Big Brother: What was Zach’s power and how did it affect the game?

Big Brother 27's first major shock rocked the house early in the show on Sunday night, adding tension. Contestants on the CBS reality show are locked up while vying for $750,000, and things quickly became nasty this week. Zach Cornell discovered that a secret bonus, an in-game ability that might completely turn the tide of the tournament in his favor, came with his $10,000 prize.

The biggest surprise on Big Brother 27, however, was when the "secret accomplice" was ultimately identified: Amy Bingham, the 17th houseguest, had been quietly participating in the game since Day 1. Amy, Ashley Hollis, and Isaiah "Zae" Frederich were the three individuals whom Head of Household Vince Panaro chose to nominate for eviction.

Zach's new power has the potential to drastically disrupt everyone's plans since alliances are developing quickly, and paranoia is growing even more quickly. The game took a crazy turn when Amy went undercover, and now the house is ready for huge plays, blindsides, and backstabs. Already, this season has gotten off to a wild and quite entertaining start.

What are the implications of Zach’s advantage on Big Brother?

Zach's prize money came with strings attached that could prove invaluable during his Big Brother journey. The power allows him to exchange his $10,000 for immediate safety if he finds himself on the chopping block. Specifically, if Zach is nominated after the Power of Veto ceremony, he can force the current Head of Household to accept his money and replace him with a new nominee.

This transaction cannot be refused by the HOH, making it a guaranteed escape route. The power remains active until the jury phase begins, giving Zach multiple weeks to use it. If he never needs the safety net, he keeps the full $10,000 as a consolation prize.

The power's structure makes it particularly effective against backdoor attempts. Big Brother players often try to eliminate strong competitors by nominating them after the veto ceremony, preventing them from competing for safety. Zach's advantage directly counters this strategy, forcing opponents to reconsider their approach.

The timing restriction adds urgency to the decision, as the power expires when the jury begins. This creates an interesting dilemma: use it early for guaranteed safety or risk losing it entirely. The forced transaction aspect removes negotiation from the equation, making it a pure strategic weapon.

Amy's revelation as the secret accomplice added immediate complexity to the game. She successfully avoided suspicion during the initial vote, receiving zero votes while Rylie Jeffries became the primary target with 11 votes. Her ability to blend in while maintaining her cover demonstrates strong social gameplay. The failed mission to identify her resulted in a 17-person cast instead of the standard 16. Amy's dual role as both nominee and secret player creates unique strategic considerations for other houseguests.

Head of Household Vince chose his three nominees based on different strategic reasoning. He nominated Zae due to limited interaction and unpredictable gameplay. Amy became a pawn nomination, targeted because of her friendship with Ashley rather than personal animosity.

Ashley faced the block due to perceived paranoia and inconsistent behavior that made Vince question her trustworthiness. His strategy focused on eliminating either a physical threat or a suspicious player while using Amy as a safety option.

What’s next for Zach on Big Brother?

Zach's power represents a significant advantage that could determine his longevity in the game. His positioning as a physical threat makes him a prime backdoor candidate, which is exactly the scenario his power was designed to counter.

The early formation of alliances like "The Triple Threat" and "The Mom Squad" suggests players are already thinking strategically about long-term positioning. Amy's secret role provides her with unique insights that could benefit her gameplay moving forward. These early developments indicate Big Brother 27 will feature aggressive gameplay and strategic maneuvering from the start.

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Big Brother Season 27 airs Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8:00 pm ET on CBS, with next‑day streaming available on Paramount+.

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