The dumbest strategies used by contestants

[That Don Guy]

A more recent example, if Million Dollar Mile counts; a contestant completing two obstacles, then going to the "exit obstacle" to win $25,000 or nothing, instead of going to a different third obstacle, which would lock in $50,000 if successful.

[TLEberle]

If the runner is either tapped or has exhausted their head start it isn't that dumb.

[That Don Guy]

If the runner is either tapped or has exhausted their head start it isn't that dumb.

Let me clarify the choices:

Finish the exit obstacle before the other person: $25,000

Finish any other obstacle before the other person: $50,000 - you don't have to finish the exit obstacle, or any other obstacle, before the other person in order to get the $50,000; it's the "consolation prize" for getting through three obstacles before the exit.

[Chuck Sutton]

As million dollar mile CBS adopted the strategy of going for the exit after two rounds.

[Kniwt]

Wasting your Phone-A-Friend to just call your dad on national TV to say -- oh, wait.

[BrandonFG]

Wasting your Phone-A-Friend to just call your dad on national TV to say -- oh, wait.

I dunno. He got the question right...I think it’s only a bad strategy had he answered incorrectly.

[TLEberle]

I dunno. He got the question right...I think it’s only a bad strategy had he answered incorrectly.

I would argue that--stipulated that he knows the answer because he's been a citizen of Earth--that using that lifeline that was was the best thing he could have done both for himself and for the show as well.

[whewfan]

I thought that was clever and funny myself... why not use a phone a friend to call someone and say "Hey, I'm about to win a million dollars!"

[Mr. Armadillo]

Although it wouldn't be dumb in all cases, I remember seeing a contestant hit bankrupt on the wheel, and then redeemed their free spin card, just to solve the puzzle, with no money!  Of course, you'd earn the house minimum (which at the time was $200, and is $1,000 now).

I hesitate to call any sort of risk/reward proposition "dumb" just because you or I don't like the relative value of the reward for the risk taken.  I can see the point of spinning again as long as you have a Free Spin, since you're still guaranteed the house minimum in the worst case (as opposed to potentially spinning and getting nothing without one).

[Kevin Prather]

I dunno. He got the question right...I think it’s only a bad strategy had he answered incorrectly.

I would argue that--stipulated that he knows the answer because he's been a citizen of Earth--that using that lifeline that was was the best thing he could have done both for himself and for the show as well.

I remember Ed Toutant commenting it was "irresponsible" for him to not use his 50:50, even if he thought he was 100% sure.