c4countdown

Countdown recap for Friday 19th September 2008.

I attempted to host a game on MSN for the first time in years, and it wasn't fun. Apologies to the contestants for the rough edges in my hosting (I had to re-start CountGen at one point, hence the lack of an E in the first four letters rounds)...

C1: Challenger Julie Taylor.
C2: Challenger Kirk Bevins.
DC: Julian Fell and CountGen.
CV: CountGen.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: D R O O S S A P A
R02: R T S A A I R I L
R03: M S N C U O U I Y
R04: S L T O A O H U P
R05: 75, 6, 9, 4, 8, 4. Target: 684.
TTT:
R06: D S N E I A C E N
R07: M W D P O I U S O
R08: N T S A I E F I B
R09: P D X T E I A R O
R10: 50, 8, 6, 5, 6, 1. Target: 963.
TTT:
R11: Q T G D I O E D I
R12: T N T A A U S E H
R13: P G R M O E O Z E
R14: 75, 2, 6, 7, 7, 9. Target: 447.
R15: C H A I N L U T E (conundrum)


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Round 1: D R O O S S A P A

C1: DROOPS (6)
C2: PARADOS (7)
OT: POSADAS (7) PRASADS (7)
Score: 0–7 (max 7)

Round 2: R T S A A I R I L

C1: ARIAS (5)
C2: LARIATS (7)
OT: LIATRIS (7)
Score: 0–14 (max 14)

Round 3: M S N C U O U I Y

C1: MUCOUS (6)
C2: MUSIC (5)
OT: MUCINOUS (8) SYCONIUM (8)
Score: 6–14 (max 22)

Round 4: S L T O A O H U P

C1: SLOOP (5)
C2: POTASH (6)
OT: HOOPLAS (7) OUTSHOP (7) SHOPLOT (7)
Score: 6–20 (max 29)

Round 5: 75, 6, 9, 4, 8, 4. Target: 684.

C1: 684. ((75+(4/4))x9 (10)
C2: 684. ((75+(4/4))x9 (10)
Score: 16–30 (max 39)

Teatime teaser: ->

Round 6: D S N E I A C E N

C1: SCANNED (7)
C2: INCENSED (8)
OT: DECENNIA (8)
Score: 16–38 (max 47)

(CountGen and CountMax offer ADENINES also for this selection, but it's a dodgy mass-noun plural so I'll leave it out)

Round 7: M W D P O I U S O

C1: ODIOUS (6)
C2: PODIUMS (7)
Score: 16–45 (max 54)

Round 8: N T S A I E F I B

C1: FAINTS (6)
C2: FIESTA (6)
OT: BASINET (7)
Score: 22–51 (max 61)

(You can debate FAINEST and NAIFEST at leisure if you wish...)

Round 9: P D X T E I A R O

C1: PAROTID (7)
C2: EXPIATOR (8)
Score: 22–59 (max 69)

(Great stuff from Kirk, unlucky Julie because PAROTID was pretty good in itself)

Round 10: 50, 8, 6, 5, 6, 1. Target: 963.

C1: 963. ((50+1)x(8+6+5))-6 (10)
C2: 963. ((50+1)x(8+6+5))-6 (10)
Score: 32–69 (max 79)

Teatime teaser: ->

Round 11: Q T G D I O E D I

C1: DODGE (5)
C2: IDIOT (5)
OT: DOITED (6) IODIDE (6) TIDIED (6)
Score: 37–74 (max 85)

Round 12: T N T A A U S E H

C1: HASTEN (6)
C2: TETANUS (7)
OT: ATTUNES (7) TAUTENS (7) HASTATE (7)
Score: 37–81 (max 92)

Round 13: P G R M O E O Z E

C1: POGROM (6)
C2: MERGE (5)
Score: 43–81 (max 98)

(Great stuff to finish with from Julie!)

Round 14: 75, 2, 6, 7, 7, 9. Target: 447.

C1: 448.
C2: 447. ((75-2)x6)+9 (10)
Score: 43–91 (max 108)

Round 15: C H A I N L U T E

No one buzzes. The answer was UNETHICAL.
Score: 43–91 (max 118)


So Kirk managed to rise above the limitations of my hosting and won fairly comfortably in the end - a strong performance. Julie had a couple of good spots on words and numbers, but it's all about getting that consistency - it'll come. Well played to both of you.

Sorry to those who set the tea-time teasers btw - I didn't record your sterling efforts I'm afraid

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=59

Julian Fell wrote:(You can debate FAINEST and NAIFEST at leisure if you wish...)

FAINEST = 90%, NAIFEST = 30%.

Julian Fell wrote: Julie had a couple of good spots on words and numbers, but it's all about getting that consistency - it'll come.

Very kind of you to say, Julian, but I've been playing Countdown for years!
Playing online is a novelty, though, and I'll hopefully improve a little before the next tournament.

Congratulations, Kirk. I gave you some practice before the gritty stuff at least.

Great hosting, Julian, once your initial computer problems were sorted, whatever you say. It was great fun.

Julie T wrote:

Julian Fell wrote: Julie had a couple of good spots on words and numbers, but it's all about getting that consistency - it'll come.

Very kind of you to say, Julian, but I've been playing Countdown for years!
Playing online is a novelty, though, and I'll hopefully improve a little before the next tournament.

Congratulations, Kirk. I gave you some practice before the gritty stuff at least.

Great hosting, Julian, once your initial computer problems were sorted, whatever you say. It was great fun.

Thanks Julie. It was a pleasure. Oh and thanks Julian.