How the numbers solver works
The aim of the Countdown numbers game is to get as close as possible to a target number using some or all of the given number tiles. Each tile can be used at most once.
Guides to Countdown rules, scoring, practice, and related shows.
The aim of the Countdown numbers game is to get as close as possible to a target number using some or all of the given number tiles. Each tile can be used at most once.
In the Countdown numbers game, one player chooses how many large numbers they want. They can choose 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 large numbers. The remaining numbers are small numbers, until a total of 6 numbers have been selected.
Use this printable scoresheet to keep score during a 15-round game of Countdown at home, over a video call, or with the practice tools on this site.
The Countdown teatime teaser is a word puzzle for viewers at home. It is not a scoring round for the contestants.
The aim of the Countdown letters game is to find words that can be made using some or all of the given letter tiles, without using any tile more than once. Longer words are worth more points.
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown is a comedy panel show based on Countdown. It combines the letters, numbers, and conundrum rounds from Countdown with the panel-show format of 8 Out of 10 Cats.
Countdown has three scored round types: letters rounds, numbers rounds, and the conundrum.
You can use the Countdown practice games on this site to host a game of Countdown over Zoom, Teams, Discord, or any other video call with screen sharing.
Dictionary Corner is the part of Countdown responsible for checking words in the letters game.
The letters practice game uses separate vowel and consonant stacks. Each stack is shuffled, and each chosen vowel or consonant is taken from the top of the relevant stack.
In the Countdown letters game, there are 2 stacks of letter tiles, one for vowels and one for consonants. One player calls out "vowel" or "consonant", and a tile is drawn from the appropriate stack and placed on the board, revealed to both players immediately. The same player keeps calling out "vowel" or "consonant" until a total of 9 letters have been selected.
This site uses its own wordlist for the letters solver, practice game, and conundrum generator.
The numbers game uses four large numbers and twenty small-number tiles.
Countdown works well as a short classroom starter, a private tutoring warm-up, or a full numeracy and literacy game. These resources collect the parts of this site that are most useful when you are planning a lesson, running a club, or giving a student extra practice.
Answers to common questions about using the Countdown solvers and practice tools, plus short explanations of the letters, numbers, conundrum, scoring, and wordlist pages.
The Countdown letters game has a conundrum mode that generates new 9-letter anagrams dynamically.