Though there is still the better part of a week remaining on this pick 3 cycle, the middle of the neutral numbers is not working. Day had nothing close to 390, eve's 155 was closest on 10/29 with 135. Will have time for 3 more pick 3 cycles this year.

So time to decide on the strategy changes for those cycles.

Next week I will take the highest frequency all neutral line. There is fill from the middle, but logically the ones at the edge of the hot threshold should have a better shot.

The following cycle will use the reverse, taking the lowest frequency all neutral line. Having numbers at the edge of the cold cutoff.

In the last 2025 cycle, I have yet to determine the strategy.

I will start off 2026 with a Match 6 cycle. Which ever strategy gets closest on the pick 3 will be used.

However I slice it, just need 2 wins between now and 12/31 to have next year 100% on the house... all the while remaining in budget! Cutting the 50/50 straight/box in favor of $1 straight feels like the right move, won't be playing pick 5 cycles with boxes...

The GUI version is starting to take shape, at least from a planning perspective. This can roll the pick N and Match 6 into the same program, adding the ability to plot graphs.

Turns out GUI Python programs are ran in a loop, similar to how game loops are made, only without constant redraws for the graphics... the loop is triggered by user input alone. In this way, a main screen where you choose your game and history file set up the rest of the run, including a dynamic layout based on the columns in the history file. Working through some Python web scraping tutorials now to finally get automated history updates going, that is a long term goal. Since I am not dealing with the matrix changes yet, there is no need to worry about the power ball or mega millions... by the time I am ready for them, I will just be able to create a history scraper that can go back to a specific start point and fill forward. I can then use an appropriate separate function to deal with the bonus balls, as they will have different settings than the white ball pools.

The cost of the 26 draw cycle for the jackpot games...

Power Ball with a $4 ticket = $104

Mega Millions with it's $5 ticket = $130

Not important now, it will be when the butt heads at MUSL trash the Cash 4 Life game. At a combined cost of $234, it is $6 cheaper than the Cash 4 Life "brute force" attack cost of $240. Plus both can be played on 26 advance draws unlike Cash 4 Life which only allows 10 advanced plays. Either require a pick 3 win to be played on house money... which is the only way they will be played. I did manage a go at the cash 4 life on the house this year.

The 2 wins required to pay for 2026 will also leave enough for another go at the Cash 4 Life. Having the ability to deal with history updates will be important for getting the jackpot games set up.

I will most likely end 2025 in the red... -$154. Not bad for how much I played in the last few months. Anything won will be put toward next year, so I'll take that loss, which sits at about $0.42 / day. Cheap hobby!