George Sedertree:
If you are a professional lottery player then you should know all about the Bell Curve and it's bearing on lottery numbers in general.
If not, then let this page serve as a tutorial on how the Bell Curve relates to picking lottery numbers.
First I want to explain to you the mechanics of what you are seeing above.
Starting from the bottom you are seeing "red balls" stacking up, one on top of each other.
What these represent are the statistical outcomes or events that are taking place.
The number of events can be any arbitrary but finite set.
By finite, I mean that the set of outcomes must have a beginning and an end.
Like 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 for example.
The arrangement of the random events along the bell curve (point A to point B) is really a moot argument.
Especially since, in any lottery, all possible events have equal probability.
The trick really, is to bend this distribution into a useable and useful edge.
More on that later.
Above the red balls, you should see the black outline of what looks like a large "camels hump".
If you don't see one then hit your browsers refresh button until it appears.
This outline is where the "Bell Curve" gets its name.
What it actually "is", is a waveform or sine wave.
Those of you with any experience in communications or electronics will know of this terminology.
Over time, any random event with an equal and finite set of probable outcomes will conform itself to this "pattern".
Traditionally, the parts of a sine wave are called its Trough and Crest.
These parts are pretty much self explanatory.
Between the two Troughs and the central Crest is called the Midrange.
To the left of the Crest is the Negative Midrange and to the right is the Positive Midrange.
Above the Bell Curve there are a series of "blue pegs" which represent outside influences which, when added together, form a series of events that affect the probable outcome.
These could be any number of factors that ever influence the resulting statistic.
Together, this entire demonstration shows how lottery numbers, indeed any random event, is influenced.
Now to put this knowledge to work for us in the lottery.
If the set of outcomes is an equal number.
Separating the "Crest Events" from the "Trough Events" leaves us with a 60/40 Probability Distribution.
Personally I don't like the sound of Crest (visions of toothpaste) so I've renamed this part of the distribution to "Spike" and left the term "Trough" alone.
So now we have Spike Events which total 60% of the total probable outcomes and Trough Events which total 40% of the total probable outcomes.
Using the 3-Digit Lottery as an example.
We set the finite list of events to 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 since this game is really just a series of digits creating a 3-Digit Number.
Trough Digits = 0-1-8-9
Spike Digits = 2-3-4-5-6-7
Taking these Spike and Trough Digits we can create matrices that together represent all the probable numbers in the 3-Digit Lottery.
There are exactly eight unique matrices;
SSS-SST-STS-TSS-TTS-TST-STT-TTT
SSS = 216 Numbers at 21.6% Probability
222
333
444
555
666
777
Fact - There is only a 21.6% chance that the next winning number will not contain a 0, 1, 8 or a 9.
SST = 144 Numbers at 14.4% Probability
220
331
448
559
66
77
STS = 144 Numbers at 14.4% Probability
202
313
484
595
6 6
7 7
TSS = 144 Numbers at 14.4% Probability
022
133
844
955
66
77
Fact - SST, STS and TSS contain all permutations of the same number set. Combined, they constitute 43.2% of the total probability in the Pick-3.
TTS = 96 Numbers at 9.6% Probability
002
113
884
995
6
7
TST = 96 Numbers at 9.6% Probability
020
131
848
959
6
7
STT = 96 Numbers at 9.6% Probability
200
311
488
599
6
7
Fact - TTS, TST and STT contain all permutations of the same number set. Combined, they constitute 28.8% of the total probability in the Pick-3.
TTT = 64 Numbers at 6.4% Probability
000
111
888
999
Fact - The TTT number set will hit often enough that it can be played at a profit. This number set seems to disappear from the statistical record as a foreshadowing of a triple digit number.
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Bet Progression
Bet Progression is a term that we do not hear of in current lottery circles. If you're at all familiar with casino type games then you'll probably know what a Bet Progression is. If you don't then let me enlighten you.
Basically a Bet Progression is a steady increase of the amount wagered on a bet to cover your losses, and provide a profit, if and when you win the bet. There are many variations to this strategy.
The best way I've found to use a bet progression in the lottery is with a static set of numbers. In other words, a set of numbers that do not change. For an example, I will use a set of doubles from my "Top Pick" Number Service and my performance the week of September 29th. Before I begin let me emphasize that these numbers do not need to be played for both the Midday and Evening Draws. However, it is wise to use only Midday Statistics for Midday Numbers and Evening Statistics for Evening Numbers.
I happen to use Integrated Statistics for both Midday and Evening Numbers. If you order my "Top Pick" Number Service please specify which lottery draw/draws you prefer to play for the week.
The doubles generated for the week totaled sixteen. You'll want to keep your bets to a minimum to hedge against a "worst case" scenario.
