Alphabet Betting Explained

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What is an Alphabet Wager?

A wager on six selections consisting of 26 bets: 2 patents (14 bets), 1 yankee (11 bets) and a six-fold accumulator (1 bet).

Football Match

Named after the alphabet due to its 26 bets. The alphabet's selections are split into bets, as shown in the table below. The advantage of this approach is that, unlike many other bets, it gives the punter a chance to shuffle their selections so that the ones they are most confident about have a more significant effect on the payout. The preferred strategy is to place favoured choices in positions 2, 3, 4 and 5, leaving positions 1 and 6 for the least favourite as these are not included in the yankee. Only one selection need win to gain a return. Popular with horse racing punters, though this wager is available for every sport.

Bookmakers occasionally offer bonuses of a fixed percentage in cases where all selections are winners. For example, if the returns from the bet were £100 and all selections had won, a bonus of 10% would return £110. An online alphabet calculator is preferable when working out your bets, as it also facilitates experimentation with different stakes and bet types.

Alphabet Composition

The alphabet is composed of the following parts:

PartSelection Permutations (1-6)Number of Bets
1st Patent1,2,37
2nd Patent4,5,67
Yankee2,3,4,511
Accumulator1,2,3,4,5,61
Total:26

Last Update: 3 July 2023

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Also See

What is a heinz bet? - The article outlines the component parts of this 6 selection wager. 57 bets in total, each participant in the heinz has an equal effect on the payout.

All-In-One Betting Calculator - This tool calculates bet winnings for all bets and sports on a single page. Experiment easily with stakes, each way options and more to find the perfect wager. Ideal for football and horse racing events. Works on all devices.

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