Choosing 5 numbers for the pick 4 game; What ? How?

 Okay let's choose 5 numbers for the pick 4 game. What, Stanley, have you been drinking crazy juice? Did you buy a Trump math book?  If a game calls for 5 numbers, it'll be called the pick 5 and not the pick 4.Well, guess what, it can be done.

The trick is turning 5 numbers in 4 number combinations, so how many combinations will there be? 

(5 x 4 x 3 x 2) / (4 x 3 x 2 x 1)= 5 combinations

Let's suppose you are playing the digits 0,9,2,7,4 let's put those in ascending order, since we'll be playing them boxed anyway so the same digits will be 0,2,4,7,9 now sort them like below:

            0247 - 0249-0279-0479-2479 

 play them all boxed and when 4 of the 5 numbers match (0,2,4,7,9), you win. At the cost of only $2.50 for all 5 games, the payoff is $100 . What this does is give you somewhat a better chance of winning, because it is targeting a certain area, and not being spread out like 5 random quick picks That isn't bad, $2.50 for a chance for a $100 win :)

Of course a person cannot win all the time, or they wouldn't be having the lotto.When all the digits are different it is called a 24 way box and is percentage wise the most likely. However.....

In the pick 4 there are other ways of winning,

 12 way: Playing a pair for example 1123, two digits are the same,  playing this boxed at 50 cents for one game yields $200.

6 way: Two pair boxed or double double boxed , 1122 or 4455 at 50 cents for one game yields $400

4-way:  played boxed for example 6667 (3 digits are the same), the payoff is $600 but in this case you might have to pay taxes on it, in some states it is 5%  when payments are over $599, so after taxes your winnings will be $570.

Quad (otherwise known as a straight), all four digits the same, 9999, it can only be played straight and will win $2500 on a 50 for one game or $2375 after taxes.

What about the federal tax ? Well, they  usually don't get involve, unless it goes over $10,000, less than that, no federal taxes.

As for some state taxes if payments are under $599 then it is cold cash (no taxes) and you don't have to tell anyone about it, it is yours free and clear.  The winnings are base on the percentages of being hit.  (end)

The picture of the pick 4 wheel for 5 numbers is below,  change the letters into your own personal digits: A,B,C,D,E