For those who are looking for a lottery strategy, it’s important to think of all factors involved in coming up with your plan. Some people resort to their favorite numbers or random generators, while others analyze previous drawings and other aspects before making one last decision on what number they want out of any given set.
In this article, the focus is on the most popular lottery strategies. You will also find tips and stories about jackpot winners, and discover approaches that could improve your winning odds.
Lottery Strategies List to Use Before Picking Your Numbers
Know Your Odds When Choosing the Game
An important thing to note is that you should tailor the strategy based on the lottery game you are playing. For example, one approach might be great for Powerball, but another strategy could be better for Euromillions or MegaMillions.
Before you plan your strategy for a particular game, you need to know its odds. Let’s get familiar with the main lotteries throughout the world and chances of winning when playing them:
Many players believe that analyzing the previous lottery sessions of a lottery game helps them to make smarter choices for the next session. You can check lottery statistics, analyze several last drawing sessions, or go back for years to get more reliable data. These are the numbers to pay attention to when analyzing previous draws.
Hot Numbers
Hot numbers are the ones that most frequently appear in the analyzed draws. When it comes to hot numbers, it is all about the current trend. If a number was drawn five times over the last couple of months, you could consider it “hot.”
Apart from the current trend, you can also check out the game’s entire history. That way, you will know which numbers appear the most frequently and use that to your advantage.
Cold Numbers
Unlike hot numbers, cold numbers involve playing “against the statistics.” Instead of focusing on numbers that appear most frequently, you look for those that are rarely drawn. You can also focus on recent weeks or months, or analyze the entire game’s history.
Overdue Numbers
Overdue numbers are those that haven’t been drawn in a while. The rule is, the further you go back in time, the “more overdue” a number is. It is also a way of playing “against the drawn numbers.” But then again, isn’t it fairly probable for a number that hasn’t appeared for a year to finally be drawn this week?
You can also mix and match overdue with cold and hot numbers. It is all about striking the right balance.
When Was the Jackpot Won Last Time?
Here is another statistical data that can help. In some games, jackpots are drawn at fairly regular intervals. For example, every couple of months, a single or two persons get the grand prize.
However, you noticed that it’d been three months since the jackpot was the last time. The law of probability indicates the grand prize might be given in the next drawing session. So, why not try your luck, then?
Mix the Numbers
Have you ever seen that a jackpot winner played a “1, 2, 3, 4, 5” combination? The answer is no, and there is a good reason for that. Although each number had the same odds of getting drawn, rules are different for a sequence of numbers. That is why the odds change with every number drawn.
It is also why you should consider mixing the numbers from different groups in every combination. These can be low and high, odd or even, or any other groups you think of for your strategy. It is all about balancing things out on your ticket.
Odd and Even Numbers
It is hard to believe that all six numbers in a lottery draw will be odd. That is why most players choose to play at least a single even number. You can consider mixing various approaches, such as 4 odd + 1 even, or 2 even + 3 odd numbers.
Low and High Numbers
Most players divide low and high numbers by dividing the total number of balls in the drum by two. If you have 50 numbers in the drum, those from 1 to 25 will be low, and 26 to 50 high.
You must include both low and high numbers evenly. You can also go with 4 + 2, or even 5 + 1 tactic, but it rarely happens that all numbers are low, or all of them are high.
Many players use the total sum as a rule when balancing things out with low and high numbers. In a 6/50 game, take the six middle numbers (23+24+25+26+27+28), and their sum would be 153. That means the acceptable sum of the numbers of your ticket is from 138 to 168 (within 10% of the middle sum). You are welcome to adjust the total sum rule to your lottery rules or strategy preferences.
Wheeling System
A wheeling system is a lottery strategy that focuses on using mathematics to increase your chances of winning. Although it is a complex strategy, it is easy to understand and offers a lot of variety. The main advantage of a wheeling system is that it increases the odds of winning prizes in multiple tiers.
The basic idea is to boost your chances by enhancing the coverage of your desired numbers. For example, if you have a set of lucky numbers that exceed the numbers required for the jackpot, a wheeling system takes care of including all available permutations.
How Does It Work?
A wheeling system involves picking the desired number of numbers and playing all possible combinations of those numbers. It is up to you to choose the numbers you want to play, as well as their quantity.
For example, you could pick six numbers and mix them into a maximum of 28 combinations. If that seems too much, use an abbreviated approach, or choose a key digit. Let’s explain that below.
Now, let’s say you played the 28 available combinations by mixing six numbers. In a lottery that involves drawing six numbers, all of them will be required for a jackpot. But if you win the jackpot, you will also have 11 combinations for the second-tier prize, and 16 for the third-tier prize.
Those who guess given of six chosen numbers right will have two combinations for the second-tier award, 11 for the third-tier, and 15 for the fourth-tier.
Types of Wheeling Systems
You are free to design a unique wheeling system that will fit your needs. However, lottery players throughout the world use one of these three approaches – full, abbreviated, and key number wheeling system.
Full Wheel System
The idea of this system is to include EVERY potential combination with the chosen numbers. The biggest advantage is that it increases your chances of winning prizes and boosts income if your numbers are drawn. Let’s put it bluntly – you are lucky enough to win a jackpot with this system. Since you got all the numbers right, you will also win second and third-tier awards, and maybe even more.
The downside is that a full wheel might require a bigger number of combinations. If you include 15 numbers in your system, more than 5,000 combinations are necessary to cover them all. The good news is that you can be modest and keep it at nine (84 combinations) or ten numbers (210 combinations).
Abbreviated Wheel System
As the name suggests, this is an approach that reduces the number of combinations required compared to the full wheel. That means playing this system can be more affordable than using the previous strategy. The problem is that you only pick certain combinations, which lowers your chances of a jackpot. For example, you can guess all the numbers, but if you don’t pick the right mixture, the grand prize won’t go in your hands.
It is best to explain the basics of an abbreviated wheel by posting an example. Let’s say that you picked eight numbers for the wheel, and you decided to choose only seven combinations involving those numbers. Including each of the numbers (A-H) in the selected combination EXACTLY five times means that you will have at least a single winning ticket if you guess four numbers right.
Key Digit Wheel System
If you go with a key wheel, you will need to choose a number to include in all potential combinations. For example, let’s say you choose eight numbers (A-H), but you mark them as your key digit.
The key digit will appear in all combinations, and the other numbers will be included 3-4 times. That allows you to play a wheeling system of eight numbers by using only five combinations.
While it is the most affordable wheeling option, it comes with an important downside. If you are aiming for a jackpot, you need to guess the key number right, so choose wisely!
A Pick 3 system is a strategy that focuses on using three numbers per combination. The key thing to note here is whether you need to guess the numbers in the right order. If you do, that will increase the potential number of combinations to include. Fortunately, most lotteries don’t require that, which makes a Pick 3 system a great choice for those afraid of overinvesting.
The simplest example of the Pick 3 system is going with nine numbers from A to I and applying every possible combination of three numbers. The experts say that it could end up costing a lot since it involves hundreds of combinations.
That is why most beginners choose a key digit for the Pick 3 system. Let’s say you have nine numbers from A to I, and your key digit is A. The combinations would be ABC, ABD, ABE, ABF, ABG, ABH, ABI, ACD, ACE, ACF, ACG, ACH, ACI, ADE, ADF, ADG, ADH, ADI, AEF, AEG, AEH, AEI, AFG, AFH, AFI, AGH, AGI, and AHI. That makes 28 combinations, and good chances of winning something if you guess the key digit right.
You can reduce the number of combinations further by choosing two key digits. ABC, ABD, ABE, ABF, ABG, ABH, ABI is a Pick 3 system that involves two key digits and nine numbers.
Pick 3 Lottery Software
Source: Florida Lottery
Lottery software can analyze lotteries and identify patterns in the draw better than even lottery geniuses. It is a great idea to use lottery software to choose your numbers. They can review the previous draws, check lottery statistics, and provide the best lottery numbers for the next draw. They may be a little expensive, but they are worth it. Popular examples are Pick3Sniper, SamLotto, WinSlips, and Lotto Pro.
The Rundown Method
This strategy is excellent for lottery players new to the Pick 3 system. It is easy, doesn’t require tedious lottery math, and anyone can use it. There are different types of Rundown methods. They are: 111 Rundown, 123 Rundown, 317 Rundown, 238 Rundown, and +1/-1 Rundown.
