c4countdown

Like a lot of Countdown players, I am very prone to missing easy words. Usually in a game, I would miss at least one word I would normally get, depending on my form.

What causes you to miss easy words or lose form? I expect it is a combination of health (physical and mental) factors, how you're feeling and things in your mind etc. In most games, it feels as if my brain just cannot keep up with doing 15 whole rounds to my best despite feeling fine. I often have the 'lost it' phase or even just blank. What else can course you to have the odd brain clog? Even some of the best players experience this, but some players are more able to keep their brain on form during the game. I have Aspergers, but plenty of players on Apterous have it so I reckon it might affect people in different ways, can Aspergers/Autism play a part in this? I had a few games just now when I missed a few words I would normally get like primates (for misrate).

I also sometimes struggle to relax in certain rounds (even the easier ones) or even games. What courses players to struggle to relax or how do people relax into a game or on set? Obviously that would cause easy misses. I always get really nervous on crucial conundrums, which might be what slows me down on them. Conundrums feel like my main let down right now even though I am improving a bit.

The more you practise, the less it happens.

Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:06 pm The more you practise, the less it happens.

Was thinking that as well. I've been playing for nearly a year and a half now. Do you mean the more frequently you practice or the amount of practice you get in total? I don't have time to do that much practice, but my brain always gets tired after a few games in a row. Does more practice make it take longer for your brain to get tired?

They seem like weird questions, but it is interesting lol.

Peter Clarke wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:19 pm

Jon O'Neill wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2017 11:06 pm The more you practise, the less it happens.

Does more practice make it take longer for your brain to get tired?

Yes, primarily because with enough practice, the process of word-spotting gradually transitions from an active process of rearranging letters and searching for words (which requires some mental effort) to a process of merely recognising sets of letters and recalling words you mentally associate with them (which, once the associations are lodged in your mind, takes virtually no effort at all).

Nerves
tiredness
lack of motivation

2.5-3 litres of water per day may help. Brain fog is real

And a lot of practice, yeah.

Ahmed M wrote: ↑Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:34 pm 2.5-3 litres of water per day and a lot of practice

Is that to ensure you have plenty of toilet breaks?

Concur with Ahmed. I practised a lot, but realised I had to hold it together during the recordings too (in my case, I was lucky enough to do 2 days back-to-back each visit). I often drank water from the glass provided when I wasn’t playing (e.g. after I solved a numbers game whilst the clock was still ticking), and visited the bathroom after each episode. I wavered somewhat in my 4th game.

You definitely need to sleep well and be well nourished. It’s a long and exhausting day.

And if you don’t practice, you miss the easiest numbers rounds. It really is a matter of study and rote, but it will eventually stick like glue.

I find socialising with your fellow contestants and the hosts/guests definitely helps to relax and reduce nerves during filming too.

I would also ease off training online if you’re just days away from filming or attending events, so that your abilities and memory are retained. The last thing your brain wants is burnout.

There's something Paul Anderson said about the best way to play being not to play at all; make it feel like you're watching the show rather than playing it. That's what kinda kept me in check a bit and made me less fussed when I lost, especially if it was a close game.

I've been missing some real easy ones since the new season started. I think with age and stress, there are lesser neurons that engage in pattern recognition. No more fluid memory.

It's a young man's game.

There's two elements to this game - knowing words and spotting words. I always tell people that don't bother about losing rounds to obscure words you've never heard of when you've missed obvious alternatives: no use complaining you've never heard of NARCOTISED when REDACTIONS was there.

But honestly I think there comes a point when it becomes just a natural talent thing. Otherwise those of us who've been knocking around here forever wouldn't still be down the bottom.

Good sleep is the biggest factor by miles imo

Dan Byrom wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 6:30 pm Good sleep is the biggest factor by miles imo

Absolutely.

Just to comment on a previous post, I don’t think mastering TV games like Countdown, Only Connect and Mastermind are really about intelligence or natural ability. It’s more like a card trick. You don’t need to practise 24/7 – your brain will mush otherwise – but it does takes a lot of training and you have to be so disciplined, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I was RUBBISH during my first 12 years as a fan and then it took me merely a decade to surpass 2000 in the Apterous ratings.