Betting low is understandable, even a small advantage near the end could be decisive. Of course it is risky as well.

I still don't understand people betting 1800 in the first pond. Clearly 11 would stay alive for instance in this case. The best you can hope for with a bet of 1800 is net 1300.

Oh well, as they say there are 3 types of people in the world, those that can count and those who can't