Future of the Number-Pickers Challenge

[Icewynd]

Hi All,

So what do you think? Should we do it again next year?

I'm thinking that a year is too long, perhaps a monthly challenge would be better.

Any other ideas? Is 20 numbers OK or should we be picking fewer?

Good luck!

 

[Frank]

Well I agree a year is too long, one wants to know ones success rate more frequently than that. However, the challenges should also run long enough to even out lucky streaks or bad patches. In challenges I've done in the past, a block of 20 games was sufficient for this purpose. I'm happy with 20 numbers, but my system is flexible enough to go down to lower numbers. It is of course a lot harder to get hits once you get below 16 balls. It would be interesting to hear other people's views on this.

 

[niteowl]

And should we stay with the same lottery, or try another one?

 

[Frank]

I wouldn't participate if it were not the UK lotto or Euromillions simply because I keep no data for any other lotteries and have no system(s) in place to generate valid entries for differing formats.
Not wishing to be a spoilsport, on the subject of valid entries, I must admit I'm at a loss to see how sets of numbers posted three months in advance of the target draw can be a serious entry for the challenge. What system can generate realistic entries? I'm not objecting, just putting the thought out there. Surely, an entrant can manage to post some fresh numbers at least once a month? If I were marking the scores, I would see a bunch of 20 posted in advance a bit of a chore and a waste of time, but that's just grumpy old me!
At the end of the day, Icewynd is doing all the work, so I will go with the flow.

 

[Icewynd]

At the end of the day, Icewynd is doing all the work, so I will go with the flow.

As with all things lottery:

"Past performance is no guarantee of future results"​

Good luck!

 

[Frank]

Ahhhh... Does that translate to, " isn't it time someone else did the marking.."

 

[Icewynd]

Honestly, Frank, I haven't made up my mind.

It is not a lot of work, maybe 15 minutes twice a week, but it is relentless and must be done no matter what else is going on, as people are counting on you.

Being an eternal optimist, I had hoped someone else might volunteer

If we decide to break the challenges into shorter chunks I would be willing to take on the first one -- say January-March.

Good luck!

 

[Frank]

It is not a lot of work, maybe 15 minutes twice a week, but it is relentless and must be done no matter what else is going on, as people are counting on you.

Yes I know, I did it for a number of years in UK forums and then decided to take a back seat so I could fit more holidays in. The reality is people tend to be reluctant to voluntier, it all goes silent when its mentioned. That's why when you take it on, it has to be for a limited number of draws, after which the challenge rests a while until someone agrees to take over. It also needs to have enough contestants actually playing ( as opposed to just dumping numbers in advance) to be worthwhile - and I notice some of the people who expressed an interest a year ago when the idea was mooted, either did not materialise or quickly dropped off.
This discussion is a bit on the quiet side, ( it will be now the word 'voluntier' has been mentioned ) so maybe now is a good time to put it to bed as few people seem to be fired up with enthusiasm at the moment. Is it worth it for 4 people playing with genuine fresh numbers, I ask myself. I'm still waiting to hear from more members, hopefully proving me wrong.

 

[bloubul]

Hi Icewynd

First of all a BIG THANK YOU for your work to keep record.

If we continue we must play the same lotto to keep it unified.

BlouBul

 

[niteowl]

Been on the road for most of the last two days, but how about maybe we all learn how to do it, and then the first person on the site after the each draw can do the updating for the next draw--that way, if someone misses a draw, there will always be someone who can take over.

 

[Frank]

Been on the road for most of the last two days, but how about maybe we all learn how to do it, and then the first person on the site after the each draw can do the updating for the next draw--that way, if someone misses a draw, there will always be someone who can take over.

Unfortunately, I don't think its that simple. One is not just marking one draw, one is keeping a record of ALL previous entries and scores so that at the end of the challenge, totals and averages can be published to see who won. This requires collaboration so that everyone is on the same page and has the same information. A spreadsheet would be involved to do this. As discussed in another thread, this forum goes out of its way to PREVENT collaboration by blocking private communication channels. Yes A single or more draw result can be reported back by anyone, but somebody still has to play catch up to update the master spreadsheet for the bigger picture.

 

[Icewynd]

I have decided that I will continue to run this challenge for the first 3 months of 2015.

The new challenge will start on Saturday, January 28th and will run through March 28th, 2015. At that point we will declare a winner.

You can all think it over and let me know if someone else wishes to take on a further 3 month challenge to run from April-June of 2015.

Happy New Year to all!

Good luck!

 

[Frank]

Well thanks Icewynd for continuing this challenge after a well earned break. Can we assume that after 104 draws this year you have the information to hand to declare a winner over the past year, or are you saying that will come after March 28th?

 

[Icewynd]

Hi Frank,

I will be reporting on the results of the 2014 Number Picker's Challenge after draw #105 on Wednesday.

The new challenge will start immediately after on January 3rd, 2015 and will continue until March, when I will report results and the winner. THEN I will take a break.

Good luck!

 

[Frank]

Oh , it sounded like nothing was happening in January until the 28th, thanks for clearing that up.