Deal or No Deal - 13th-19th August

This week of DoND has been the build-up to the landmark 2,000th show, which is tomorrow. It’s been a great week as well, with very sizeable wins all week.

Monday 13th: David

Winnings: £13,000

Dealt at: 8-box

Highest offer: £16,500

Box value: £100

Not a bad game by any means. David made a sensible decision for the board; he could have had a bit more if he’d gone on one more round, but, ultimately, still a good result. The show will likely be remembered more for the non-gameplay antics, notably the Banker trying to find David a new girlfriend by putting subliminal messages on the gameboard (the word ‘sexy’ flashed across the board at least once during the first round).

Tuesday 14th: Antonia

Winnings: £17,500

Dealt at: 11-box

Highest offer: £52,000 (5-box)

Box value: £50

Yep, a cautious deal at 11-box. Not really surprising; Antonia had a board that was probably much stronger than she’d have expected, and (quite rightly) saw the statistically poor offers as huge sums of money. Can’t blame her for dealing given that. No Power 5 damage during the fourth round would’ve seen the offer reach £31,000. £75,000 going wasn’t enough to avoid the fifth offer rising to £52,000. But that’s as far as she should’ve gone, as the £250,000 went after that, and, while £100,000 stayed to the end, it wasn’t in her box. So, yes, a cautious deal, and an unlucky proveout, but not as bad as it could have been. And I hope Antonia makes the most of the money as well.

Wednesday 15th: Andy

Winnings: £35,000

Dealt at: 8-box

Highest offer: £30,000 (8-box)

Box value: £35,000

Andy was a great player, who had offered much support in the 24 shows he’d been on the wings for. A run of good luck saw him reach 8-box with all the Power 5 (except the £100,000) in play, along with four blues. The Banker offered £30,000. Fellow player Lara revealed that was close to his target, and the Banker persuaded her to reveal Andy’s target as £35,000. He then told Andy that, if he dealt, he could predict what colour his box sum would be, and, if he guessed right, he’d get an extra £5,000, bringing him up to £35,000. Andy dealt the £30,000; a good move, as £75,000 and £250,000 went in the next round. £50,000 left £35,000 as the only red left on the board, meaning that, in effect, if he had £35,000 in the box, he’d win it. He did, so he got the extra £5,000, in a good result to, what was already, a great game. Best game of a very strong week.

Thursday 16th: Amy

Winnings: £20,000

Dealt at: 5-box

Highest offer: £20,000 (5-box)

Box value: £750

Amy’s seem to have a good track record on the show, as the most recent ones I can remember have all achieved ‘Banker spankings’. I had a feeling this one would too, and she did! She made some brave no deals along the way though. It was a risky board, with the £250,000 becoming increasingly isolated. She managed to keep it to 5-box, which saw an offer of £20,000. With just the £250,000 higher, it was a sensible decision to deal. And, pleasingly, it was immediately justified when the £250,000 went in the very first box after the deal. A great follow up game to Andy’s, and a second consecutive ‘Banker spanking’. What more could you ask for?

Friday 17th: Paul

Winnings: £12,500

Dealt at: 8-box

Highest offer: £26,000 (8-box)

Box value: £50

Many had been awaiting Paul’s game, as a shot of him in his game looking emotional was used in a teaser trail suggesting a male had finally won the £250,000 (something Noel, and numerous others I won’t name desperately want). It quickly became clear, though, that, if he had the £250,000, he wouldn’t win it, as shown by the way he slowly and emotionally considered the offers. Again, the £250,000 became isolated. At 8-box, £12,500 was enough for Paul to call quits, with the £250,000 and £15,000 higher. Unfortunately, both higher sums stayed to the next offer, which would (allegedly) have been £26,000. But both disappeared in the final round, so not as bad a result as it could have been. And, again, I hope Paul makes the most of his winnings.

Sunday 19th: Noel

Winnings: £15,500

Dealt at: 5-box

Highest offer: £17,000 (8-box)

Box value: 10p

Yep, a player called Noel (the second player Noel to appear on the show). Noel E started a runner midway through the game that he and player Noel were father and son, which some may have got annoyed by. Player Noel attracted high generosity from the Banker, with the second and third offers in the slipstream of the average. £17,000 at 8-box was only a couple of grand off the average, but, with a stable board, Noel decided to chance one more round. A damaging fifth round saw the £75,000 become isolated, and an offer of £15,500. Noel very sensibly bailed out, and was proven right to do so when the £75,000 went in the final round. A good result to finish off a very good week.

So, tune in tomorrow evening for a summary of University Challenge, and of the 2,000th Deal or No Deal!