Powers

Tossups with power have a section at the beginning where an interrupting correct answer is worth extra points, usually making the tossup worth a maximum of 15 points. Occasionally, super-powers are used, bringing a question's total value to 20 points on a sufficiently early buzz. NAQT is a notable format with power. PACE NSC contains super-powers during the stretch round.

There are two types of power: blind powers, in which the point at which the question decreases in value is unknown to any player on either team, or open powers, in which the point at which the question decreases in value is known to all players.

Formats with power lend themselves to the Power-vulch. In the power-vulch, immediately after the opposition negs, a player buzzes in with the correct answer in the hopes of getting the full 15 points, despite the fact that in standard formats it is looked down upon to not wait for the end of the question after a neg.

FIFTEEEEEEEEEEN!

When reading tournaments with incredibly famous clues still in power, it is traditional to sarcastically say or type "FIFTEEEEEEEEEEN!" when a player buzzes on such clues and earns power.

This was invented at Michigan practices around 2005 and quickly spread to other teams. Audience member Leo Wolpert's announcements of "FIFTEEEENNN!" were audible whenever a question was powered in the 2006 ICT finals. Ian Eppler can be heard shouting it during the 2008 HSNCT playoffs at this recording. Oddly, Guy Tabachnick, who did exactly the same thing at the same time, cannot be heard.