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Lottery Number Selection Strategy
Assuming the lottery is completely random (and I sure hope it is !), then what
numbers should you select ? Actually, that's the wrong question really - it
should be what numbers shouldn't you select ! This is because, being
a greedy swine, you want all the money to yourself if you win the jackpot
(yes, you have to share it if more than one person matches the 6 numbers), so
it's important to avoid "obvious" numbers and sequences that other people
might use.
Here's my personal guide:
- Don't choose more than 2 consecutive numbers. The sequences 1,2,3 and
47,48,49 are definitely ones to avoid.
- Don't choose multiples of a number (with or without an offset). Multiples
of 5 are definite no-no, because the playslip rows are in multiples of 5,
so if you've picked 1,6,11,16,21,26 or 5,10,15,20,25,30, then go right to the
back of the class.
- Choose at least one number above 31, because loads of people will use ALL
birthdates and you need to make sure that you aren't one of them.
- Don't pick more than 2 numbers that are less than or equal to 12, because
these clash with months as well as birthdates.
- Make sure that at least one of the numbers isn't in the union set of the
most/least
frequent winning numbers.
This union set is calculated by combining
the 6 (or more) most and 6 (or more) least frequent winning numbers.
- Don't choose any of previous draws' sets of
6 winning numbers (or 5+bonus numbers)
- there's bound to be some people who'll try this.
- If you know the 6 numbers someone else has used, don't use all
6 of them yourself, because you'll have to share the jackpot !
In fact, that last point is interesting - it may mean that, if you want to take
things to extremes, you shouldn't reveal your numbers to anyone else in case
they copy them. However, they'd be extremely stupid to do so because it stops
them getting an outright jackpot (as well as you of course). I've nicknamed
numbers that conform to the above guide as "RKL random numbers" and you can
even
generate them yourself.
Outside of the above restrictions, pick anything you like. I use my full
telephone number split into two digit numbers plus my birthdate (even if
someone else uses this scheme, the chance of them having the same 6 numbers
as me is extremely remote). Fortunately, all of these were under 50 and my
phone number even reads perfectly left to right on my lottery ticket if I drop
the birthdate ! Also, 3 of the numbers are above 31 and 3 aren't and there are
no consecutive numbers. There is a 3-number multiple sequence (with an offset)
though, but it's not a sequence someone would normally pick, so I'm happy with
it.
IMPORTANT: Once you've selected your 6 numbers, stick with them !
People claim that they want to change their numbers each draw to either select
numbers that have come up the most or the least. This is flawed logic I'm
afraid, because the lottery does not depend on past history (unlike blackjack),
so every one of the
14 million-odd combinations
of 6 numbers is equally likely in
every single draw. It's also the reason why writing a computer program to
predict lottery numbers is a stupid and pointless task (just call the random
number generator 6 times - that's just as good as any other method).
If you really must play around with a totally new set of numbers each draw,
keep your original set of 6 going as usual and buy a second ticket. OK, so
you are "throwing away" £2 a draw instead of £1, but at least you won't
kick yourself if your previously tried and trusted "lucky numbers" win the
very draw you decide not to use them any more. I'd recommend buying a second
(or more) ticket when the jackpot accumulates because there was no winner
the previous draw or because of an occasional "Super Draw" (where reserve
money from previous lotteries is used to top up the jackpot prize).
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