Warning: This page contains spoilers for the January 16, 2023, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that the game airs as early as noon Eastern in some U.S. television markets.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category Business Milestones) for Monday, January 16, 2023 (Season 39, Game 91):
These were first sold in 1908, at a price equivalent to about $27,000 today
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Katie Palumbo, a museum interpreter from Amawalk, New York
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Jimmy Davoren, a teacher from Coronado, California
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Yogesh Raut, a blogger, podcaster & freelance writer originally from Springfield, Illinois (3-day total: $96,403)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Yogesh Raut finished last week as a three-game champion, having won nearly $100,000. He’ll probably need at least one more victory, if not two, to secure qualification in this fall’s Tournament of Champions. Today’s challengers—Jimmy Davoren and Katie Palumbo—are setting out today hoping to stop him.
Also, today, I’d like to share my mindset behind writing some of the gameplay criticisms I do regarding some players. I should make this abundantly clear: players are welcome to play the game however they like and however they feel comfortable. However, I know that at least some subset of my readership consists of prospective contestants. And, I’d like to use my platform to inform future players of potential strategic considerations that might otherwise be overlooked. I hope these players can use my ideas as a starting point so they can reach their fullest potential as Jeopardy! contestants.
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Are you going on the show and looking for information about how to bet in Final Jeopardy? Check out my new Betting Strategy 101 page!
(Content continues below)
Correct response: What is the Ford Model T?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2023 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
The Model T Ford was the first major car built using “assembly line” technology, and the efficiencies that were seen from that allowed the car to be sold for $850 in 1908 (which, per in2013dollars.com, is equivalent to $27,421.46 in 2023—just over $27,000 in 2022.) Further efficiencies discovered over the life of production allowed for the price of the Model T to drop to $260 by 1925—about $4,400 today. It was replaced by the Model A in 1927.
An interesting Jeopardy! footnote: In general, business categories have famously tripped up several contestants over the years (including Ken Jennings himself). However, I’d be shocked if this tripped up a player of Yogesh’s caliber.
We have many new offerings at The Jeopardy! Fan Online Store! Proceeds from the sale of the “Doctor Oz’s Fast-Acting Snake Oil Elixir” T-shirt are being donated to The Trevor Project:
Game Recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: The Colors Of Science; Major League Baseball Teams; Circles, Squares & Dodecahedrons; Clichés Rephrase; Pure Bread; Dog Tales)
Katie had the best time of things on the buzzer in the opening round, getting 13 correct. However, it was Yogesh, courtesy of doubling up through the Daily Double, who led after 30 clues.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Katie 6 correct 0 incorrect
Jimmy 4 correct 0 incorrect
Yogesh 4 correct 1 incorrect
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Yogesh 11 correct 1 incorrect
Katie 13 correct 0 incorrect
Jimmy 5 correct 1 incorrect
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Small Town America & Canada; Royal History; Tattoos; Letters Of The Law; The Singer Who Played…; Short A)
Double Jeopardy! saw the battle continue—while Yogesh struggled on the signalling device, he still got to a Daily Double and increased his score by $5,000. However, Katie came charging back, and her $8,000 bet on a Daily Double saw her take the lead going into Final! Scores going into clue #61 were Katie at $25,600, Yogesh at $23,800, and Jimmy at $11,400.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Katie 23 correct 0 incorrect
Yogesh 19 correct 1 incorrect
Jimmy 16 correct 3 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 12 (0 today).
Final Jeopardy! today was a triple stumper, which usually would mean “advantage Yogesh”. But, Katie went for a small bet—and found herself with the highest score when all was said and done!
Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Monday, January 16, 2023 Jeopardy! by the numbers:
Scores going into Final:
Katie $25,600
Yogesh $23,800
Jimmy $11,400
Tonight’s results:
Jimmy $11,400 – $11,400 = $0 (What are stocks gov. bond?)
Yogesh $23,800 – $999 = $22,801 (What are Treasury bonds?)
Katie $25,600 – $2,500 = $23,100 (What are cars?) (1-day total: $23,100)
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Yogesh $9,200
Katie $5,600
Jimmy $3,400
Opening break taken after: 15 clues
Daily Double locations:
1) THE COLORS OF SCIENCE $1000 (clue #17)
Yogesh 3200 +3200 (Jimmy 2800 Katie 3800)
2) SMALL TOWN AMERICA & CANADA $2000 (clue #17)
Yogesh 17600 +5000 (Jimmy 9800 Katie 12800)
3) LETTERS OF THE LAW $1200 (clue #20, $5600 left on board)
Katie 16400 +8000 (Yogesh 22600 Jimmy 9800)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 177
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Yogesh 5 4 4 5 4 5*
Jimmy 3 2 5 3
Katie 3 4 5 3 4 2 2
DJ! Round:
Yogesh 5 5 4 3 5* 5
Jimmy 4 3 5 3 2 3 4
Katie 4 5 3 4 2 4 3*
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Katie 3.43
Yogesh 4.50
Jimmy 3.36
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 12 (0.13 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Katie $18,800 Coryat, 23 correct, 0 incorrect, 38.60% in first on buzzer (22/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
Yogesh $18,600 Coryat, 19 correct, 1 incorrect, 28.07% in first on buzzer (16/57), 2/2 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Jimmy $11,400 Coryat, 16 correct, 3 incorrect, 31.58% in first on buzzer (18/57), 1/1 on rebound attempts (on 1 rebound opportunity)
Combined Coryat Score: $48,800
Lach Trash: $1,600 (on 2 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $3,600
Yogesh Raut, career statistics:
107 correct, 9 incorrect
7/8 on rebound attempts (on 13 rebound opportunities)
43.42% in first on buzzer (99/228)
5/5 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $20,200)
3/4 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $21,750
Jimmy Davoren, career statistics:
16 correct, 4 incorrect
1/1 on rebound attempts (on 1 rebound opportunity)
31.58% in first on buzzer (18/57)
0/0 on Daily Doubles
0/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $11,400
Katie Palumbo, career statistics:
23 correct, 1 incorrect
0/0 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
38.60% in first on buzzer (22/57)
1/1 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $8,000)
0/1 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $18,800
Katie Palumbo, to win:
2 games: 76.542%
3: 58.587%
4: 44.844%
5: 34.324%
6: 26.272%
Avg. streak: 4.263 games.
