[SBR Drew]

• One If Bet can contain two to seven individual bets.
• If Bets must be made prior to the start time of the earliest event.
• Bets do not have to be made in the order of each event’s start time.
• The first bet’s limit is set by the house.
• Additional bets in the sequence use the bet amount of the first bet.
• The first bet is always placed unless it is consider a no action event. (postponed, etc.)

Types of If Bets

If Win – The bettor chooses the order of each bet in a series. The first bet will always be placed. Each bet thereafter is placed only if the previous bet wins. If any bet in the If Win series were to lose, tie or is considered no action, then all the additional bets on the ticket are considered no action.
If Action – The bettor will choose the order of each bet in the series. The first bet is always placed. Each bet thereafter is placed only if the previous bet wins, ties or is considered no action. If any bet in the If Action series loses, all additional bets on the ticket are considered no action.



Example

Team A is the Rams -7 over the Packers. Team B is the Saints -7 over the Colts. The Rams game starts at at 3:05 EST on Sunday, January 18th. The Saints game starts at 3:40 EST on Sunday, January 18th as well. You bet the Rams game as the first leg of the If Bet because you feel more strongly about the Rams covering than the Saints.


Many bettors mistake If Bets for parlays. In all reality, these are two completely different bets. Like parlays, you can have multiple teams in If Bets. Also like parlays, you stake a small amount to start with the chance of winning a bigger amount later. However, If Bets are essentially separate straight bets, while parlays are a combination of straight bets that all have to win for you to be paid.

Let’s say you did an If Bet with three teams and a parlay with the same three teams. You wager $110 on both the If Bet and the parlay separately. Team A & Team B win but Team C loses. On the If Bet, you would profit $90 because you would win $200 on Team A and Team B, but lose $110 on Team C. On a parlay, you would lose all $110 because you needed to go 3-0 for a winning ticket, but just went 2-1. There isn’t nearly as much of a house edge on an If Bet as there is a parlay.


Let’s say you bet $110 to win $100 on the Rams. If the Rams win their game, then you are essentially free-rolling on the Saints. If the Saints then win, you will profit $200. If the Saints lose, then you’ll lose only the $10 you paid in juice for the entire ticket.

[semibluff]

Has anyone seen my leg?
I think it's been bitten off by a tiger.

[Bluehorseshoe]

Why did some books get rid of "IF WIN" and keep parlays?

[BigdaddyQH]

Good explanation Drew. A fun type of wager that can sharpen you capping skills.

[od120731]

this seems fun

[StackinGreen]

The better method is to just bet games you like, and bet all of them, and don't parlay them. People get wrapped up in parlays because they don't have that much money or somehow they think win more money by playing parlays (of course they do on a single ticket, but obviously after losing a ton of other tickets, so net loser).

After doing this for a long time, and depending on the sport, I'd opt for straight plays OR if you must parlay, do Round Robins. And stick with 2s,3s. It's really hard to hit 4s and above, you'll cash crazy amounts rarely, and end up losing by playing too aggressively with 4 team low percentage hits too often.

If you're a good 'capper, even with some variance you can hit RRs with ML favorites and dogs in a sport like baseball and on balance be a nice winner.

[Sam Losco]

perfect wager for people like brock landers. low on funds

[Bizanta]

I always wondered what this if betting exactly was. Never used it, but this information at least showed me how it works. Thanks.

[BigdaddyQH]

If you really want to figure things out, just look at the odds. 11-10 or better for a straight wager. 13-5 for a 2 team parlay. Correct odds, 15-5. If you want to wager on 2 or more teams, but do not like the real odds, an "IF" wager is for you.

[HedgeHog]

If you really want to figure things out, just look at the odds. 11-10 or better for a straight wager. 13-5 for a 2 team parlay. Correct odds, 15-5. If you want to wager on 2 or more teams, but do not like the real odds, an "IF" wager is for you.

Exactly. And some books will let you bet more on the 2nd leg of an If bet, which can give you an edge in certain situations. Probably the most misunderstood bet among the averager gambler, but If bets are well worth considering.

[inter1097]

If win (not if win or tie) bets can get weird If you are dealing with big favorite moneylines, If a -400 Team B loses, then you hope Team A pushes so Team B can't suck your money.