Post by BRMDW on Aug 3, 2018 11:27:05 GMT -5
Thanks to all the Recaps, I copied every Main Game puzzle into a program, as well as every Bonus Round puzzle, and compiled the rankings for each letter for Season 35. It's interesting, the Washington Post has an article from Jan 2015 that I think many new contestants google before the show. It's easy to tell who's googled and read the article because in the bonus round almost always you will see someone choose GHPO based on the recommendations from that article.
For Season 35, I wanted to see how that article panned out, and here are the results. I separated Main Game from Bonus Round. Also, for the Main Game stats, I did not include Toss-Ups as they do not require players to pick letters.
Main Game Stats: (Letter Ranking in Order):
Vowels:
E (11%)
A (8.8%)
O (7.3%)
I (7.1%)
U (3.0%)
Consonants:
T (7.3%)
N (7.2%)
R/S (6.6%)
L (5.2%)
H (3.6%)
C (3.5%)
G (3.3%)
D (3.1%)
M (2.7%)
P (2.6%)
B (2.1%)
F (2.1%)
Y (1.8%)
W (1.7%)
K (1.4%)
JXZQ (statistically insignificant)
Bonus Round:
Vowels:
A (10.2%)
O (9.1%)
I (7.8%)
U (4.5%)
Consonants: (Wont add to 100% since RSTLNE are given and not included here)
G (4.5%)
P (4.2%)
D (4.1%)
C (3.9%)
H/B (3.5%)
Y (2.9%)
K/W (2.5%)
M/F (2.0%)
V. (1.5%)
J. (1.1%)
ZQX (insignificant)
Observations:
Playing the Main Game after going through RSTLNE, one would be statistically advantaged in choosing H as their next letter. Instinctually, most people don't think of H. Think of all the words that involve H that are connectors on Wheel (THE, THIS, etc.). H is involved in words that connect or reference, so it's a good choice.
Playing the Bonus Round GPHO is still a great play!! CDMA is really in the middle of the pack looking at the stats. In my opinion, a combination of the two is best. For example, GP (and an outlier say B D or C). Notice also how far down M is. You'd be better off statistically speaking in choosing (DCHBYKW) before choosing M!! For some reason we love M though!! :legend:
At the end of the day A is still a better choice than O, however, P and O tend to go together making GPO (+1 consonant) a good play!!
Pictures of Stats Provided Below:
For Season 35, I wanted to see how that article panned out, and here are the results. I separated Main Game from Bonus Round. Also, for the Main Game stats, I did not include Toss-Ups as they do not require players to pick letters.
Main Game Stats: (Letter Ranking in Order):
Vowels:
E (11%)
A (8.8%)
O (7.3%)
I (7.1%)
U (3.0%)
Consonants:
T (7.3%)
N (7.2%)
R/S (6.6%)
L (5.2%)
H (3.6%)
C (3.5%)
G (3.3%)
D (3.1%)
M (2.7%)
P (2.6%)
B (2.1%)
F (2.1%)
Y (1.8%)
W (1.7%)
K (1.4%)
JXZQ (statistically insignificant)
Bonus Round:
Vowels:
A (10.2%)
O (9.1%)
I (7.8%)
U (4.5%)
Consonants: (Wont add to 100% since RSTLNE are given and not included here)
G (4.5%)
P (4.2%)
D (4.1%)
C (3.9%)
H/B (3.5%)
Y (2.9%)
K/W (2.5%)
M/F (2.0%)
V. (1.5%)
J. (1.1%)
ZQX (insignificant)
Observations:
Playing the Main Game after going through RSTLNE, one would be statistically advantaged in choosing H as their next letter. Instinctually, most people don't think of H. Think of all the words that involve H that are connectors on Wheel (THE, THIS, etc.). H is involved in words that connect or reference, so it's a good choice.
Playing the Bonus Round GPHO is still a great play!! CDMA is really in the middle of the pack looking at the stats. In my opinion, a combination of the two is best. For example, GP (and an outlier say B D or C). Notice also how far down M is. You'd be better off statistically speaking in choosing (DCHBYKW) before choosing M!! For some reason we love M though!! :legend:
At the end of the day A is still a better choice than O, however, P and O tend to go together making GPO (+1 consonant) a good play!!
Pictures of Stats Provided Below:
