Pick 4 Basics
Pick 4 (also called Daily 4, Cash 4, or Numbers Evening/Midday depending on the state) is a 4-digit lottery game where each digit ranges from 0 to 9. There are 10,000 possible straight combinations (0000 through 9999). Draws typically occur once or twice daily, giving you abundant data for analysis and plenty of playing opportunities.
The larger number of combinations (10,000 vs. 1,000 for Pick 3) means longer waits between straight wins, but higher payouts when you hit. For many players, Pick 4 offers a better balance of risk, reward, and analytical depth than its 3-digit sibling.
Complete Payout Table
Pick 4 payouts depend on the bet type and the arrangement count of your combo. The arrangement count is how many different ways the digits can be ordered — this determines both your box odds and box payout.
| Combo Type | Example | Arrangements | Straight Payout | Box Payout | Box Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All unique | 1-2-3-4 | 24 | ~$5,000 | ~$200 | 1 in 417 |
| One pair | 1-1-2-3 | 12 | ~$5,000 | ~$400 | 1 in 833 |
| Two pairs | 1-1-2-2 | 6 | ~$5,000 | ~$800 | 1 in 1,667 |
| Triple | 1-1-1-2 | 4 | ~$5,000 | ~$1,250 | 1 in 2,500 |
| Quad | 1-1-1-1 | 1 | ~$5,000 | ~$5,000 | 1 in 10,000 |
The arrangement formula is: 4! / (freq1! x freq2! x ...) where freq is how many times each digit appears. For 1-2-3-4 (all unique): 4! / (1! x 1! x 1! x 1!) = 24. For 1-1-2-3 (one pair): 4! / (2! x 1! x 1!) = 12. More arrangements mean higher probability of a box match but lower payout per match — the tradeoff is exact.
Pick 4 vs. Pick 3: Side-by-Side
Understanding how Pick 4 compares to Pick 3 helps you choose which game fits your style:
| Metric | Pick 3 | Pick 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Total combos | 1,000 | 10,000 |
| Straight payout | ~$500 | ~$5,000 |
| Straight odds | 1 in 1,000 | 1 in 10,000 |
| Box (unique) payout | ~$80 | ~$200 |
| Box (unique) odds | 1 in 167 | 1 in 417 |
| Data points per draw | 3 digits | 4 digits |
| Analytical depth | 3 positions, 3 pairs | 4 positions, 6 pairs |
Pick 4 offers 10x larger straight payouts with 10x longer odds. Box payouts are roughly 2.5x higher for unique combos (because there are more arrangements). For analytical players, Pick 4 provides more data dimensions: 4 positions instead of 3, and 6 position pairs instead of 3.
Strategy: Doubles and Pairs
In Pick 4, one-pair combos are the most common type, comprising approximately 43.2% of all draws. That's nearly half. Here's the full breakdown of combo types by frequency:
- All unique (like 1-2-3-4): 5,040 combos / 10,000 = 50.4% of draws
- One pair (like 1-1-2-3): 4,320 combos / 10,000 = 43.2% of draws
- Two pairs (like 1-1-2-2): 270 combos / 10,000 = 2.7% of draws
- Triple (like 1-1-1-2): 360 combos / 10,000 = 3.6% of draws
- Quad (like 1-1-1-1): 10 combos / 10,000 = 0.1% of draws
One-pair combos offer a sweet spot: high enough frequency to hit regularly, and a $400 box payout that's double the all-unique payout. Many casual players stick to all-unique combos, potentially overlooking the value in pairs. The Pick 4 frequency tool breaks down combo type distribution to help you track whether pairs are running above or below their expected rate.
Strategy: Sum Range
Pick 4 digit sums range from 0 (0-0-0-0) to 36 (9-9-9-9). The bell curve peaks around sum 18, where approximately 670 combos live — 6.7% of all 10,000. The central range of 15-21 contains roughly 40% of all combos.
Filtering by sum range is a way to focus your analysis:
- Narrow range (16-20): ~30% of combos, the densest zone. Good for conservative play.
- Medium range (12-24): ~70% of combos. Reasonable coverage without extremes.
- Tail range (0-8 or 28-36): ~5% each. These extreme sums are rare and often overlooked.
Track sum distributions over time with the pattern analysis tool, which shows actual sum frequencies versus the theoretical bell curve.
Strategy: Position Analysis
Pick 4 has four digit positions, giving you a 10x4 positional heatmap. The same principles from Pick 3 apply but with greater analytical depth. There are 6 position-pair correlations to examine (D1-D2, D1-D3, D1-D4, D2-D3, D2-D4, D3-D4) instead of just 3.
A systematic position-based approach for Pick 4:
- Check the positional heatmap for your state's Pick 4.
- Select 2-3 hot digits per position.
- Generate combos from the position pools (e.g., 3 x 2 x 3 x 2 = 36 candidates).
- Filter by sum range to reduce the set further.
- Backtest the survivors using the backtester.
Bankroll Management for Pick 4
Pick 4 straight tickets typically cost $0.50 to $1.00. The longer odds (1 in 10,000) mean you'll go through longer losing streaks between wins. Budget accordingly:
- A $1/draw budget playing twice daily = ~$60/month or $730/year.
- Expected straight wins per year: about 0.07 (roughly one win every 14 years). The $5,000 payout doesn't cover $730/year in investment over that time frame.
- Box all-unique ($200 payout): expected wins about 1.75 per year. Revenue ~$350 vs. cost $730 — still negative but more frequent wins.
- Box one-pair ($400 payout): win frequency depends on which pairs you play, but the math is similar.
The takeaway: Pick 4 straight is a high-variance, long-horizon game. Box plays provide more frequent wins but lower payouts. Budget for the long game and track everything.
Disclaimer: Lottery draws are random events. Past results do not predict future outcomes. The strategies described here are for educational purposes — no system can overcome the house edge. Please play responsibly and within your budget. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.