Today’s interviews:
Katie got to appear in a production of “Moby Dick” at her museum.
Jimmy saved his dad’s wallet in the Prague metro.
Yogesh is very grateful for the late India Cooper.
Andy’s Thoughts:
- Today’s New York Times, page C4, printed a different category name, and slightly amended clue as to what aired on the show today. I would like to make my extreme displeasure known at this unacceptable “bait-and-switch”. The New York Times Clue of the Day is meant to be a clue from the show, and this very clearly was not. Two thumbs down!
- Unless, of course, this is the show admitting that today’s Final Jeopardy! was flawed in its initial wording—which means that Yogesh, as the player most affected by the wording (due to the wagering) should be returned to the show and be allowed to continue his run.
- Today’s box score: January 16, 2023 Box Score.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Katie $25,600 Yogesh $23,800 Jimmy $11,400)
Yogesh: If you limit your bet to $999, you can keep Jimmy locked out. However, that is susceptible to a small bet from Katie. (Actual bet: $999)
Jimmy: If Katie bets to cover Yogesh and is incorrect, she falls to $3,599. Limit your bet to $7,799. (Actual bet: $11,400)
Katie: Standard cover bet over Yogesh is $22,001. If you think Yogesh is going to bet to keep Jimmy locked out, limit your bet to $799. (Actual bet: $2,500)
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So often on this board when it comes to wagering in final, it’s easy to throw shade. We look at contestants’ wagers, and scratch our heads sometimes. But how often do we have a situation where it’s like incredibly complex and interesting, beyond the standard basics? This feels like one of those occasions. Omitting the third place player for a second, or assuming that he’ll bet it all even though the “right bet” is to cap at 7799, but forgetting that for a second, I think the wagering is much more interesting here than it seems. First off, Yogesh should cap at 999 sure to lock Jimmy out. But should he? First off, why 999 and not zero? In huge spots like these in tournaments, I’ve seen Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings just bet zero. They know they can’t win if the player in first gets it right, so why bet anything if there’s nothing to gain? I think in this case, the outcome would have proved my point. Also Katie’s bet seems high since if Yogesh should cap to 999, she should cap to 799. But wait a second, that’s where this gets very interesting and someone more sophisticated on game theory and probability than I should chime in. Yogesh should cap to 999, but when you start thinking about the question dynamically, I’m not so sure. If he thinks Katie will cap to 799, he should potentially bet enough to beat her by 1 dollar if they both get it right. Sure that risks letting third place in, i.e. not locking him out, but isn’t that a chance Yogesh should take? That only becomes relevant if Yogesh gets it wrong, as does Katie, but Jimmy gets it right. This could go in many many permutations, but I would posit and someone please tell me I’m way off base here that the correct bets if you factor in probabilities of triple get, triple stump, etc. is that Yogesh bets something like 2600 and Katie bets 1799. Now Katie wins if Yogesh bets zero regardless of who gets it right. But Yogesh wins if they both get it right and Katie capped to 799. Obviously the permutations can get more complicated b/c if Katie knows that Yogesh knows this, she could bet more, as could Yogesh. Arguably Yogesh could bet up to 4600 to still win if Jimmy is betting game theoretically optimally, and then Katie could adjust. And on and on it goes. The point is when it comes to standard betting strategies, when it involves good players who also have to factor in probabilities of getting it right for themselves and others, the “math” can become A LOT more complex in terms of trying to bet optimally. Again, would really appreciate a much savvier person explaining to me why I’m way off, or if I’m on the right track, but there are other considerations to think about.
If I am ever on Jeopardy and am leading going into Final Jeopardy, I’m wagering to cover because I’m not going home having been in the lead and gotten the FJ correct. And if I’m second, I’m wagering that the leader would do the same unless I’d seen them play already and they weren’t wagering to cover – and then I still might.
Yes, that is true. Once Yogesh decided he wasn’t going to let Jimmy catch him then he probably should have just stuck at 0. But it seems like Katie should have done the same thing once she decided that she wasn’t going to cover., bet 0 and assume that Yogesh wouldn’t bet enough to cover her even if he got it right and she got it wrong.
I am with you, if I am in the lead and get FJ right, I am going to go for the win. This was an interesting test case, though.
I’m surprised it was a triple stumper, but if it’s a category that keeps tripping up contestants, it would behoove contestants to study it.
My response for this game’s Final Jeopardy was baseball cards. Obviously wrong because the first cards were included with a pack of cigarettes (I believe,) and, thinking it over,don’t think a pack would cost about $27k in today’s money.
When Ken gave the explanation why Kate’s response was judged wrong, didn’t understand. Reading Andy’s explanation of the clue itself, finally got it.