If you only match two out of the three numbers drawn in a Pick 3 lottery game, you unfortunately do not win anything. To win a prize in Pick 3, you typically need to match all three numbers drawn, according to the specific play type you chose.
Understanding the Pick 3 Lottery
The Pick 3 game is a popular lottery where players select a three-digit number, with each digit ranging from 0 to 9. For example, you might pick 123, 007, or 987. When the lottery draw occurs, three numbers are randomly selected. Your payout depends on how your chosen numbers match the drawn numbers and the specific "play type" you selected.
Why Matching Two Numbers Isn't Enough
The core concept of Pick 3 is to match the three drawn numbers. While matching two numbers might seem close, it does not qualify as a winning condition for any standard Pick 3 play type. The game is designed to reward players who match all three digits in a specific order or in any order, depending on the wager.
Consider these common Pick 3 play types and their winning conditions:
| Play Type | How to Win | Does Matching 2 Numbers Win? |
|---|---|---|
| Straight | Match all three numbers in exact order (e.g., Pick 123, Drawn 123) |
No |
| Box | Match all three numbers in any order (e.g., Pick 123, Drawn 321) |
No |
| Straight/Box | Win Straight if exact match, or Box if numbers match in any order | No |
| Front Pair | Match the first two numbers in exact order (e.g., Pick 12X, Drawn 127) |
No (This is a different play type, not a general Pick 3 match) |
| Back Pair | Match the last two numbers in exact order (e.g., Pick X23, Drawn 723) |
No (This is a different play type, not a general Pick 3 match) |
As the table illustrates, standard Pick 3 play types require all three digits to be matched, either in exact order or any order, to secure a win. Matching only two numbers, while tantalizingly close, means your ticket does not qualify for a prize.
Example Scenario
Let's say you play the Pick 3 lottery with your chosen number 456.
- Scenario 1: You Win!
- If the numbers drawn are 456 (Straight play) or 654 (Box play), you would win a prize based on your chosen play type.
- Scenario 2: You Don't Win
- If the numbers drawn are 450 (you matched the first two digits, '4' and '5')
- If the numbers drawn are 056 (you matched the last two digits, '5' and '6')
- If the numbers drawn are 406 (you matched the first and last digits, '4' and '6')
In all three non-winning scenarios above, even though two of your chosen digits matched two of the drawn digits, it's not considered a win for the primary Pick 3 game because not all three digits were matched as per the game's rules.
Lottery Prizes
