What is a Flag Bet?

A Flag Bet takes an existing bet type and adds Up-And-Down single stakes about (SSA) pairs.

So, what is a flag bet exactly? It is a multiple bet consisting of four selections combined into 23 individual bets. This type of bet is for advanced bettors looking to extract maximum value from four selections while ensuring a high level of coverage.

The flag bet is essentially a standard Yankee bet with 'Any To Come' (ATC) or 'Up-And-Down' bets bolted on. As it includes Single Stakes About (SSA) pairs, you only need one of your four selections to win or place (if betting each way) to guarantee a return, offering a robust safety net.

Due to the 23 intersecting bet lines and the complex rules of Any To Come betting, doing the maths manually can be incredibly tedious. To save time and eliminate errors, we highly recommend using the free AceOdds Flag Bet Calculator to instantly work out your potential returns, profits, and overall layout.

How a Flag Bet Works

With flag betting explained in detail, the best way to understand the wager is to split it into its two core components: the Yankee and the Up-And-Down pairs.

As the Flag consists of 23 bets, your unit stake will be multiplied by 23. Therefore, a £1 Flag bet will cost you £23 in total to place.

The 23 bets are broken down as follows:

• The Yankee Component (11 Bets):
  • 6 Doubles
  • 4 Trebles
  • 1 Four-Fold Accumulator
• The Up-And-Down Component (12 Bets):
  • 6 Single Stakes About (SSA) Pairs. (Each pair consists of 2 bets, meaning 12 bets in total).

In an Up-And-Down SSA pair, if your first selection wins, your original unit stake is returned and a new single bet of the same stake is automatically placed on the second selection. This cross-betting happens across all four of your selections, meaning that even a single winner will trigger a return (though a single winner usually results in an overall loss on your total stake).

What is the Difference a Flag Bet and Super Flag Bet?

When exploring Any To Come multiples, you will likely encounter the Super Flag bet. The difference between the two boils down to the number of selections and the resulting volume of bets.

A standard Flag bet involves 4 selections and generates 23 total bets (a Yankee plus 6 SSA pairs).

A Super Flag bet steps up to 5 selections, which generates a massive 46 total bets. It consists of a Super Yankee (also known as a Canadian), which provides 26 multiples, plus 10 Up-And-Down SSA pairs (equating to 20 bets). Because a Super Flag requires double the number of bets, it demands a much higher total stake.

Best Sports for Flag Bets

Because of the "Any To Come" mechanic, Flag bets are heavily favored in specific sports where backing singles at slightly longer odds is common.

• Horse Racing: This is the traditional domain of the Flag bet. Punters love using this wager during major race days because backing four horses at mid-to-high odds can result in massive returns if they all win, while the SSA pairs provide small returns to soften the blow if only one or two horses perform well.
• Greyhound Racing: Similar to horse racing, the fast-paced nature and odds structures of greyhound meetings make them an ideal fit for Flag bets.
• Football (Goalscorer Markets): While less common than in racing, some advanced football bettors use Flag bets for "First Goalscorer" or "Correct Score" markets, where the odds for individual selections are high enough to justify the 23-unit outlay.

Flag Bet Examples

To see how the numbers play out, let's look at some practical flag bet examples. Imagine you place a £1 unit stake Flag bet on four horses running at Ascot.

Your total stake is £23 (23 bets × £1). Two of your horses win, but two let you down:

The Winning Returns Breakdown:

As Horses C and D lost, any double, treble, four-fold, or SSA pair involving them is a losing line. However, because Horses A and B won, you generate returns from both the Yankee component and the Up-And-Down component:

• The Winning Yankee Bets (1 Double):
  • Double (Horse A & Horse B): £1 × 3.00 × 4.00 = £12.00
• The Winning Up-And-Down Bets (1 SSA Pair):
  • Part 1 (A onto B): £1 on Horse A wins £3. £1 of that is staked on Horse B, which wins £4. (£2 left from A + £4 from B = £6.00)
  • Part 2 (B onto A): £1 on Horse B wins £4. £1 of that is staked on Horse A, which wins £3. (£3 left from B + £3 from A = £6.00)
  • Total SSA Return: £12.00

Total Return: £12.00 (Double) + £12.00 (SSA) = £24.00 Total Return. You staked £23 in total, meaning two winners at those prices secured a tiny net profit of £1.00. If a third horse had won, your returns would have multiplied exponentially.

How to Calculate a Flag Bet

As you can see, manually calculating SSA pairs alongside standard multiples is highly complex, especially if you introduce each-way places, Rule 4 deductions, or dead heats. If you want to know how to calculate a flag bet instantly, utilizing our digital calculator is the best approach.

How to Use the AceOdds Calculator for a Flag Bet:

1. Navigate to the free AceOdds Bet Calculator.
2. From the 'Bet Type' dropdown menu, select Flag.
3. Choose your preferred odds format (Fractional or Decimal) and input your unit stake (remember, the calculator will automatically multiply this by 23 for your total outlay).
4. If you are placing an each-way Flag (which costs 46 bets), ensure you tick the Each Way box.
5. Enter the odds for your 4 selections.
6. Toggle the 'Outcome' buttons (Win, Lose, Place, Void) for each selection to simulate different race scenarios and instantly view your total returns and net profit.

How to Place a Flag Bet with bet365

Placing a complex multiple like a Flag bet online is actually very straightforward. Here is a brief guide on how to place your wager using bet365:

1. Log In: Open the bet365 app or desktop site and log into your account.
2. Make Your Picks: Navigate to your chosen sport (e.g., Horse Racing) and add exactly four selections to your bet slip by tapping their odds.
3. Open Multiples: Go to your bet slip and scroll to the bottom. Tap the text that says "Show More Multiples" to reveal the hidden betting options.
4. Locate the Flag: Find the specific input box labelled Flag.
5. Enter Your Stake & Confirm: Enter your unit stake into the Flag box. Verify that the total stake at the bottom of the slip is exactly 23 times your unit stake, then click Place Bet to lock in your wager.