Playing the Pick 3 games in your state lottery can be highly profitable. It takes winning consistently and it takes a strategy to play effectively.

The thing that has always amazed me is how some players ignore the potential profits that lie within the Pick 3 type games. Millions of people don’t think twice about laying out $20 worth of bets on the big lotto games that hold odds of almost 14 million to 1 against them. Most of those players have never won a significant jackpot in those games.

The daily games offer much better odds and a much more realistic chance of winning. In most states a $1 straight win is worth a $500 payout. Most states draw the Pick 3 game once during the day, and once in the evening. That can mean 14 opportunities a week to win. How many times a week do you need to win $500 before it makes a difference in your life?

The potential to win good money in the Pick 3 exists. As I said a minute ago, it just requires playing consistently, and playing with a good strategy.

A major part of a good strategy is the method of betting used when playing your picks. Let’s first take a look at the various types of betting that take place in the Pick 3 games.

There are basically three types of bets made in the Pick 3. You can place a box bet, a straight bet, or a combination bet. Some states refer to the box bet as an “any order” bet, and the straight bet as an “exact” bet.

Front & Back Pair Bets

I say there are basically three types of bets because in some states a player can wager on the front pair and/or the back pair of numbers to be drawn. I personally don’t play these last two types of bets because the payouts are very low, and I am usually playing for the higher payouts that come from winning the straights. But I want to briefly explain how they work.

If you are betting on the front pair you are going to select the first two numbers that will be drawn. Let’s assume you have made a front pair bet on “23X”. If the number drawn has the 2 in the first slot and the 3 in the second slot, then you are a winner. If the number drawn is 237 for example you are a winner. If the number drawn is 253 you have lost. The 2 and 3 must be drawn just as you listed them. The process works the same way when you are betting the back pair.

The only time I can recommend playing the “pair bets” is when you are trying to build your bankroll. The bet carries odds of 100:1. With the lower odds, the payoff is naturally lower. The usual payout on a winning $1 bet for a pair is only $50. But like I say, it can be a great bet for building up your bankroll and that will give you more money to make a play on the straights.

If you are needing to build a bankroll to play with, then by all means check with your state lottery and see if this betting option is available to you. It might be just thing to get you started.

Box Bets

Another bet that can be used is the box bet. The box bet simply means that you have to select the three digits that will come up in the draw. It doesn’t matter which order the numbers are drawn, as long as you have played all three numbers you will be a winner.

For example let’s assume you have played the pick of “123”. As long as those three digits of 1,2 and 3 are drawn, you will win the box prize. There are six ways this pick can come in, and they are;

123, 132, 213, 231, 312 and 321

If the numbers are drawn in any of those combinations, then you are a winner on your box bet. These are referred to as a “6 way”  box because of the six possible combinations. The odds of hitting a six way box are 167:1. The payout on a $1 six way box bet is typically $80.

There is another aspect of the box bet that needs discussed. When a result is drawn that contains two like digits, it is considered to be a double pick. For example, 122, 113, 757, 191 would all be double picks. There are only three possible ways that a double number pick can be drawn. For example the double pick of 122 can come up as follows;

122, 212 or 221

If the draw comes up in any of those combinations you are a winner. These box plays are referred to as a “3 way”  box. The odds of winning on a three way box are 333:1. The payout on a $1 three way box bet is typically $160. I consider the 3 way box bets to be one of the best value bets in the Pick 3 game.

You will note that in both the 3 way and the 6 way examples, you have the potential of the number being drawn exactly how you played it. Let’s say for example you played 123 box. And let’s assume the number that is drawn is 123. You have hit it straight! However since you played it in the box format only, then you would only receive the box payout. As long as your ticket is a box ticket, then that’s all it will pay, is a box payout, even if the number is drawn exactly how you played it.

When ordering your box bets at the lottery retailer, it is not usually necessary to order as a 3 way or 6 way. Just tell them you are placing a box bet for “XXX”.

Straight Bets

The straight bet is the ultimate goal when playing the Pick 3 games. To win this prize you must bet the numbers exactly like they are drawn. If you bet on 123, then the only way you will win is if the numbers drawn are 123, and in that very order. Of course the straight bets are tougher to hit. But it is easier than you might think with a good system to work with.

The odds of hitting a straight bet are 1000:1. The typical payout on a one dollar bet is $500. With a good system in play, the box wins will turn a modest profit and keep you in the game in order to hit the straights where you can make the real money. But what if you could form your bets in a way that you could have the insurance offered through a box bet, and the higher payoffs associated with the straight bets? That’s where the combination bets come into play.

Straight / Box Bets

The straight / box bet is a sort of combination bet. With this bet you are placing one box bet and one straight bet on the same number. This method makes sure you have yourself covered both ways.

Let’s assume you placed a $1 bet for 123 on a straight/box ticket. If the number is drawn in any of these orders;

123, 132, 213, 231, 312 and 321

then you win the box bet. On this bet you would win $40. If the number is drawn in the order you played it of 123, then you also win the straight bet and would be paid $290.
Immediately you will notice that the payoffs differ on the straight / box bet from the normal box and straight payouts.
When you place a $1 straight / box bet, essentially what you have done is placed a .50 box bet and a .50 straight bet. Now I will break down how the payoffs worked on this ticket because it can be a bit confusing.

In my example I played 123 for a $1 straight / box ticket. When 123 was drawn I won the box payoff on the following plays; 123, 132, 213, 231, 312 and 321. Although the pick of 123 was an exact match, I still would only be paid the box prize because it was a box ticket. So that portion of the straight / box ticket pays me $40.

Also in my example I would be paid on the straight as I played the straight portion of my ticket as 123. I did that because of the way I ordered the ticket. I simply ordered a $1 straight / box ticket on the pick of 123. So I would be paid on the straight portion of the ticket as well which is $250. The $290 payout on the straight / box ticket that wins as a straight is the result of winning the $40 on the box portion and the $250 on the straight portion.

If I had ordered my ticket as a $1 straight / box on the pick of 321, then I would not have won on the straight portion of the ticket, and therefore would have only won the $40 prize for the box win. In order for me to have won the straight payout on this ticket the number would have needed to be drawn as 321.

So the straight / box bet can be used as a sort of hedge, or added insurance to your straight bets. If you want to step up your game, and really make a play for the straights, then that is where the Combination bet comes into play.

Straight / Box Bets

The Combination bet is the ultimate play for the Pick 3 straights. You are essentially placing either 3 or 6 bets on one ticket. Again in this example I will use 123 as my pick. My combination bet will consist of six straight bets making it a 6 way combo. I will end up with a straight play on all six possible combinations for the pick of 123. Of course they are as follows;

123, 132, 213, 231, 312 and 321

 If I am making .50 bets then the cost for this ticket will be $3. If I am making $1 bets then the cost to play will be $6 for this ticket. I have six straight bets on one ticket. This is really all the combination bet amounts to. It simply makes it easier to order at the lottery retailer. There will be no box payout as you have negated the need for a box bet by playing all the possible straight combinations. The odds of winning the straight with this bet are 167:1, and the typical payoff on a $1 ticket would be $500.

The combo bet can also be played as a 3 way combo. Had I selected 122 as my pick, I would have only needed to play three possible combinations and they are as follows;

122, 212 and 221.

My ticket would have three straight bets for the three possible combinations. The cost of this bet would be $1.50 if I was playing .50 bets, or $3 if I am playing $1 bets. The odds of winning the straight payout with these 3 way tickets are 333:1, and the payout is the typical $500 on the $1 bet.

This combo bet can seem confusing until you realize that all you are doing is placing either three or six straight bets on one ticket. That’s all it amounts to