[PlatinumBerg]

Anyone here like doing teasers? I don't think I have seen a discussion on a teaser bet yet. I like them much more than spread bets.

[Jive]

I like them in college, using points to make an underdog a bigger underdog most of the time. I do use them in the NBA occasionally but I'm not as successful with them. I think there are too many possessions in the NBA vs college, with the faster pace, shorter shot clock, and 8 more minutes of gametime. Team A can be just a little better than Team B and still push ahead by double digits, because of the high number of possessions. So teasing a dog up doesn't work as well in the NBA, so on the rare times I do tease the pro's I try to turn a favorite into a near pick 'em, even though that goes against my basic teaser philosophy of giving an underdog more points.

For example, tonight I teased Georgia Tech to +15 and the Thunder to -2.5. Had to sweat both of them out in the last minute, but it was winner.

[PlatinumBerg]

Very interesting, I usually do teasers to lessen a favorite's spread in the NBA, sometimes to the point where the favorites are given points like (+2). Betting on the spread is usually way too tough most of the time. I use Bookmaker, which has a special b+8 3 team teaser bet, you only get (-110) on your money, and I know all three teams have to hit, but I usually do, it is fantastic.

[Jive]

I agree, I use the 8-pt teaser almost every day. I never thought I would since we have to rely on 3 teams covering and we still lay negative odds, but I'm doing too well with them to stop. I'm assuming one day it will bite me on the tail and things will even out, but right now I'm loving the B+8 at Bookmaker.

We should bounce teaser ideas off of each other and see if we can make this even more to our advantage.

[lakerfan420]

Teasers are fun. Tomorrow would be a good day. 3 team teaser 8 pt bball. Cavs -2.5 Atlanta -1 and Denver nuggets +1.5..... or switch out Denver for wizards plus 18, Orlando -6.5 or suns +5

[IrishTim]

Very interesting, I usually do teasers to lessen a favorite's spread in the NBA, sometimes to the point where the favorites are given points like (+2). Betting on the spread is usually way too tough most of the time. I use Bookmaker, which has a special b+8 3 team teaser bet, you only get (-110) on your money, and I know all three teams have to hit, but I usually do, it is fantastic.

One piece of advice - you don't want to cross "0" with teasers. There are no ties in basketball so you're giving up a whole point from -0.5 to +0.5. Not to mention the numbers closer to zero are less important than some others.

[robert_wrath]

Anyone here like doing teasers? I don't think I have seen a discussion on a teaser bet yet. I like them much more than spread bets.

A majority of my bets are based on 5 Point Teaser Wages. Quite the contrary, I have a significantly higher win ratio as oppose to Spreads and Under/Over base line bets.

[Peeig]

Search the think tank, there are dozens of threads on teasers

[BigdaddyQH]

Teasers are one on the group of what most pro's lable as "sucker" plays. The books want you to play teasers. The reason is simple. If you bother to do the math, you would see that the books have a huge mathematical edge percentage wise. You are giving the casino's way too much of an edge. There is no wager that you can make and get better odds than the straight wager. Every other type of wager gives the house a bigger edge. That edge can be small (2 team parlay) to huge. If teasers did not give the house a bigger edge than straight wagers, do you really think that the books would offer them?

[donjuan]

Teasers are one on the group of what most pro's lable as "sucker" plays. The books want you to play teasers. The reason is simple. If you bother to do the math, you would see that the books have a huge mathematical edge percentage wise. You are giving the casino's way too much of an edge. There is no wager that you can make and get better odds than the straight wager. Every other type of wager gives the house a bigger edge. That edge can be small (2 team parlay) to huge. If teasers did not give the house a bigger edge than straight wagers, do you really think that the books would offer them?

You've said this before and it's still as wrong as ever, although the "advice" earlier in the thread is just as idiotic, Irish Tim's and Peeig's excepted.

[durito]

Teasers are one on the group of what most pro's lable as "sucker" plays. The books want you to play teasers. The reason is simple. If you bother to do the math, you would see that the books have a huge mathematical edge percentage wise. You are giving the casino's way too much of an edge. There is no wager that you can make and get better odds than the straight wager. Every other type of wager gives the house a bigger edge. That edge can be small (2 team parlay) to huge. If teasers did not give the house a bigger edge than straight wagers, do you really think that the books would offer them?

Would you care to book my teaser bets next year? NFL 6pt 2teamers at even money?

