There are many strategies and possible outcomes in sports betting. For those seeking to profit rather than just bet for entertainment, it’s essential to understand these strategies. One popular approach is the odd-even strategy, and we aim to explain what odd and even betting entails.
What are Odd/Even Bets?
This kind of bet is placed on the total, i.e., the number of goals in a match. As the strategy’s name implies, bets are made on whether the total will be an even or odd number. For instance, if a player bets on ‘even’ and the match concludes with a score of 1:3, the bet is successful. However, if the score were 0:1, the bet would lose. Such bets can be placed in several ways, such as for the entire match, individual halves, total score, or for each team separately.
You can also bet on the number of corners, yellow cards, and many other events. But remember, bookmakers often impose a high margin on such bets. Therefore, playing based solely on statistics could result in losses over time. Yet, certain strategies can help minimize risks and potentially yield profits.
Odd and Even Betting Strategies
The choice and formulation of a strategy depend on several factors including:
- The team’s performance level.
- The nature of the competition.
- Past meeting statistics.
Considering these, you can choose from several strategies, which we will discuss next.
Odd Difference
The first strategy is a type of arbitrage, where a bet is made on a draw and an odd outcome. If a draw occurs, the player can win at favourable odds, despite losing the second bet. If one team wins, it’s highly likely the total will be odd, with average odds of about 2, covering the draw bet.
This strategy is suitable for closely-matched teams. If teams are equally strong and fighting for a win, the result is often a draw or a one-goal difference.
Catch-Up Betting
The second strategy involves ‘catch-up’ betting, where the bettor picks one team and places an even or odd bet on each of its matches. However, this approach carries a risk of long losing streaks and potential bankroll depletion.
To enhance the chance of winning, it’s better to consider low-scoring championships with defensively strong teams. These often end in draws, or wins/losses with a one-goal difference.
Safe Accumulator Betting
This strategy involves creating an accumulator bet of 5-7 events, betting only on even or odd. As each selected match begins, place a single bet on the opposite outcome. The stake should be calculated to cover potential losses on the accumulator and previous losing bets.
The strategy’s inventor claims that it’s rare for him to reach the fifth match, as the bet often wins by the fourth match.
Pros and Cons of Odd/Even Betting
Betting on odd/even outcomes using strategies has certain benefits and drawbacks.
Advantages include:
- A simple strategy accessible to beginners.
- The unpredictability yet potential profitability of the strategy.
- The opportunity to create combined bets using additional strategies, which can yield profit over time.
Drawbacks include:
- High bookmaker margins, often 5 percent or more.
- Significant risk.
- Low odds, usually not exceeding 2.0, leading to potential losses when using the catch-up strategy.
These are just a few critical points to consider. Overall, this strategy has distinct benefits but also significant drawbacks. Therefore, it’s crucial to approach this strategy thoughtfully and not bet impulsively. For beginners, selecting and analyzing the best matches is crucial, as without this, you are likely to just lose money.