The 3 if 5 of 6 in 12 numbers 2 combinations (12,6,3,5)=2 is
the simplest wheel possible and is created when you buy two
tickets with twelve different numbers between them.
It works like this. . .
Two tickets. . .
01-02-03-04-05-06 07-08-09-10-11-12
Write down any five numbers from 01-12, three of them
have to be found on one ticket or the other.
So, if you have five of the six winning numbers among
those on your two tickets, you have to win something.
If you have all six of the winning numbers among those
on your two tickets, you have to win at least two 3#'s.
This is why two tickets are better than one. :-)
This of course works if you replace those 12 numbers
with any set of 12 different numbers you think are
lucky.
Now, leave those two tickets as they are and buy a 3rd
ticket with six more numbers different from the first
two, now it becomes possible for there to be only two
of the winning numbers on each ticket, but there remains
an 86% chance of a 3# win. You're covering more then a
third of the numbers on only 3 tickets and have a shot
at winning something. After 3 tickets there is a sharp
drop off in coverage, 24 numbers is around 50% of a 3#
win.
The other way covers fewer numbers, but guarantees a
better prize when you are right, everything remains in
balance. See how if you write down any six numbers
between 01-09 you have to find 4 of them on one ticket?
1-2-3-4-5-6 1-2-3-7-8-9 4-5-6-7-8-9
Only 9 numbers on 3 tickets instead of 18, but this set
guarantees a 4# winning ticket if all six winning numbers
are among the 9 and about a 63% chance of a 5# win.
Takes 6 tickets to cover 12 numbers, but guarantees a 4#
winning ticket if all six winning numbers are among your
twelve. It is also possible to use six tickets to cover
16 numbers to guarantee a 3# win.
Now, let's take this 4 if 6 in 12 number 6 combination
wheel and add a 7th ticket with all different numbers
bringing the total up to 18. We have the 4 if wheel and
we have the 86% 3 if wheel, all for a reasonable price,
not bad for only 7 tickets. This is where the cheap
seats end, after this it gets progressively more expensive
to play, but you can play free or play additional tickets
at one of the free lotto games if any use the results
from your state.
The larger wheels and what the article is about, is using
wheels like these that guarantee a 4# win, at the front of
larger wheels that guarantee a 3# win with some savings if
they have combinations in common. This should work if you
pick your own numbers and put the best ones first where
they form a better mini wheel inside the larger and if not
and they fall among the remaining numbers, you still might
get lucky as in the 86% chance.
