What does straight/box mean in Pick 3?

Straight/Box is a combination bet that plays both straight and box simultaneously on a single ticket. A $1 Straight/Box play is effectively a $0.50 straight plus a $0.50 box.

If your digits match in exact order: you win the straight portion ($290) plus the box portion ($40) for a total of $330 on a $1 ticket. If your digits match in any other order: you win only the box portion ($40).

Think of Straight/Box as insurance on a straight play. You give up some of the full straight payout ($500 vs. $290) in exchange for a fallback win if the order is wrong. Best used when you have moderate confidence in your digit selection and some confidence in position.

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