I've hit the second prize!

As you remember three months ago I accepted a challenge, that I am going to hit the second prize at "Cash 5" a game that picks 5 random numbers out of 43. The idea was to prove a point, that you have a better chance to get a lottery prize if you play a reduced lottery system than just randomly picking some numbers. The guy that challenged me said that he randomly picked 200 sets of 5 numbers between 1 and 39 and watched them for two years and never managed to get 4 numbers on the same line (the second prize). I told him that I can use the same $200 but play them my way, using a few reduced lottery systems and I am going to hit the second prize. Since "California cash 5" was played twice a week, that would mean I was going to watch my numbers for 200 consecutive draws. The odds were actually against me, since my "Cash 5" has 43 numbers, not 39. To make it a little bit more fair I decided to watch my numbers for an extra 50 draws. Even this way the odds were against me.

Anyway, a few days ago (on March 28) I've got TWO second prizes on "Cash 5", a Pennsylvania lottery game. The numbers were: 3, 7, 10, 16, 37.

You can have a look at the article published on January ("I accept the challenge"). Those of you who watched the challenge and saved the numbers as I adviced you back then so I cannot be accused of cheating realize now that it's for real. Of course one can argue that this doesn't prove anything, it was just luck. So I am going to push my "luck" further and say that I am going to hit at least one second prize by the end of the 250 draws.

Please note that I've got many more third and fourth prizes. Yet, the losses are devastating so far and if I don't hit the jackpot I am going to lose (this is only on paper, I am not actually spending $200 per day on lottery). This should not come as a surprise since we all know that the odds against the lottery players are staggering.

However, there are many people that play together, using only a few bucks per day (lottery pools) so nobody is going to get broke by playing. For these people playing $50-100 or more at random or using reduced lottery systems makes a huge difference.

14 numbers system for "6 out 49"

Here is the system. Replace these 14 numbers with your favorit ones.

Play 1	1 4 6 7 8 11
Play 2	2 3 5 8 10 14
Play 3	1 5 9 10 11 13
Play 4	1 2 6 7 13 14
Play 5	6 8 10 11 12 14
Play 6	4 5 6 7 10 12
Play 7	1 3 7 8 12 14
Play 8	2 3 5 6 9 11
Play 9	2 4 6 8 9 13
Play 10	4 5 7 9 11 14
Play 11	1 2 3 4 6 10
Play 12	3 4 9 10 12 14
Play 13	3 4 7 8 10 13
Play 14	2 3 11 12 13 14
Play 15	5 6 9 12 13 14
Play 16	1 4 5 8 12 13
Play 17	2 7 8 9 11 12

With no miss you have 9% chance to hit the jackpot, 39% chance to get the second prize and 52% chance to get the third prize so it only guarantees the third prize. If you miss one number you have 25% chance to get the second prize and 55% to get the third prize.

Good luck!

15 numbers system for "5 out of 39"

This is a system similar to one I posted before. It's a bit cheaper, only 15 plays instead of 27. This system guarantees 3 numbers in a row. The one with 27 plays guarantees 3x 3 numbers in a row.

Here are the numbers.

Play 1	1-5-11-12-15
Play 2	7-9-12-13-15
Play 3	1-6-7-10-12
Play 4	2-3-4-8-14
Play 5	8-9-10-11-13
Play 6	3-4-5-6-13
Play 7	2-5-7-9-14
Play 8	2-6-11-14-15
Play 9	1-3-4-10-15
Play 10	1-6-7-8-9
Play 11	3-4-10-11-12
Play 12	1-2-7-13-14
Play 13	5-8-10-12-15
Play 14	1-3-4-6-9
Play 15	7-8-11-12-13

With no miss you have 21% chance to hit the first prize, 47% chance to get the second prize and 32% chance to get the third prize.

With one miss you have 38% chance to get the second prize and 50% chance to get the third prize.

With two misses you have 67% chance to get the third prize.
Good luck!

14 numbers system for "5 out 39"

A 14 numbers system for 5 out 39 (5 out of 43 in my case). Substitute these numbers with your favorite number. This is a "minus 2" system, it guarantees the third prize (3 numbers in a row).

