Maybe this makes me a geek with too much time on my hands, but...

[SackAttack]

I'm sitting here watching Jeopardy! and all I can think is, "I hate the way the Daily Double works right now." Folks can bid less than the original value, presumably either to maintain a humongous lead or avoid making a critical mistake on a category they don't know much about, and I don't know as I think that's really all that fun to watch in terms of 'strategy.'

Certainly it bugs me when somebody says "I'll take Anal Bum Cover for $1200, Alex," and then bids half that when they hit the DD.

So, those immortal words: "Let's make this interesting."

1) If you're worried about the category, you can choose to pass...but in so doing you eliminate that Daily Double from the board, and open the question up, at its original value, to the other two contestants. The difference between this and a "normal" question is simply that you cannot answer a question on which you have chosen to "pass" during the DD bid period.

2) If you wager less than the original value of the question, and you get the question *wrong,* you lose double that original value. Under these circumstances, you can only win the amount of your bid. For example, a $1600 question with an $800 bid, you can win $800, but you can *lose* $3200. If your bid is the original value or higher, traditional rules are in play: bid $1600+, win or lose the amount of the bid depending on the answer to your question.

3) If your bid is below the original question value and you get the question wrong, not only do you lose double the original value of the question, but the contestant closest to your score gets a free, no-penalty, crack at the answer. If they get it right, they earn the question's original value. If they get it wrong, no harm, no foul.

Basically, retain the benefits of getting it right, give those of low confidence an "out-but," and seriously up the strategic consequences of being so much a pussy that you won't even bid the normal value of the question.

[Groundhog]

Yes, this makes you a geek.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Yes, this makes you a geek.

I can deal with that. Been a geek all my life. It's the potential "too much time on my hands" that has me slightly worried.

[Raiders Army]

I like your ideas, but if the player gets it wrong, I'd rather see Alex Trebek push a button and a bunch of midgets come out with 2x4s and beat the crap out of the contestant.

Oh...with Welcome to the Jungle playing in the background.

[SackAttack]

But where does the Shatner Dance figure in?

[DaddyTorgo]

i like the thought of your idea SackAttack, and the strategy, but IMHO it's too complicated. just say "you can pass or you must wager at least $1000 or the amount of money that you have (if you have <1000)"

[SackAttack]

Daddy - I don't want to *remove* the ability of the contestants to be pussies, if that's how they want to play. I just want to remove the "safety valve" status of the Daily Double. Make it a true risk play, not just a "Well I don't know anything about this so I'll only bet $400" play.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

2) If you wager less than the original value of the question, and you get the question *wrong,* you lose double that original value. Under these circumstances, you can only win the amount of your bid. For example, a $1600 question with an $800 bid, you can win $800, but you can *lose* $3200. If your bid is the original value or higher, traditional rules are in play: bid $1600+, win or lose the amount of the bid depending on the answer to your question.

I'm not sure that I understand this one. Why would anybody bid $800 on a $1600 question if they're going to lose $3200 to get it wrong? They'd be risking $3200 to win $800. Nobody in their right mind would make that bid, so it would basically be that the original question value is the minimum bid.

Or am I missing something?

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

I'm not sure that I understand this one. Why would anybody bid $800 on a $1600 question if they're going to lose $3200 to get it wrong? They'd be risking $3200 to win $800. Nobody in their right mind would make that bid, so it would basically be that the original question value is the minimum bid.

Or am I missing something?

Call it the "Don't be a dumbass" rule.

You can pass if you're that uncertain. On the other hand, if you're a dumbass in a game that purports to test your intelligence, your dumbassery should have consequences.