Deal or No Deal - 21st-26th August

Well, belatedly, here’s a summary of the post 2,000th show shows this week.

Tuesday 21st: Scott

Winnings: £50,000

Opened the box

Highest offer: £25,250 (2-box)

Box value: £50,000

Well, this one divided opinion dramatically. Scott made it clear early on that he was going for the £250,000. So, even though it became increasingly isolated, the offers he received were very generous. For a while, it looked like he should’ve dealt the generous 11-box offer of £22,000, with the £250,000 and the £50,000 higher. However, he kept the £50,000 to 2-box, along with £500. The Banker offered him the average for that final pairing. Scott turned this down, which divided opinion on the forum. The fact that it paid off made a lot of analysts not-too-pleased. I’m happy for Scott that his gamble paid off, but I wouldn’t like every player to be like him.

Wednesday 22nd: Gael

Winnings: £100

Opened the box

Highest offer: £5,000 (14-box)

Box value: £100

An unlucky game; Gael never made any truly bad decisions, the boxes were just unkind to her. £3,250 at 5-box was possibly worth considering as a consolation deal, but I think most would’ve been happy to gamble there. An unfortunate game overall.

Thursday 23rd: Edd

Winnings: £18,250

Dealt at: 8-box

Highest offer: £31,000 (5-box)

Box value: 50p

Edd came across well on the wings as a good reader of the board. The Banker clearly recognised this, and, so, when faced with a stable board at 8-box, he asked Edd to estimate the offer. Edd guessed £18,250 as a reasonable estimate, and the Banker agreed, making it the offer. After much thought, Edd decided to deal. Alas, the £250,000 stayed another round, and he could’ve had an offer of £31,000. But, luckily, the £250,000 went in the final round, and 50p was in the box, so a good result from a good game.

Friday 24th: Angela

Winnings: £850

Dealt at: 5-box

Highest offer: £1,700 (2-box)

Box value: £5,000

Tough game. A really unfortunate start saw the big sums vanish quite dramatically, leaving £5,000 as the highest sum left at 8-box. At 5-box, the Banker offered her £850. Statistically, a good offer, but given the low stakes, most would happily gamble. Angela decided not to, and took the money. Unfortunately, the £5,000 was in her box, in an unfortunate climax to an unfortunate game.

Sunday 26th: Doogie

Winnings: £4,000

Dealt at: 5-box

Highest offer: £18,500 (2-box)

Box value: £1,000

Doogie was a nice chap, who, half way through, revealed that he was playing to win money to get a wheelchair for his disabled wife, and also to get money for his granddaughter, who had some kind of perception condition. His game looked like it was going wrong, but he managed to keep £50,000 in play to 5-box. The Banker offered him £4,000, which he quickly decided to take. Unfortunately, the £50,000 stayed to the end, and the offer would’ve risen to £18,500 (allegedly). Luckily, though, it was not in the box. A good calm game to finish off a steady week for the show, that gradually calmed down after the excitement of the first two shows.