'Nuther question...

[Icewynd]

Do y'all (see TX in my location) use the bonus ball in your analysis?

I include it because:
(1)it is a ball; and
(2) I feel that it adds to the total numbers for a draw.

Often you will see a sequence such as -- regular number -- bonus number -- regular number, which convinces me that the Bonus number needs to be tracked (i.e. three-in-a-row is less frequent than 2-in-a-row).

I'm not talking about a "powerball" that comes from a seperate group of numbers -- I mean a "bonus" ball that is drawn from the same set as the main set of numbers.

I know some people do not track the bonus ball, and I would be interested in hearing their ideas on this subject.

Please share...

 

[blitzed]

hiya Icewynd, so you are in TX (as in Texas) for the summer?

what game are you playing? yes, if the bonus ball data is there, why not track it in a spreadsheet too? although you may need to look further back in game history for better probability data to work with from the one bonus slot.

anyway, ifya were in Texas playing Powerball...then there is a new can of worms...Powerball does a Pre-Draw-Test prior to official draw, and FOUR Post-Draw-Tests afterwards! they do provide the data:
http://www.powerball.com/powerball/testpb.doc
http://www.powerball.com/powerball/pb_nbr_history.asp

 

[Teufellj]

Howdy, Icewynd, pretty hard to talk with a "drawl' in computerese, yes?
Now to your question "...Do y'all (see TX in my location) use the bonus ball in your analysis?..."
Well, my question back to you is, " Do the Texas rules state that a bonus ball if included adds to the count of the conventional balls physically plus the number inscribed makes the numbers say as two ones but not eleven or two tens etc?? There is reasoning behind these questions. For example, one extra ball no matter what the number, changes the game from say a 49 ball game to a fifty (50) ball game. The pratical physics of a 49 game cannot be used efficiently in normal circumstances with the addition of another ball. It's either one or the other! Using a current setup you can't get fifty balls out of a 49 type setup and have a chance at winning with any degree of certainty. So, as blitzed said, "...if you can then why not?..." As an aside to this comment, I would keep track in a separate column and go from there. If playing any other type game of this sort same rules. There is an exception...Ohio every year so far, has a pick 3 game with a bonus ball but, it is color coded; has no number on it and is not introduced into the actual mainstream of a ten ball game so therefore you only keep track of how many times per week it is drawn, very simple and efficient!

Teufellj...

 

[Icewynd]

Sorry if I confused everybody but its Texas in the winter, Canada in the summer, kinda makes more sense that way!

In Canada I play the Canadian 6/49 game that draws 6 balls plus a bonus ball from the same pool of balls.

In Texas I tend to stick with Pick3. None of the other games are really attractive odds -- Mega Millions at 1:176M -- snort!

Anyway, thanks for your comments -- interesting, informative and thought provoking!

 

[blitzed]

hiya Icewynd, migrating south for winter, makes sense

likewise the super longshot games turn me off...here in California there are:
MegaMillions at 176million odds
CA SuperLotto Plus at 42million odds.

once in a blue moon I make some token stabs at the SLP...came very close once, with two numbers offset by "1".

pick3 is the best lottery game in my opinion, kinda like roulette in that there are various ways to place bets to cover a set of digits...however, it is state lottery, it's goal to skim 50% off the top, therefore the 500:1 payout on straights...meanwhile some offshore casino joints offer 900:1 payouts.

if I truly want to gamble, I'd rather take the short hop to Vegas heck, even local native American indian casinos have a free bus to their inland casino...or if I wanted to play cards, my old roommate is a dealer at a small casino nearby, that specializes in card games.

cya,
blitzed