Play 1	1-3-4-9-13
Play 2	4-6-9-10-13
Play 3	2-7-8-11-14
Play 4	1-2-5-10-12
Play 5	3-5-6-8-12
Play 6	1-6-7-11-14
Play 7	3-7-10-11-14
Play 8	4-5-9-12-13
Play 9	2-3-5-6-12
Play 10	1-5-8-10-12
Play 11	1-2-3-7-8

With no miss you have 21% chance to hit the jackpot, 47% chance to get the second prize and 32% to get the third prize.

With one miss you have 45% chance to get the second prize, 45% chance to get the third prize and 10% chance to get the 4th prize.

With two misses toy have 75% chance to get the third prize

Good luck!

I accept the chalenge!

I just had a discussion with somebody about lottery in general. He said it's a total waste of money which by the way I do agree since the odds are against you. Then we talk about improving your chance to win the second or the third prize and I've got a total rejection of "my" idea (it's not mine, of course) that there are lottery systems that can give you a better bang for your buck. The argument was "numbers are totally random so there is no way you can increase your chances". He said he took 200 sets of numbers and virtually played the California SuperLotto and checked them twice a week for two years and never even got 4 numbers, not to mention 5 or the jackpot (5 plus the mega number). I am not actually surprised! If you pick them randomly that's what could happen. Now I am taking the challenge and use the same 200 dollars and play them my way, with a few lottery systems. I am going to use "Cash 5" a game we have in Pennsylvania where you need to pick 5 numbers out of 43. I do this because I am more familiar with their website and if I forget to check the numbers a few days in a row I can go even two years back to look at them. I don't know how to make the challenge fair, California Superlotto is 5 out 39 plus another number out of 27 possible. Let's ignore the "meganumber" and focus only on the 5 out of 39. In this case the odds are against me because "Cash 5" is 5 out 43 not 5 out of 39. California lottery is twice a week, multiplied by two years means 208 draws. To make a little bit fair I am going to watch my numbers 250 draws instead.

I am going to use two types of system, a 10 numbers system at "minus 1" (guaranteed 4 numbers if all 5 numbers draw are among the 10 numbers I have picked) and another one with 15 numbers at "minus 2" (guaranteed 3 numbers). Let's see if I can get at least one second prize in 250 draws and how many times I am going to get 3 numbers. "Cash 5" also pays one dollar if you get two numbers. I am going to update this post every day. Unless I am going to hit the jackpot, at the end of the 250 draws most likely I am going to be on the losing side but this is not the point, the point is to see if I can beat the "random" approach.

Here are the numbers. Save them so I won't be accused of cheating.

1) 1, 7, 9, 11, 12, 25, 30, 33, 37, 41

Play 1	7 9 33 37 41
Play 2	7 12 30 33 37
Play 3	1 7 9 25 30
Play 4	1 11 12 30 37
Play 5	1 25 30 33 41
Play 6	11 12 33 37 41
Play 7	1 7 11 25 37
Play 8	1 9 25 33 37
Play 9	9 12 25 30 41
Play 10	7 9 11 12 37
Play 11	7 12 25 33 41
Play 12	1 11 12 25 41
Play 13	9 11 25 30 33
Play 14	1 9 11 37 41
Play 15	7 11 25 30 41
Play 16	1 7 12 37 41
Play 17	1 9 11 12 33
Play 18	1 7 11 33 41

2) 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 16, 23, 24, 25, 37

Play 1	6 9 24 25 37
Play 2	6 12 23 24 25
Play 3	3 6 9 16 23
Play 4	3 10 12 23 25
Play 5	3 16 23 24 37
Play 6	10 12 24 25 37
Play 7	3 6 10 16 25
Play 8	3 9 16 24 25
Play 9	9 12 16 23 37
Play 10	6 9 10 12 25
Play 11	6 12 16 24 37
Play 12	3 10 12 16 37
Play 13	9 10 16 23 24
Play 14	3 9 10 25 37
Play 15	6 10 16 23 37
Play 16	3 6 12 25 37
Play 17	3 9 10 12 24
Play 18	3 6 10 24 37