Number Set: Wagered: Lost: Won: Net Profit:
Doubles Mid .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- -$8.00
Doubles Eve .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- -$16.00
Doubles Mid .50 Boxed $8.00 $83.00 $59.00
Doubles Eve .50 Boxed $8.00 $83.00 $136.00
Doubles Mid .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- $128.00
Doubles Eve .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- $120.00
Doubles Mid .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- $112.00
Doubles Eve .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- $104.00
Doubles Mid .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- $96.00
Doubles Eve .50 Boxed $8.00 $83.00 $171.00
Doubles Mid .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- $163.00
Doubles Eve .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- $155.00
Doubles Mid .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- $147.00
Doubles Eve .50 Boxed $8.00 ------- $139.00
Actually this wasn't a very good example, since I never quite reached the point where a progression was needed to help offset the loss. Basically if I had reached the point in my losses where a win would have resulted in an overall net loss. Then I would have increased the amount wagered on each number.
Another aspect of progression betting is what is called a "Stop-Loss Limit". In this example there are two ways to go about it.
The first is to quit after the first profit is made. Then wait until the next week to resume play. So I would have quit with a $59.00 profit and then waited until the next weeks numbers came out.
The second is to fall back to the minimum bet after a win. Only if a string of losses had forced me into a progression. This didn't happen, but assuming it did. I would have quit or reset to .50 Bets after winning $166.00 on a $1.00 Boxed Bet.
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Magic TTT Matrix
0
0
0
1
1
1
8
8
8
9
9
9
In todays lottery community when you mention "TTT" the first response you usually get is, "Oh Yea, Tic-Tac-Toe". That infamous 3x3x3 Matrix where you have to play the Pick-3 Numbers horizontally, vertically and diagonally. When a Lottery Professional speaks about "TTT", they are referring to the Static Matrix you see above.
This Matrix gets it's name from the "Trough" Digits that reside at either end of the Bell Curve. Now common sense would suggest that since these digits fall on the outside of the Bell Curve. The frequency in which they make up all, or part of the winning Pick-3 Number would be very low. This is a case where common sense loses to statistical fact.
In the Pick-3 Game there are 1k possible permutations, or in other words, possible numbers. Of these, there are only 216 numbers that DO NOT contain at least one of these Trough Digits. That computes to a lowly 21.6% probability. Which means that there is an overall 78.4% probability that the next winning number will contain at least one of these. Even common sense can see which probability is better.
There are twenty-four possible assorted numbers in the TTT Matrix that contain all "Trough Digits". Those can be boxed-down to just four numbers which are;
018, 019, 089 and 189
There are thirty-six possible doubles in the TTT Matrix. These can be boxed-down to twelve which include;
011, 088, 099, 100, 188, 199, 800, 811, 899, 900, 911 and 988
You can't box-down triples but there are four of course;
000, 111, 888 and 999
So to cover the entire TTT Matrix you are looking at a total cost of $20 per draw or $10 if you are placing .50 bets.
The overall probability that a TTT Number will fall on any given day is 6.4% of the total probability. Which sure beats playing triples at .1% probability. If you must play triples then I would suggest you play only the TTT Triples.
Take a look at your states drawfile to determine the number and frequency with which these numbers have been drawn. Then judge for yourself if this is the route to go. In Michigan, these numbers hit on average every 12 draws or so (once a week). The peculiar thing is that before a triple is drawn, these numbers refuse to fall. This is a very handy indicator of when triples are due.
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Boxed Number Sets
On the Gaussian and Magic TTT pages I explain the significance of the Trough Digits. Below is a graphical, not to mention 3-D, representation of this truth.
Boxed Pairs:
00-01-02-03-04-05-06-07-08-09
11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19
22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29
33-34-35-36-37-38-39
44-45-46-47-48-49
55-56-57-58-59
66-67-68-69
77-78-79
88-89
99
Boxed Doubles:
001-002-003-004-005-006-007-008-009
011-022-033-044-055-066-077-088-099
112-113-114-115-116-117-118-119
122-133-144-155-166-177-188-199
223-224-225-226-227-228-229
233-244-255-266-277-288-299
334-335-336-337-338-339
344-355-366-377-388-399
445-446-447-448-449
455-466-477-488-499
556-557-558-559
566-577-588-599
667-668-669
677-688-699
778-779
788-799
889-899
Boxed Assorted:
012-013-014-015-016-017-018-019
023-024-025-026-027-028-029
034-035-036-037-038-039
045-046-047-048-049
056-057-058-059
067-068-069
078-079
089
---
123-124-125-126-127-128-129
134-135-136-137-138-139
145-146-147-148-149
156-157-158-159
167-168-169
178-179
189
---
234-235-236-237-238-239
245-246-247-248-249
256-257-258-259
267-268-269
278-279
289
---
345-346-347-348-349
356-357-358-359
367-368-369
378-379
389
---
456-457-458-459
467-468-469
478-479
489
---
567-568-569
578-579
589
---
678-679
689
---
789