Let’s demonstrate the 111 Rundown with this example. Follow the steps below to use the 111 Rundown.
Write down the result from the previous draw. For this example, we will use the results from the Florida Pick 3 draw from June 11, 2020
Add 1 to each number in the winning selection. For example, suppose the winning numbers from the Florida Pick 3 draw are 2, 7, and 9. In that case, we add 1 to each number and keep adding until the resulting number matches what we started with.
2
7
9
3
8
0 (10 becomes 0 because the number range is from 0-9)
4
9
1
5
0
2
6
1
3
7
2
4
8
3
5
9
4
6
0
5
7
1
6
8
2
7
9
You can choose any combination between the first and the last row.
To further increase your chances, you can also choose the lottery combination that has a mixture of hot and cold numbers. If the hot numbers for the Arizona Pick 3 lottery are 1, 5, and 7, you should choose the combination on the ninth row.
The Rundown Methods have the same process. For instance, in the 123 method, you will add 1 to the first number in the combination, 2 to the second number, and 3 to the third number. Do this until you have the same combination that you started with. Apply the same process to the 317 Rundown, 238 Rundown, and +1/-1 Rundown
Tic Tac Toe Method
This method employs mirror numbers. Mirror numbers are formed by adding 5 to each number in the results from the last three draws. Follow the steps below.
Let’s use the results from the last three draws in the Washington Daily lottery are:
1 4 7
3 5 2
7 4 1
Add five to each number to find the mirror number
6 9 2 :(12 becomes 2 because the range is from 0-9)
8 0 7
2 9 6
Put it in a table
6
9
2
8
0
7
2
9
6
The vertical, horizontal, and diagonal combinations will provide the numbers to play in the next draw.
Vertical combinations: 6-8-2, 9-0-9, 2-7-6
Horizontal combinations: 6-9-2, 8-0-7, 2-9-6
Diagonal combinations: 2-0-2, 6-0-6
You can also use hot and cold numbers to narrow down the combinations with the best chances of appearing in the next draw.
The Pick 4 strategy uses a similar approach to the Pick 3 system. The only difference is that you need to add four numbers in each combination.
Here is a basic example – you pick five numbers for the Pick 4 system. These are numbers A to E, and you can put them in these mixes – ABCD, ABCE, ABDE, ACDE. Assuming the order is not relevant, you can have a system by playing only four combinations.
It is hard to guess four out of five numbers right, which is why advanced players increase the numbers to include in the Pick 4 system. One of the basic approaches is using digits 0-9 to assign the numbers chosen.
Here, you have 220 possible combinations, which is a lot. That is why people choose one or more key digits.
Take a look at an overview of the Pick 4 strategy when playing with ten numbers, and numbers can repeat but combinations cannot:
Single key digit
84 possible combinations (for example, 1 is always a part of the combination)
Two key digits
108 double mixes (for example, 1 and 2 are always a part of the combination)
Three key digits
18 combinations (for example, 1, 2, and 3 are always a part of the combination)
Two pairs of key digits Combo
9 combinations (for example, you only combine 1 and 2 with 3 and 4)
The number of combinations reduces if the digits cannot repeat themselves in the mixture.
You have plenty of variations to play a Pick 4 system. That is why you can apply some tricks to reduce the number of combinations.
For example, the statistics say that it rarely happens that all four numbers drawn are odd, or all of them are lower than 20. That is why you might add a rule to your Pick 4 strategy. It might be a condition that at least one number should be odd (or even), or that you need to include at least one number over 20. This element requires a bit of luck, but you rely on probability while reducing the number of combinations required to design a strategy.
A way to narrow down the best numbers is to use Pick 4 strategies. Different methods can help you choose your selection. Consider the various methods and find the one best suits your playing style. Below are some of the best pick 4 lottery strategies.
Tic Tac Pick 4 Strategy
This method uses the past lottery result to predict lottery combinations for the next lottery draws with a 4×4 grid. Follow the steps below to use the Tic Tac Pick 4 Strategy.
Write out the results from the last four draws
Decide whether to use mirror numbers or not. You can apply either, but you need to stick to whatever method you use.