3) 2, 6, 12, 23, 24, 25, 28, 30, 31, 32

Play 1	6 12 30 31 32
Play 2	6 24 28 30 31
Play 3	2 6 12 25 28
Play 4	2 23 24 28 31
Play 5	2 25 28 30 32
Play 6	23 24 30 31 32
Play 7	2 6 23 25 31
Play 8	2 12 25 30 31
Play 9	12 24 25 28 32
Play 10	6 12 23 24 31
Play 11	6 24 25 30 32
Play 12	2 23 24 25 32
Play 13	12 23 25 28 30
Play 14	2 12 23 31 32
Play 15	6 23 25 28 32
Play 16	2 6 24 31 32
Play 17	2 12 23 24 30
Play 18	2 6 23 30 32

4) 1, 2, 11, 21, 22, 23, 28, 32, 34, 41

Play 1	2 11 32 34 41
Play 2	2 22 28 32 34
Play 3	1 2 11 23 28
Play 4	1 21 22 28 34
Play 5	1 23 28 32 41
Play 6	21 22 32 34 41
Play 7	1 2 21 23 34
Play 8	1 11 23 32 34
Play 9	11 22 23 28 41
Play 10	2 11 21 22 34
Play 11	2 22 23 32 41
Play 12	1 21 22 23 41
Play 13	11 21 23 28 32
Play 14	1 11 21 34 41
Play 15	2 21 23 28 41
Play 16	1 2 22 34 41
Play 17	1 11 21 22 32
Play 18	1 2 21 32 41

5) 1, 4, 8, 14, 15, 18, 21, 23, 30, 35

Play 1	4 8 23 30 35
Play 2	4 15 21 23 30
Play 3	1 4 8 18 21
Play 4	1 14 15 21 30
Play 5	1 18 21 23 35
Play 6	14 15 23 30 35
Play 7	1 4 14 18 30
Play 8	1 8 18 23 30
Play 9	8 15 18 21 35
Play 10	4 8 14 15 30
Play 11	4 15 18 23 35
Play 12	1 14 15 18 35
Play 13	8 14 18 21 23
Play 14	1 8 14 30 35
Play 15	4 14 18 21 35
Play 16	1 4 15 30 35
Play 17	1 8 14 15 23
Play 18	1 4 14 23 35

6) 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 21, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 37

Play 1	10 11 21 25 32
Play 2	1 2 10 14 32
Play 3	2 11 25 30 37
Play 4	2 11 18 24 31
Play 5	1 9 11 18 31
Play 6	2 14 24 25 37
Play 7	9 15 24 30 32
Play 8	14 15 21 30 31
Play 9	10 15 18 21 37
Play 10	1 9 21 24 37
Play 11	9 10 14 18 25
Play 12	1 15 25 31 32
Play 13	14 18 30 32 37
Play 14	1 10 24 30 31
Play 15	2 9 21 31 32
Play 16	1 9 11 14 15
Play 17	1 18 21 25 30
Play 18	9 10 11 31 37
Play 19	2 10 15 18 24
Play 20	11 14 21 24 25
Play 21	2 9 15 21 30
Play 22	1 15 24 32 37
Play 23	2 9 25 31 37
Play 24	10 11 15 30 32
Play 25	14 18 24 31 32
Play 26	2 11 18 21 25
Play 27	1 2 10 14 37

7) 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 22, 23, 24, 30, 33, 37, 41

Play 1	9 10 22 24 37
Play 2	3 6 9 11 37
Play 3	6 10 24 30 41
Play 4	6 10 16 23 33
Play 5	3 7 10 16 33
Play 6	6 11 23 24 41
Play 7	7 12 23 30 37
Play 8	11 12 22 30 33
Play 9	9 12 16 22 41
Play 10	3 7 22 23 41
Play 11	7 9 11 16 24
Play 12	3 12 24 33 37
Play 13	11 16 30 37 41
Play 14	3 9 23 30 33
Play 15	6 7 22 33 37
Play 16	3 7 10 11 12
Play 17	3 16 22 24 30
Play 18	7 9 10 33 41
Play 19	6 9 12 16 23
Play 20	10 11 22 23 24
Play 21	6 7 12 22 30
Play 22	3 12 23 37 41
Play 23	6 7 24 33 41
Play 24	9 10 12 30 37
Play 25	11 16 23 33 37
Play 26	6 10 16 22 24
Play 27	3 6 9 11 41