Could be a big cash flow for your syndicate.

[Time is Money]

i see people laying 3 team nba 10 pt teasers..... anyone know which site i can get this at?

[trixtrix]

Teasers are one on the group of what most pro's lable as "sucker" plays. The books want you to play teasers. The reason is simple. If you bother to do the math, you would see that the books have a huge mathematical edge percentage wise. You are giving the casino's way too much of an edge. There is no wager that you can make and get better odds than the straight wager. Every other type of wager gives the house a bigger edge. That edge can be small (2 team parlay) to huge. If teasers did not give the house a bigger edge than straight wagers, do you really think that the books would offer them?

i will send you all my betpoints, if you can prove to me mathematically, how a 3 teamer 6/1 parlay has a higher house edge than -110 straight bet

[Jive]

This idiot is 15-2 on 3 team B+8 teasers since the all-star break, with one of those loses being by .5 a point (I still hate the Bulls). I know that is a very inflated % and will not remain that high, but teasers can be profitable if used correctly (this was even pointed out in the SBR interview with the head linesman that was posted last week).

My rules: Only tease favorites to near pick 'em (less than 3 points), and tease dogs that you have capped will cover the true spread anyway to give them even more points, and you will cash in more than you don't. The key for me is don't cross 0, don't leave more than a basket to cover, and only take teams you think should cover at the non-teased line (this goes for totals as well). The keys for you may be different, as we all have different perspectives and things will jump out to you that won't necessarily jump out to me.

[Peeig]

I still need to learn how to properly hedge teasers.....i fial at this

[BigdaddyQH]

i will send you all my betpoints, if you can prove to me mathematically, how a 3 teamer 6/1 parlay has a higher house edge than -110 straight bet

Simple. A 3 team parlay has these possibilities.

1. Team A, B, and C an win.
2. Team A, B, and C can lose.
3. Team A can win, and B and C can lose
4. Team A and B can win, and C can lose
5. Team A and C can win, and B can lose
6. Team B can win, and A and C can lose
7. Team B and C can win, and A can lose
8. Team C and win, and A and B can lose.

The correct odds are 7-1, but you only get 6-1, so you are losing 1/7th of the odds, or 14%, which is more than the 10% vig that you pay for a straight wager.

Send your points over, or leave forever. There is your proof.

[Jrod124]

Stay away from Teasers

[durito]

Simple. A 3 team parlay has these possibilities.

1. Team A, B, and C an win.
2. Team A, B, and C can lose.
3. Team A can win, and B and C can lose
4. Team A and B can win, and C can lose
5. Team A and C can win, and B can lose
6. Team B can win, and A and C can lose
7. Team B and C can win, and A can lose
8. Team C and win, and A and B can lose.

The correct odds are 7-1, but you only get 6-1, so you are losing 1/7th of the odds, or 14%, which is more than the 10% vig that you pay for a straight wager.

Send your points over, or leave forever. There is your proof.

that's some sweet maths

[Jrod124]

it was well written

[HedgeHog]

Plenty of +Ev possibilities for teasing in FB and BB. The 1/2 point calculator with push % is your friend. Use it.

[trixtrix]

Simple. A 3 team parlay has these possibilities.

1. Team A, B, and C an win.
2. Team A, B, and C can lose.
3. Team A can win, and B and C can lose
4. Team A and B can win, and C can lose
5. Team A and C can win, and B can lose
6. Team B can win, and A and C can lose
7. Team B and C can win, and A can lose
8. Team C and win, and A and B can lose.

The correct odds are 7-1, but you only get 6-1, so you are losing 1/7th of the odds, or 14%, which is more than the 10% vig that you pay for a straight wager.

Send your points over, or leave forever. There is your proof.

this is terrible calculations, -110 straight bet yields house edge of 4.5%. 6/1 parlay yields house edge of 12.5%. let me show you a more accurate and more efficient way using 8th grade algebra to arrive at the answer than your convoluted (and incorrect) explanation:

if you bet 11 units each on both sides of a -110 straight bet you will risk a total of 22 units and guaranteed a 21 unit return. so the house edge is (22 units risked - 21 units return)/ 22 units risked= 4.5%

if you bet 1 unit on each of 8 distinct possibilities of a 3 teamer parlay you will risk a total of 8 units and be guaranteed a 7 unit return. so the house edge is (8 units risked - 7 units return)/ 8 units risked= 12.5%

however, if you have a player's edge over the house at -110 as you claim (60% on football picks i believe you stated), you will have a higher players edge (though higher vol and less eg) at 6/1 parlay and that was what i meant to say.

i recognize the way i stated my initial comment you're correct in that house edge is greater in 3 teamers than 1 teamer, even though your calculations suck and you did not arrive at the correct answer. i will error on the conservative side and admit defeat, you can have my pts.

although, try to save your vulgarities for someone who deserves it.