Let’s assume the results from the last four draws are 3578, 2906, 8495, and 5948.
Put it on a table.
3
5
7
8
2
9
0
6
8
4
9
5
5
9
4
8
The Tic Tac Toe method provides nine possible combinations from the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal arrangements.
Vertical Arrangement
3-2-8-5, 5-9-4-9, 7-0-9-4, 8-6-5-8
Horizontal Arrangement
3-5-7-8, 2-9-0-6, 8-4-9-5, 5-9-4-8
Diagonal Arrangement
5-4-0-8
You can also use hot numbers to choose your numbers. You will notice that “9” appears three times in the table. So, choose combinations with the number “9”.
Rundown Pick 4 Strategy
This is another method that you can try. Here is how it works
Choose a starting point from the previous draws.
For example, assuming the result from the previous draw is 3456
Let’s use the 1234 Rundown method. This involves adding 1 to the first number, 2 to the second number, 3 to the third number, and 4 to the fourth number. Our results will look like this.
Starting Numbers
3456
3
(+1)
4
(+2)
5
(+3)
6
(+4)
Result
4680
4680
5
8
1
4
5814
5814
6
0
4
8
6048
6048
7
2
7
2
7272
7272
8
4
0
6
8406
Continue adding until you get to your number of desired combinations.
You can also use other Rundown methods, including the 7135 Rundown, +1/-1 Rundown, and -1/+1 Rundown.
Lottery Wheeling
The wheeling system works for all lottery games, not just Pick 3 or Pick 4 lotteries. It employs mathematics, odds and even numbers, statistics, and results from last draws to find the winning lottery combination. After selecting your numbers, lottery wheeling helps you to arrange your numbers in different combinations, increasing your chances of qualifying for a price.
For instance, let’s say you have five numbers (2,3,4,5,6), and you want to pick four numbers for your Pick 4 game. Using a lottery wheel will provide different combinations, just like the table below.
Line Number
Number Combination
1
2,3,4,5
2
2,3,4,6
3
2,3,5,6
4
2,4,5,6
It will continue like this until you get all possible combinations. Lottery wheeling is an excellent way to cover all lottery combinations.
Pairs or Doubles Analysis
This lottery strategy focuses on the probability of two numbers appearing in the same draw. It employs frequency analysis and positional tracking to analyze past lotteries and identify trends. Let’s define these terms.
Frequency Analysis means tracking the results of past lottery draws to find trends, hot numbers, and cold numbers.
Positional tracking adds to frequency analysis by monitoring which positions a number tends to occupy when it appears in winning draws.
We recommend using lottery prediction software to help you because you will be dealing with many numbers.
You probably understand the pattern of picking numbers by now. However, let’s also present the Pick 5 strategy because many popular lottery games, such as Powerball and EuroMillions, require guessing five numbers in the main drum.
Since this is a Pick 5 strategy, it will involve choosing at least six numbers. Let’s imagine that is the approach you went with, and that will give you these combinations of five numbers – ABCDE, ACDEF, ABCEF, ABDEF, BCDEF, and ABCDF. That means you will have six combinations, which is quite economical.
By increasing the numbers included in the system, the combinations you have to play to cover every possible variation increase. It is up to you to find the right balance between the investing sum and the odds of winning.
You can find the right numbers by using Pick 5 strategies. Here are some of them.
Odd or Even Number Analysis
The idea is to combine a mixture of odds and even numbers in your lottery selection. For example, a pick 5 lottery selection should be in the following categories.
4 odds and 1 even
3 odds and 2 even
2 even and 1 odd
1 even and 4 odds.
This strategy works for all lottery games, not just Pick 5. You should also apply it to Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6 lottery games. It encourages a broader number spread and opens your mind to many lottery combinations.
Sector Analysis
Sector Analysis focuses on sectors or zones. Pick 5 lotteries have a more extensive number range than Pick 3 or Pick 4 games. So you have a lot of numbers to choose from. For instance, the US Powerball requires you to choose five numbers between 1 and 69 and a special ball between 1 and 26. This strategy will help you to narrow down the zones where the winning numbers might come from.
Here is how to use the sector analysis method.