8) 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 18, 21, 25, 30, 31, 32, 37

Play 1	8 9 18 25 32
Play 2	1 2 8 10 32
Play 3	2 9 25 30 37
Play 4	2 9 15 21 31
Play 5	1 4 9 15 31
Play 6	2 10 21 25 37
Play 7	4 14 21 30 32
Play 8	10 14 18 30 31
Play 9	8 14 15 18 37
Play 10	1 4 18 21 37
Play 11	4 8 10 15 25
Play 12	1 14 25 31 32
Play 13	10 15 30 32 37
Play 14	1 8 21 30 31
Play 15	2 4 18 31 32
Play 16	1 4 9 10 14
Play 17	1 15 18 25 30
Play 18	4 8 9 31 37
Play 19	2 8 14 15 21
Play 20	9 10 18 21 25
Play 21	2 4 14 18 30
Play 22	1 14 21 32 37
Play 23	2 4 25 31 37
Play 24	8 9 14 30 32
Play 25	10 15 21 31 32
Play 26	2 9 15 18 25
Play 27	1 2 8 10 37

9) 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 16, 22, 24, 28, 31, 32, 34, 37, 41

Play 1	8 11 24 31 37
Play 2	2 3 8 12 37
Play 3	3 11 31 32 41
Play 4	3 11 22 28 34
Play 5	2 6 11 22 34
Play 6	3 12 28 31 41
Play 7	6 16 28 32 37
Play 8	12 16 24 32 34
Play 9	8 16 22 24 41
Play 10	2 6 24 28 41
Play 11	6 8 12 22 31
Play 12	2 16 31 34 37
Play 13	12 22 32 37 41
Play 14	2 8 28 32 34
Play 15	3 6 24 34 37
Play 16	2 6 11 12 16
Play 17	2 22 24 31 32
Play 18	6 8 11 34 41
Play 19	3 8 16 22 28
Play 20	11 12 24 28 31
Play 21	3 6 16 24 32
Play 22	2 16 28 37 41
Play 23	3 6 31 34 41
Play 24	8 11 16 32 37
Play 25	12 22 28 34 37
Play 26	3 11 22 24 31
Play 27	2 3 8 12 41

Here are the numbers drew at Cash 5 starting with today, January 8th, 2011

1) 16-19-23-32-38 (Jan 8, 2011)

As you probably noticed I am not playing all 43 numbers in my systems. I missed 19 and 38. I've got 20 times two numbers in a row which is paid as $20.

2) 5-17-25-31-37 (Jan 9)

Missed 5 and 17. However, I've got two third prizes (3 numbers on the same row) for 11 dollars each. I've also got 18 times two numbers for 1 dollar each. In total I've got 40 dollars today. The goal is to get 4 in a row after 250 draws.

3) 12 -13 -34 -35 -39 (Jan 10)
Missed 13 and 39. Got only two times 4th prize. Total two dollars! Very bad day.

4) 3-8-19-20-26 (Jan 11)

Three times 4th prize. Three dollars in total 5) 8-21-27-28-41 (Jan 12) Missed 27. One third prize and 20x 4th prize. 6) 3-14-16-35-40 (Jan 13) Missed 40. 11x 4th prize 7) 1-4-21-23-29 (Jan 14) The challenge continues. I haven't got all 5 numbers yet. Missed 29 today.  Very close to get 4 numbers in one row. I've got 4 of them in system number 5. However, I've got only 3x 3rd prizes. I've got 3 of them in system number 8). In total I've got 7x3rd prize and 25x 4th prize. The best day so far. I've got 91 dollars. 8) 23-32-36-40-43 (Jan 15) Missed 36, 40, 43. Got 4x 4th prize. 9) 10-17-29-38-40 (Jan 16) Got only one number, 10.No prize today. 10) 4-29-35-37-43 Missed 29 and 43. I've got 8x 4th prize 11) 8-24-28-29-39 8x 4th prize 12) 1-3-23-30-42 (Jan 19) Missed 42. 2 third prize + 30x 4th prize 13) 1-4-9-42-43 (Jan 20) Missed 42,43. 2x third prize and 7x 4th prize 14) 3-17-21-26-33 (jan 21) Missed 17 and 26.  3x 4th prize 15) 1 -10 -20 -22 -38 16) 4 -5 -23 -39 -41 17) 8 -17 -35 -37 -43 18) 6 -17 -18 -41 -43   19) 20- 23 -35 -37 -42 20) 2 -10 -35 -38 -43 21) 4 -7 -20 -27 -39     22) 14 -18 -21 -38 -42  (Jan 29) 23) 06  22  23  36  41 24) 04  09  13  17  31 (Jan 31) From January 21 to January 31 I've got 5x third prize and 97x 4th prize. From January 8th to January 31st I've got 15x third prize. No second prize yet but I am pretty sure that I am getting at least one second prize. 25) 26) 27) 28) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 01  02  08  21  25. The closest I've got to the second prize. I've got all 5 numbers in system 8). Unfortunately, I've got no second prize, only 4x third prize. I already got the second prize three times! See new entries. Another second prize on July 9th 2011

