countif on nonconnected ranges

To NBVC: the addresses has changed, because the work sheet I was working from has a lot of other info that I garnered from this fantastic web site and it's even more fantastic people who take the time to help me and my fellow noobs. I cut and pasted only the one item to work on. I tried your formula and since it didn't do anything I removed it.

To VANE0326: thanks for the info, but according to Excel and I quote: "You may not use unions, intersections, or arrey constants for Data Validation or Conditional Formats" unquote. So, I'm back at the same point, not that it matters much, my last 2 hairs fell out last night, so I guess I'll have to try it from another direction.

Thanks for all the info and I'll keep looking.

What I want to do is to let the 4 player H5:H9, H12:H16, J5:J9 and J12:J16 draw new cards using I5:I9, I12:I16, K5:K9 and K12:K16 without any two people picking the same card. It's not real earth shattering I know, but I got it in my head and it lonely in there for it so I have to get the answer so it can leave.

I tried like you said and nothing happened, the only difference I could see is that there was a conditional format, that also didn't work. What I want to figure out is the proper way to use the data validation on the 4 different ranges, if they aren't connected.

Bingo, just what the doctor ordered. Thanks much and now after work I'll have to dissect your work to see were I messed up. Again thanks to everyone for your help.