[HedgeHog]

I will give up all my points if anyone can prove all teasers are -EV bets.

[BigdaddyQH]

this is terrible calculations, -110 straight bet yields house edge of 4.5%. 6/1 parlay yields house edge of 12.5%. let me show you a more accurate and more efficient way using 8th grade algebra to arrive at the answer than your convoluted (and incorrect) explanation:

if you bet 11 units each on both sides of a -110 straight bet you will risk a total of 22 units and guaranteed a 21 unit return. so the house edge is (22 units risked - 21 units return)/ 22 units risked= 4.5%

if you bet 1 unit on each of 8 distinct possibilities of a 3 teamer parlay you will risk a total of 8 units and be guaranteed a 7 unit return. so the house edge is (8 units risked - 7 units return)/ 8 units risked= 12.5%

however, if you have a player's edge over the house at -110 as you claim (60% on football picks i believe you stated), you will have a higher players edge (though higher vol and less eg) at 6/1 parlay and that was what i meant to say.

i recognize the way i stated my initial comment you're correct in that house edge is greater in 3 teamers than 1 teamer, even though your calculations suck and you did not arrive at the correct answer. i will error on the conservative side and admit defeat, you can have my pts.

although, try to save your vulgarities for someone who deserves it.

Yo sir, are an honorable man. I did it the quick way to show you the difference. What you posted is also correct. I will get back to you on your assessment of parlays in a bit.

[Pancho sanza]

I still need to learn how to properly hedge teasers.....i fial at this

Assuming you sized them properly to begin with, you might only hedge the last leg if a large win is pending on that last remaining leg.

The formula is:

Log * bankroll if outcome X happens * probability of outcome X

The # of possible outcomes will vary depending on whether you use the ML, Spread , or a combination of the 2 to hedge with.

[lakerfan420]

Teasers are fun. Tomorrow would be a good day. 3 team teaser 8 pt bball. Cavs -2.5 Atlanta -1 and Denver nuggets +1.5..... or switch out Denver for wizards plus 18, Orlando -6.5 or suns +5

hope u guys tailed cause i cashed

[dbldown]

Not necessarily a sucker bet. As soon as they give you those 5-8 points, you are already beating the lines maker.. if he's right, no matter what side you take, that's a win.

[donjuan]

Not necessarily a sucker bet. As soon as they give you those 5-8 points, you are already beating the lines maker.. if he's right, no matter what side you take, that's a win.

Or not.

[infinite wisdom]

im interested in hearing from other bookmaker acct holders.
posted above a player is getting -110 on a special 3team 8point basketball teaser.
subsequent poster says he also uses these, but doesnt dispute price/odds.
my account with bookmaker has this bet set at -120.

which is correct. is my account profiled at a different (higher) price.

[skrtelfan]

Simple. A 3 team parlay has these possibilities.

1. Team A, B, and C an win.
2. Team A, B, and C can lose.
3. Team A can win, and B and C can lose
4. Team A and B can win, and C can lose
5. Team A and C can win, and B can lose
6. Team B can win, and A and C can lose
7. Team B and C can win, and A can lose
8. Team C and win, and A and B can lose.

The correct odds are 7-1, but you only get 6-1, so you are losing 1/7th of the odds, or 14%, which is more than the 10% vig that you pay for a straight wager.

Send your points over, or leave forever. There is your proof.

Hopefully your syndicate is better at that book larnin' than you are. Hint: a +EV single bet at -110 must win more than 52.38%. A +EV 3 team parlay at 6/1 must win more than 52.28% on the individual legs. How is the house edge increased when the break-even percentage is lowered by 0.10%.

[skrtelfan]

Bookmaker has different teaser prices for different accounts.