Blackjack tips

Blackjack is one of the few casino games that you can win in a consistent manner. You need a little bit of luck, of course, but there are also rules  you need to obey in order to be successful. When talking about tricks for winning at blackjack everybody thinks about counting cards. I never do this, I need to count not only my own cards but everybody's else cards and I found this stressful. When I go to a casino I want to have a good time not to be stressed. Plus, the dealer may notice that you are too concentrated on your game, a sign that you may count cards and if he/she sees a pattern in your betting, she may ask you to leave.

This article is not about counting, is about a few strategies every "pro" knows but fortunately for the casino owners the majority of the players are not aware of. Just a quick summary for those of you not familiar with the game. The dealer deals two cards for you, face up, and two for her, one face up and one face down. Your total needs to be 21 or less. The closer to 21 the better. f the total of the two cards you have is 12 for example you can ask for one more card. If it's a 10 your total is going to be 22 and you are BUSTED, you lose since you can't go above 21. If it's a 3 your total is going to be 15, still not good enough to stand (you need 17) so you'll need to ask for another card. The chance to get busted this time is even higher since not only 10 but also 9, 8, and 7 will make your total jumping over 21.

Cards value

In blackjack all cards have their nominal value except J, Q , K  that are all valued as 10 points. This is very important because at any given moment drawing a 10 has the highest probability among all cards since there are four cards with this value, 10, J, Q and K. An A could count as either 11 or as 1. If you have an Ace and a 6 this will have a total of 17. You can ask for one more card. If it's a 2, 3 or a 4 your total will be 21 or less but if you draw a 5 or anything above 5 you're not going to get busted since your Ace automatically will be considered a 1.

The strategy you need to apply depends on both your cards and the dealer's face up card. You may play with many other people as your table but you don't care about their cards unless you're counting them.

The house has two advantages in this game first, the majority of the players don't apply the rules and second, you need to make a decision first and if you get busted you lose. Only after everybody at the table got busted or decided to STAND the dealer will show you the second card. If the total is 17 or above the dealer is forced to stand. This is one rule in your advantage. Let's say you have an 18 and the dealer has an 17. The dealer already lost. without this rule he would draw another card since has nothing to lose. A 2, 3 or a 4 would put her in the winning position.

When to stand?

Before knowing these rules I always stand if I had 17 or above. Anything bellow 17 I always hit. This is a major mistake. It all depends on the dealer's face up card. The worst hand for  the dealer is 16. She can't stand on 16, needs at least 17, but the chance to get busted at 16 is very high. A 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 will all work in your favor since the dealer is going to bust and you will win no matter on what total you did stand. So, if the dealer face up card is a 6 there is a big chance that the other card is a 10, since 10 is the highest probability card. With a total of 16 she needs to deal another card  with a big chance to bust. In this situation I stand on any total from 12 to 21! If dealer has a 4 or a 5 this is good enough for me to stand on any hand with a total between 12 and 21 since the dealer has a pretty good chance to get busted. If dealer has a 2 or a 3 sometimes I stand, some other times I hit.

When to split?

