Travel sucks

OK. I don't get it.

Here is a price matrix for Chicago O'Hare to Dublin:

Cheapest flight is $946 going directly to Dublin.

Here is a matrix using the same dates and going to Amsterdam instead:

Why is it cheaper to fly to Amsterdam than to Dublin, using the same airline AND THE SAME DAY (that $864 is also Aer Lingus)? It would be cheaper to book the Amsterdam flight, then just get off at Dublin and forget the second flight, but you'd be hit with a penalty for that, I think.

Airline pricing = the last bastion of the Wild West.