|
|
Get Lucky with Wimpy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cost/square |
cost/square |
cost/square |
cost/square |
|
|
$36 |
$34 |
$43 |
$54 |
$57 |
$48 |
$54 |
$55 |
$64 |
$55 |
|
Final Score Payoffs: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 - 0 |
0 - 1 |
0 - 2 |
0 - 3 |
0 - 4 |
0 - 5 |
0 - 6 |
0 - 7 |
0 - 8 |
0 - 9 |
|
Round One: $25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(32 chances to win) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 - 1 |
1 - 2 |
1 - 3 |
1 - 4 |
1 - 5 |
1 - 6 |
1 - 7 |
1 - 8 |
1 - 9 |
1 - 0 |
|
Round Two: $50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(16 chances to win) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 - 2 |
2 - 3 |
2 - 4 |
2 - 5 |
2 - 6 |
2 - 7 |
2 - 8 |
2 - 9 |
2 - 0 |
2 - 1 |
|
Sweet 16: $100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8 chances to win) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 - 3 |
3 - 4 |
3 - 5 |
3 - 6 |
3 - 7 |
3 - 8 |
3 - 9 |
3 - 0 |
3 - 1 |
3 - 2 |
|
Elite Eight: $150 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4 chances to win) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 - 4 |
4 - 5 |
4 - 6 |
4 - 7 |
4 - 8 |
4 - 9 |
4 - 0 |
4 - 1 |
4 - 2 |
4 - 3 |
|
Final Four: $300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2 chances to win) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 - 5 |
5 - 6 |
5 - 7 |
5 - 8 |
5 - 9 |
5 - 0 |
5 - 1 |
5 - 2 |
5 - 3 |
5 - 4 |
|
Final Halftime: $300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 - 6 |
6 - 7 |
6 - 8 |
6 - 9 |
6 - 0 |
6 - 1 |
6 - 2 |
6 - 3 |
6 - 4 |
6 - 5 |
|
Championship
Final: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 - 7 |
7 - 8 |
7 - 9 |
7 - 0 |
7 - 1 |
7 - 2 |
7 - 3 |
7 - 4 |
7 - 5 |
7 - 6 |
|
$ 1,000! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8 - 8 |
8 - 9 |
8 - 0 |
8 - 1 |
8 - 2 |
8 - 3 |
8 - 4 |
8 - 5 |
8 - 6 |
8 - 7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 - 9 |
9 - 0 |
9 - 1 |
9 - 2 |
9 - 3 |
9 - 4 |
9 - 5 |
9 - 6 |
9 - 7 |
9 - 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
The above chart represents all the possible
combinations for the final |
|
|
score of a sporting event, in our case, basketball.
The 1st number is the |
|
|
final digit of the winning score, and the 2nd digit
is the final number of the |
|
|
losing score. You've all probably seen similar
squares for football games. |
|
|
With football, some of the squares are so highly desirable whlle others are |
|
|
highly undesirable that the numbers have to be assigned after the squares |
|
|
are
sold. That's the beauty of Wimpy Squares. Everyone who plays will |
|
|
have the opportunity to select the square(s) of their choice
(presuming |
|
|
they're available). Each square will offer 64
distinct chances to win. |
|
|
|
|
|
The idea came from local friend who runs a similar
pool every year. He |
|
|
often sells out 2-3 sets of squares, however he
charges the same |
|
|
amount (usually $100) per square. His problem is
that while most of the |
|
|
squares sell quickly, a small yet significant
percentage tend not to sell at |
|
|
all. It's not hard to imagine which squares are the
most and least popular. |
|
|
|
As
a result, he usually has to buy whatever squares go unsold for himself. |
|
|
He pays out 92% and often lost money. Still, the
pool is very popular |
|
|
and I'd recruited dozens of people. I thought I
could do better. Rather |
|
|
than sell all squares for the same price, I felt I could make the perceived |
|
|
least popular combinations more attractive at a
discounted price. Similarly, |
|
|
it seemed that a small premium
for the most popular squares would be |
|
|
at
most a minor deterrent. Note that I'm taking the same amount in, but |
|
|
paying out a staggering 98%!! This is not trivial.
Ignoring the extra work |
|
|
involved
to pull this off, margin for profit/loss is thin indeed. |
|
|
|
This is a LOTTERY type pool, and as such, you should not go into it thinking |
|
|
you have a good chance to win money. Exactly the
opposite is true. At least |
|
|
40% will lose their investment - and at least
another 35% or more will win back |
|
|
less than they put in. Your goal - besides to enjoy
yourself with a healthy |
|
|
rooting interest for every game - should be to come
close to breaking even |
|
|
before
the final game, so that you have a free shot to win that $1000! |
|
|
|
None of this takes away from the simple truth that
it's a great deal of fun. I've |
|
|
always wished that I could offer this game (through
my friend) to my loyal |
|
|
group of wimpy fanatics. I'm not blind to the fact
that many, if not most, of the |
|
|
rabid
college basketball fans who find my March Madness competition so |
|
|
challenging,
might have no interest whatsoever in a random chance lottery. |
|
|
While
this may not be for you, it's probably just what your brother-in-law or |
|
|
colleague at work is looking for. Most of you will
have no trouble finding friends |
|
|
who like, but don't live for March Madness. This is tailor-made for them! |
|
|
Return
to Main Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|