Gap Strategy - Introduction
Like most serious lottery players, I've been tracking lottery numbers for years.
We do this in hopes of finding some tangible clues to what might happen next.
We use frequency counts, sums, high and low distributions. Dreams, random and
current events, etc. Name a measurable fact and someone has probably used
it to generate lottery numbers.
Using the results from one state to determine events in another state seems to
be a popular Pick 3 strategy these days.
Vtracs is another popular method of generating numbers.
But, when you come right down to it, it's all guesswork. To my knowledge,
no strategy, technique, method, or whatever you want to call it, generates
winning lottery numbers on a reliable and continuous basis.
At the same time, I admit the possibility that someone has indeed
'cracked the code,' but we will never know it.
I read the lottery news and have never read a story where a player has racked up a long
string of wins.
I just don't believe that all of the major lottery winners are related, other
than the fact that they were in a pool or are individuals who had a ticket with a line of
numbers that paid off.
In my opinion, the best we can do is keep track of the lottery numbers and
develope strategies that are right more often than not.
I use a gap strategy to generate my lottery numbers. I play Texas Pick 5, Florida Pick 5,
Texas Lotto, Texas Two-Step, Mega Millions, Powerball and, more recently, Texas Pick 3.
What is a gap, as it applies to lottery games?
The best definition I have is that a gap is the 'difference' between like numbers in
a stream of lottery numbers.
For example:
Lottery number stream: 3.8.2.5.6.7.0.1.4.9
If the next lottery number is a 6, the corresponding gap number is 5. This is determined
by counting the spaces between like numbers in the stream, including the number itself.
The 6 is added to the lottery number stream and the second 6 is crossed off.
Note. The numbers being crossed off should not be obliterated. These numbers
will be used to build inventories to be discussed later.)
The revised number stream: 6.3.8.2.5.7.0.1.4.9
The gap number 5 is added to a corresponding number stream, called gap number stream.
Gap number stream: 1.8.3.9.0.2.4.5.7.6
Add the gap number 5 to the list. The second 5 is crossed off.
The revised gap number stream becomes 5.1.8.3.9.0.2.4.7.6
Next lottery number is another 5, which produces gap number 1.
The 5 lottery number 5 is added and the second 5 is crossed out.
Gap 1 is added to the gap stream. The second 1 is crossed out.
It should be noted that the gap number for a particular lottery number could be different
with each occurrence. That is, it would be a grave error to think that lottery number 5 and
gap number 1 are fixed values.
In practice, the lottery and gap number streams should be in adjacent columns
on graph paper. Add the new lottery and gap numbers to the bottom of the respective
columns in the order in which they occur.
Assuming everyone interested in gap strategy knows how gap numbers are generated. It's a
simple procedure that must be repeated after each drawing and each lottery number.
Outdated streams produce questionable results.
At this point, I need to revise the definition of a gap.
A gap is the numerical difference between active elements in a data stream.
This is necessary because this strategy incorporates gaps in other applications to
be discussed later.
Some rules:
1. The active elements in a data stream must not exceed the total lottery numbers.
In Pick 3, there are 10 numbers. Therefore, the total active elements (numbers that have not been
crossed out) in the lottery number stream is 10. If you have more, then, you failed to cross out a number.
If you are working with a different lottery, Pick 5/37 for example, the total number of
active elements in the lottery number streams would be 9 for the A numbers, 10 for the B numbers, 10 for the C numbers and 8 for the D numbers.
2. An active element is data in a single, continuous stream that has not been crossed out or obliterated.
As will be seen, the data could be a number, a position indicator, an alphabetical designation
or other feature. These will be defined in later posts.
A question at this point might be: How many lottery drawings do I need to start a viable gap stream?
My standard answer is 30, or as far back as you have to go to ensure that each lottery number
has come up at least twice.
A second question might be: How do I start a gap stream?
Assuming you have a pice of graph paper handy and a current list of the the lottery numbers that you have compiled for other analysis, follow these steps.
In a column, write in the numbers 0 to 9. In an adjacent column (leave a few columns blank) write
the numbers 0 to 9.
Identify the columns in some way so that they don't get mixed up.
Take the first lottery number. Add it to the list. Count the spaces between the two numbers - this
is the gap. The count includes the lottery number. Cross out the number.
Add the gap number to the adjacent gap stream. Find and cross out that number in the stream.
Continue the process until all lottery numbers have been added. If you use 30 drawings,
you will have 90 lottery and gap numbers, side by side on the same piece of graph paper.
Although they are related during the gap generation process, they are henceforth independent
stand alone streams that can and will be used for other purposes.
If you are tracking other lottery games, such as Pick 5/37, I recommend a minimum of
30 drawings. The lottery numbers have to be separated - all A numbers in one stream,
all B numbers in another, C numbers in a third and D numbers in a fourth.
List the A numbers 1-9 in a single column. Enter 1-9 for the gap numbers, Proceed
as described for Pick 3.
When starting the B (teens) you will have 10-19 in the lottery number column, 1-10 in
gap column. The C gaps start with 20-29 in the lottery number column, 1-10 in the
gap column. The D gaps start with 30-37 in the lottery number column, 1-8 in the
gap column.
More later.
Thanks for you interest.
Bobby