[trixtrix]

Hopefully your syndicate is better at that book larnin' than you are. Hint: a +EV single bet at -110 must win more than 52.38%. A +EV 3 team parlay at 6/1 must win more than 52.28% on the individual legs. How is the house edge increased when the break-even percentage is lowered by 0.10%.

due to the unclarity of my posting, there are 2 different ways you can interpret the question:

1.) what has more house edge? a single straight bet at -110 or a single set of 3 teamer 6/1 parlay. the answer given by my previous proof is 4.5% v.s 12.5%. so the single straight bet wins.

2.) however, that is obv an unfair comparison, as we are comparing apples to oranges. what should be compared is a set of 3 straight single wagers at -110 vs. a set of 3 teamer parlay at 6/1. the house edge for 3 straight wagers at -110 is 3 * 4.5% single wager house edge= 13.5% combined. which is greater than 12.5% 3 teamer parlay and thus the straight wagers lose.

this was the quirk that i was hoping bigdaddyqh will find, instead what we found out is that i write some really bad engrish

[skrtelfan]

Right. The "math" he used is essentially the same as saying it's better to make a $110 bet at -110 than a $330 bet because the former has $10 of juice vs $30 of juice. Which of course means his million dollar syndicate gives up way more of a house edge than the so-called amateurs here betting a couple hundred bucks a game.

[PlatinumBerg]

My mistake, I meant to say that I get -120 on B+8 3 team teaser bets.

The reason I think b+8 teasers are good bets is because the point of the spread is to get an even number of bets on both teams so the bookie wins from the commission regardless of which team wins. Given the importance of the spread, A LOT of research and mathematical formulation is done before a spread is given, making it very hard to bet against the spread.

However, when you are getting an additional +8 points, it make it significantly easier. Take my the 3 team b+8 NBA teaser I am going to do for tomorrow for example.

CLE -5
ORL -2
DEN -3

Now, I am very confident that the teams I bet on will be able to cover the spread. Yes, I understand that I need THREE teams to win instead of one, and I only get -120, but the bet is still very good because the level of risk is relatively low.

I am very aware of the fact that this is gambling, and anything can happen, but I don't think anyone can make a reasonably good argument as to why any of the above teams will not cover.


If the line makers have done their job correctly, betting against the spread with any team is essentially a coin flip. If you do not understand the reasoning behind this statement, especially after having read my entire post, then I'm not sure if you should be betting on sports.

[Jive]

You are good to go, Platinum, if it is working for you. Track your results and if you are profiting from these things, keep it up. Only you know the reasoning behind your picks (and you make a good point above) and the effect it has on your bankroll. I had another .5 pt loss Wednesday night (thank you K-State) but a couple more wins in the last 2 days, so I'm now 17-3 using the B+8, with 2 of those 3 losses being by 1/2 a point. Call me nuts, but I'm feeling pretty good about how things are going. I'm sure things will even out somewhat, but I doubt I'm going to be dropping 10 of these in a row any time soon.

This shouldn't be something we play exclusively or more than once a night, with an occasional 2nd one thrown in (like once every 2 weeks), but like with all other forms of wagering, if we pick our spots it can be very profitable. Just like with parlays, if no one ever made money off of them, no one would play them and the books wouldn't offer 8 zillion different teaser options. This argument that the book only offers them because the are sucker bets is absurd. Why do you think they offer straight bets? Is everyone who bets on the spread suckers, too?

[donjuan]

My mistake, I meant to say that I get -120 on B+8 3 team teaser bets.

The reason I think b+8 teasers are good bets is because the point of the spread is to get an even number of bets on both teams so the bookie wins from the commission regardless of which team wins. Given the importance of the spread, A LOT of research and mathematical formulation is done before a spread is given, making it very hard to bet against the spread.

However, when you are getting an additional +8 points, it make it significantly easier. Take my the 3 team b+8 NBA teaser I am going to do for tomorrow for example.

CLE -5
ORL -2
DEN -3

Now, I am very confident that the teams I bet on will be able to cover the spread. Yes, I understand that I need THREE teams to win instead of one, and I only get -120, but the bet is still very good because the level of risk is relatively low.

I am very aware of the fact that this is gambling, and anything can happen, but I don't think anyone can make a reasonably good argument as to why any of the above teams will not cover.


If the line makers have done their job correctly, betting against the spread with any team is essentially a coin flip. If you do not understand the reasoning behind this statement, especially after having read my entire post, then I'm not sure if you should be betting on sports.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probability_distribution