Divide the number range into low, middle, and high sectors.
Use your discretion to cut the sectors. For instance, in the Powerball lottery, the low sector could be 1-25, the middle sector could be 26-50, and the high sector could be 51-69.
Go over the previous results and see the sectors with the most winning numbers. If you see that the low zone has more hits, you might stick to the 26-50 range when choosing your numbers.
Use the Quick Pick Feature – Leave It to Lady Luck
It is hard to say that the Quick Pick feature is an actual lottery strategy. However, nobody can deny that you can’t win a lottery jackpot without relying on a certain degree of luck. If that is the case, how about resting your chances on the luck factor completely?
Many lottery providers allow you to use a Quick Pick feature where the machine picks a combination for your ticket. You press a single button, and the software does its magic. In most cases, the software is programmed to include a variety of numbers. That means the ticket will be a mixture of odd, even, low, and high numbers.
The Quick Pick feature is also great if you are in a rush. Perhaps there is only a couple of minutes until the time for purchasing the tickets expires. Maybe you don’t have enough time to analyze the numbers and come up with a strategy. In those cases, you can use the random factor and participate in the draw. That will give you at least some odds compared to not playing at all.
You know when you feel like something is going to happen, and it does? People say that means your intuition is well-developed. Although analyzing is the foundation of every lottery strategy, try not to undermine intuition. If you have a good feeling about playing a particular number, go with it.
Most of us have our lucky numbers. Perhaps it is a date when your child was born, or you have another reason to love a particular number. If you feel you need to include it to make sure your ticket becomes a winning one, go for it!
You can also try to mix intuition, luck, and analysis. For example, implement two lucky numbers, pick two numbers by random, and then add two numbers after a detailed analysis. From there, choose a Pick 4 or another system to apply the strategy.
Lottery Strategies to Avoid
While designing a lottery strategy, it matters what you do and what you avoid. Here are some tips and tricks on things to avoid when adjusting the playing strategy:
Not all combinations have the same odds of winning – in theory, each number has the same chance of being drawn from the drum. But once the first number is drawn, the odds change. That is why it is not smart to play all consecutive, low, even, or otherwise grouped numbers. They might end up being the winning combination, but it’s the least possible option.
Avoid playing when the jackpot is huge – yes, it is tempting, but most players participate in those sessions. That means you have to compete against more people than usual. You might have better odds of finding a less popular lottery. Alternatively, try not to invest too much when the jackpot is unusually high.
Avoiding a number because it is “bad luck” – the common example is number 13. In reality, it has the same odds of getting drawn as any other number. That is why your analysis needs to be rational and exclude irrational factors.
Extra Tips Winning the Lottery
Apart from the strategies already presented in this article, you can also use other tips to adjust your approach.
1. Second Chance Drawings
A second chance draw gives you an additional chance to win during a lottery drawing session. These drawings involve cash prizes, but also vacation packages, gift cards, cars, etc.
Depending on the game, you might be automatically qualified for a second chance draw by purchasing a ticket. Alternatively, you might need to pay extra to become eligible for additional drawings.
2. Avoid Overspending
The biggest mistake you can make is not taking care of your lottery budget. Be cautious when determining how much you can spend on lottery tickets.
The crucial thing to ensure is that your quality of life is not compromised. If you set aside money for paying bills, don’t use it for playing the lottery. Not only that ensure you won’t get in any trouble, but it allows focusing on designing the right strategy. If you are not worried about overspending, you can think straight and come up with a smart playing approach.
3. Buy Tickets at Different Times
Do you want to increase your odds of winning? How about not purchasing all the tickets at once? Instead, buy a couple of them today, and leave the rest for tomorrow and the day after. It doesn’t have to mean anything, but the statistics show that jackpot times are random. The law of probability indicates it’s better to spread your ticket purchase than buy them all at the same time.
You can do the same with the vendors. Mix and match local vendors, and why not head online and buy tickets via the internet?
4. Special Dates Are a Good Choice… Up to a Certain Extent
Special dates are important for you, and they can be your lucky numbers. The problem is that these numbers don’t go over 31, and most lotteries involve at least 40 balls. That is why you should find a way to include other numbers, too. It might be wise to save special dates for extra drums, such as the PowerBall number drawing.
