Quill_28's Journal: Jeopardy lack of strategy

Ok, I am ok at Jeopardy.

But I do enjoy watching it every so often.

But the 2nd place person many times bets in final jeopardy without thinking.

In the final question:

1st Has $20,000
2nd Has $18,000
3rd Has $6,500

What will/should each person bet?

1st will always bet enough to beat 2nd person in this case $16,000

2nd person should bet NOTHING or at the most $4,999.
-He needs to worry about the 3rd player, and assume the 1st player will get the wrong answer(If the 1st player get the right answer 2nd player will lose no matter what he bets)

3rd Should bet nothing hoping 2nd isn't thinking and bets everything, if both get question wrong 3rd player will win.

So recap:

1st Should bet $16,001
2nd Should bet nothing
3rd Should bet nothing

Another:

1st $20,000 Will bet $13,0001
2nd $15,000 Should bet $5,0001
3rd $10,000 Should bet nothing

There is a lot of different scenerio's that could come into play
in final jeopardy but everyone on jeopardy seems to just bet everything.

I have seen player lose because they did not think about their bet.

Thoughts?