c4countdown

I've no idea if this is just my brain spotting a pattern where there isn't one, but I'm noticing quite often that Q and Z will appear in the same selection. Has anybody else noticed this, and if so, am I slightly vindicated at least?

I was thinking the same thing earlier.

Ian Volante wrote:I've no idea if this is just my brain spotting a pattern where there isn't one, but I'm noticing quite often that Q and Z will appear in the same selection. Has anybody else noticed this, and if so, am I slightly vindicated at least?

Looking at your games played in the last two days (22nd and 23rd), you've had various combos using the Q and Z, and even the X as well. I spotted:

2 selections with Q and X in. (#6888 and #6896)
2 selections with Q and Z in. (#7024 and #7045)
2 selections with X and Z in. (#6884 and #7029)

You've also had one selection with J, Q and Z in it (#7035) and even one game, where the only letter out of the 4 (J, Q, X and Z) to come out was the J (#7041).

Looking at that, there may well be a pattern, but I don't think there will be.

Joseph Bolas wrote:

Ian Volante wrote:I've no idea if this is just my brain spotting a pattern where there isn't one, but I'm noticing quite often that Q and Z will appear in the same selection. Has anybody else noticed this, and if so, am I slightly vindicated at least?

Looking at your games played in the last two days (22nd and 23rd), you've had various combos using the Q and Z, and even the X as well. I spotted:

2 selections with Q and X in. (#6888 and #6896)
2 selections with Q and Z in. (#7024 and #7045)
2 selections with X and Z in. (#6884 and #7029)

You've also had one selection with J, Q and Z in it (#7035) and even one game, where the only letter out of the 4 (J, Q, X and Z) to come out was the J (#7041).

Looking at that, there may well be a pattern, but I don't think there will be.

Wow - you have FAR too much time on your hands.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Joseph Bolas wrote:

Ian Volante wrote:I've no idea if this is just my brain spotting a pattern where there isn't one, but I'm noticing quite often that Q and Z will appear in the same selection. Has anybody else noticed this, and if so, am I slightly vindicated at least?

Looking at your games played in the last two days (22nd and 23rd), you've had various combos using the Q and Z, and even the X as well. I spotted:

2 selections with Q and X in. (#6888 and #6896)
2 selections with Q and Z in. (#7024 and #7045)
2 selections with X and Z in. (#6884 and #7029)

You've also had one selection with J, Q and Z in it (#7035) and even one game, where the only letter out of the 4 (J, Q, X and Z) to come out was the J (#7041).

Looking at that, there may well be a pattern, but I don't think there will be.

Wow - you have FAR too much time on your hands.

I know . I am trying to get work, but I ain't having much luck.

It's possible that I twiddled something in the shuffling code (intended to keep Q and Z apart) and ended up getting it arse-backwards. I might look into this over the weekend. In the meantime I will just call it good practice for Q+Z words.

Charlie Reams wrote:It's possible that I twiddled something in the shuffling code (intended to keep Q and Z apart) and ended up getting it arse-backwards. I might look into this over the weekend. In the meantime I will just call it good practice for Q+Z words.

Isn't it enough that the letters are randomised without trying to restrict what comes up with what?

Then again, that's what they do for the telly isn't it?

Ian Volante wrote:Isn't it enough that the letters are randomised without trying to restrict what comes up with what?

Then again, that's what they do for the telly isn't it?

Yes.

Ian Volante wrote:

Charlie Reams wrote:It's possible that I twiddled something in the shuffling code (intended to keep Q and Z apart) and ended up getting it arse-backwards. I might look into this over the weekend. In the meantime I will just call it good practice for Q+Z words.

Isn't it enough that the letters are randomised without trying to restrict what comes up with what?

Then again, that's what they do for the telly isn't it?

I have noticed on Countdown that sometimes the M's are grouped together and will come out in successive rounds. Sometimes it also happens with the P's too.

I have noticed that recently the harder letters (J, Q, X and Z) usually seem to come out second. Is it just my 10cm vision or has anyone else noticed this?

Kai Laddiman wrote:I have noticed that recently the harder letters (J, Q, X and Z) usually seem to come out second. Is it just my 10cm vision or has anyone else noticed this?

Second within a given round? Or second out of the whole pile? The first case is unlikely because the whole pile is shuffled at the start and obviously the position of the letters within each round depends on how many consonants you picked in the earlier rounds.