If you have a pair of aces you need to split. Two reasons for this, one is that a total of 12 is not great, second since the highest probability card is a card valued 10 you have a great chance to get a blackjack on one or both hands. When you split you need to double your bet since you have two hands now. This is probably one of the few rules everybody knows about! Another "must split" is a pair of 8s since the sum, 16, is the worst possible hand you could have. However, if the dealer has an ace a 9 or a 10 you are taking a bigger risk since you can lose twice the money you bet. Never split two 10's! Your total is 20, second best possible. I do split 10's only in one particular situation, if the dealer has a 6! It's still a bad move since I am giving away a great hand (I do this ONLY when I am winning big time and I don't care about losing a hand). The reason I am doing it is because the dealer has the worst card possible and most likely she will get busted. In this way I am winning twice the amount by splitting the hand. I don't split 2's, 3's, 4's and especially 5's and 6's. If you have two 5's, this total 10, a very good hand. Splitting two 6's could you end up having two hands with a total of 16, the worst possible total. The only exception is when the dealer has a bad card, a 4, 5 or a 6. Then I may split anything since the dealer has a great chance to bust. Other people advice on splitting 2's, 3's and 6's no matter what. 

When to double?

This is another way to increase the odds of walking as a winner at blackjack, you need to know when to double. Your best card total is 11. I always double on an 11 (except when the dealer has an A) since with a 10 I can make 21. I also double on a 10 if the dealer has a 9 or a smaller card. Everybody knows to double on an 11 but here comes the big play. If the dealer has a 4,5 or especially a 6 I double on any hand that has a sum of 11 or less. I rarely see people doing this move. Another 'pro" move is to double on "soft" hand, Ace with anything else between 2 and 6 IF the dealer has 4,5 or especially a 6. You can't get busted since your ace will become a 1 if you draw a 10, 9, 8... AND the dealer has a great chance to get busted. If you have an ace with a 8 or a 9 for a 19 or 20 total you better stand. Of course I never double on a hand higher that 12!

When to hit?

Most of the time you need to HIT, ask for another card. If the dealer has 7 or above you need to hit since he may get a 10 and stand. The worst situation for you is the dealer having a 10 or an ace and you have a total of 12 to 16. In this situation you have to hit and many times you are going to get busted! If you have at least 17 you should stand no matter what the dealer's face up card is. Let the dealer getting burst if she has a 4,5 or a 6 or even for a 2 or a 3. As I mentioned earlier, is a good strategy to stand on any hand with a sum 12 or higher. Some people adopt the "no bust strategy" and they don't hit if the total is above 12. this is a mistake. If dealer has a 7 or a higher card you have a better chance to win the hand if you hit than if you stand. 

With these consideration in mind try to play the blackjack game if you find on this page, on the right side, and see if the overall winning probability has increased or not. I could bet you are winning more now!

As a summary  use this chart I found on internet. Some casinos let you take this chart with you when playing but I think you should learn the logic behind these strategies that I tried to explain here than memorizing the chart.

Let me know if you have questions or more tips I am not aware of.

Have fun!

Happy New Year!

babaro23

12 numbers, 6N (-2)

A 12 numbers system for 6 out of 49 game. It's a system reduced 97.61%, you are playing only 22 plays out of 924 possible, yet you have a guaranteed third prize.

Here is the system:

1)  1-2-3-4-5-6
2)  1-2-3-7-8-9
3)  1-2-4-7-10-11
4)  1-2-5-8-10-12
5)  1-2-6-9-11-12
6)  1-3-4-8-11-12
7)  1-3-5-9-10-11
8)  1-3-6-7-10-12
9)  1-4-5-7-9-12
10) 1-4-6-8-9-10
11) 1-5-6-7-8-11
12) 2-3-4-9-10-12
13) 2-3-5-7-11-12
14) 2-3-6-8-10-11
15) 2-4-5-8-9-11
16) 2-4-6-7-8-12
17) 2-5-6-79-10
18) 3-4-5-7-8-10
19) 3-4-6-7-9-11
20) 3-5-6-8-9-12
21) 4-5-6-10-11-12
22) 7-8-9-10-11-12

With no miss you have 2% chance to get the jackpot, 86% to get one second prize +5x third prize and 12% chance to get 9x third prize. With one miss you have 17% chance to get one second prize and 83% to get 3x third prize. 

P.S. Visit the sponsors pages for more tips