce gives you a strategic edge as much as staying in the same column, but not saying the whole clue name. In jumping, you are going to say the whole category name, and it always causes me to refocus in on the subject.
Last night you have "R"ANDOM HOUSE DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS and if you ask consecutive clues, you could ask for "Dictionary definitions" for the second through fifth clue, and it does allow for the other guys to forget about it starting with an "R". "SNACK FACT" becomes "Fact", and I think you helping yourself doing that. Now, add in daily double hunting, and you do the opposite of what most people do. The best strategy becomes this:
Go to the subject you feel strongest in, do not use the full name after the first clue, but start at the bottom and work upwards. Also, do not waste time on the top row clues. Take the clues from 1000 to 400 (or 2000 to 800), then go to the next subject you feel is a strength. Would you rather have the daily double in something you are strong in or something you are weak in. Doing it this way, gives you a better chance of getting the daily double where you feel strongest.
If you just jump around the high dollar clues, and you end up with the daily double in "Polish lap dances", then what have you really gained. You may have no idea what the clue is going to be about, or you know nothing about Poland, and you may not have helped yourself. Granted the Polish player beside you isn't getting that Daily double, and that might be worth something. All I will say is after you get the first clue you call the thing "Dances" and skip "Polish lap"
- koam
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
There's some rule that you have to say the whole category name when jumping? News to me.
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
Good luck with that.Dr. J wrote:I'm trying to bring it back, myself; just used it last night, actually! Hopefully I'll have more luck than with my attempts to make "fetch" happen.Magna wrote:Also, other than in letters home from prep school, who writes "natch"?
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
Those things don't really exist. Somebody was having you on.zakharov wrote:I have heard tales of these mysterious things called "jokes."Magna wrote:How is "Be a computer" a strategy?
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
Hey, that's a word I've also had in my regular parlance for years! (I also use "y'all" way more than a Canadian should, got in the habit when I had an online friendship with a girl who was very southern in her online speech (and lived in Arkansas at the time))Dr. J wrote:I'm trying to bring it back, myself; just used it last night, actually! Hopefully I'll have more luck than with my attempts to make "fetch" happen.Magna wrote:Also, other than in letters home from prep school, who writes "natch"?
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Re: Gaming the Game: 5 Unorthodox Jeopardy Strategies That Are Proven to Win
I find the use of y'all to be a great written way to differentiate the plural form of you from the singular form. I certainly prefer it to my native state's use of "yous" or Pittsburgh's use of "yinz". In speech, it's less necessary, IMO.dhkendall wrote:Hey, that's a word I've also had in my regular parlance for years! (I also use "y'all" way more than a Canadian should, got in the habit when I had an online friendship with a girl who was very southern in her online speech (and lived in Arkansas at the time))Dr. J wrote:I'm trying to bring it back, myself; just used it last night, actually! Hopefully I'll have more luck than with my attempts to make "fetch" happen.Magna wrote:Also, other than in letters home from prep school, who writes "natch"?
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