Can Use Lottery Strategies Guarantee a Win?
The only strategy that guarantees a win is covering all possible combinations. However, that requires a lot of money, and you will end up losing most of it since it will go to providers and other players.
No sensible lottery strategy can guarantee a win. However, there are tips on how to win the lottery that can boost your chances of winning significantly. By making smart choices, avoiding bad moves, and implementing good ones, you increase your odds of winning.
And remember – you can win the lottery in more ways than one. Not everything is about the jackpot. What if you design a strategy that grants you a relatively steady profit every month?
The desired strategy will depend on your approach. You might want to pursue big sums, which is great. And you might want to outsmart the game and finish the drawing with more money than what you invested. If the jackpot comes your way in the process, that’s only a great bonus!
What If You Use an “All or Nothing” Approach When Playing Lottery?
What does it mean all or nothing? First of all, it is never wise to invest your entire salary, or money otherwise important to you, in a lottery. Your lottery budget should consist of the money you are prepared to lose.
Also, purchasing more tickets might improve your odds, but only if you play them sensibly. Playing multiple tickets with the same combination is illogical. You invest more, and you share the same prize (mostly) with yourself.
That is why you should forget about strategies that are too risky. The key is to be sensible and keep things real. You can rely on intuition but control your budget. Additionally, many players will confirm that analysis can increase your odds, and not go all-in and risk everything. The trick is in analyzing various lottery strategies and finding the right one.
What Are the Strategies of Lottery Winners?
Who better to recommend a lottery strategy than those who won large sums of money? Here are the stories of the most popular lottery winners!
1. Richard Lustig
Richard Lustig is a famous strategist in the lottery world. His winnings were over $1 million in total, but they were spread throughout at least 17 years.
Lustig’s first notable prize was in 1993 from a scratch card. He also won several times in Florida Fantasy 5, but it was Florida Mega Money, where he won $842,152.91 in 2002.
Here are some rules Lustig held on to when he played the lottery:
Purchasing more tickets increases your odds of winning.
Join with other players to make a syndicate and be able to invest in a large number of tickets.
Avoid picking consecutive numbers.
Play lottery games that are not the most popular out there. The prizes are lower, but so is the competition, and the odds of winning are better.
Lustig wrote a book explaining his strategy in detail. Unfortunately, this famous strategist passed away in 2018, but his legacy still lives.
2. Gail Howard
Gail Howard is a woman famous for writing a Lottery Master Guide. According to numerous jackpot winners, it was that guide that made it possible for them to win. There is no mention that Howard herself ever won anything big on lotteries, which is why it is important to be a bit cautious.
Among the main tips offered by Gail Howard, she believes in playing a balanced game. That means you should include a variety of numbers with different characteristics. Howard also believes it is important to know the game you are playing. Using balanced wheeling systems is a way how she made it possible for many peoples to win by using her strategies.
3. Richard Satnick
Richard Satnick won $7 million in 1999, and he doesn’t deny luck helped him to do that. It is why his tips focus on what to do after winning the prize.
Satnick immediately hired a lawyer, accountant, and financial adviser. His idea at the time was to invest and design a long-term plan. That is a smart approach, especially if you know that many jackpot winners quickly went broke.
4. Annette Baranovich
Annette Baranovich split a huge $25 million prize with 12 other players. She was a casual player but won the jackpot. However, she didn’t allow it to change her.
Baranovich pinpoints that you shouldn’t quit your day job immediately. Winning a lot of money doesn’t mean you don’t have to be smart about your future. She pinpoints that large cash is not enough to set you for life if you are not careful.
That is why Anette insists on letting the money sit for a while. That way, you can think and design a plan on how to spend it.
Final Thoughts
Yes, winning in lottery games will always take a bit of luck, especially when it comes to jackpots. However, a strategic approach can improve your odds and boost the chances of winning prizes across all tiers.
Whether you choose to rely on in-depth analysis, probability, or intuition, it is crucial to identify a playing style that suits you. Feel free to experiment with the strategies described in this comprehensive guide. Trying various approaches will ensure to find the right one. Once you do that, winning life-changing sums will be at the reach of your fingertips!
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