In a parlay every leg has to win. A system tackles that differently. It plays many smaller combinations at once, and some of them can win even when one selection fails.
How many lines it has
Each combination is called a line and carries its own stake. The total cost is the number of lines times the stake per line.
- 2 from 3: three doubles, so 3 lines.
- Trixie: 3 selections, 3 doubles and 1 treble, so 4 lines.
- Yankee: 4 selections, 6 doubles, 4 trebles and 1 four-fold, so 11 lines.
- Banker: one selection goes in every line. If it fails, all lines lose.
A Trixie example
Example
Three selections: A 2.00, B 1.80, C 2.50. Stake 5 per line, cost 4 × 5 = 20. Lines: AB = 5 × 2.00 × 1.80 = 18. AC = 5 × 2.00 × 2.50 = 25. BC = 5 × 1.80 × 2.50 = 22.5. Treble ABC = 5 × 2.00 × 1.80 × 2.50 = 45. If all three win, you collect 18 + 25 + 22.5 + 45 = 110.5, net profit 90.5. If only A and B win, you collect 18 and lose 2 overall. The odds are made up.
What to watch
A system does not remove the bookmaker margin. Every line carries it, and you pay for more lines. The stake per line is smaller than a single parlay with the same total cost, so the profit when everything wins is lower.
With a banker, if that selection loses you get nothing. It is not insurance, it is more reliance on one pick.
Compared with a plain parlay
Example
The same three selections in one treble with 20 units. The odds are 2.00 × 1.80 × 2.50 = 9.0. If all win, you collect 20 × 9.0 = 180, net profit 160. If two win, you lose 20. The Trixie at the same cost wins 90.5 when all win, but with two selections it ranges from −2 to +5. You give up part of the big win so that you do not lose everything.
A banker example
Say A is the banker and you play "2 from 3" with A in every line. Two lines remain, AB and AC, at 5 each, cost 10.
- A, B and C win: 18 + 25 = 43, net +33.
- Only A and C win: 25, net +15.
- Only A and B win: 18, net +8.
- A loses: no line pays, net −10.
Systems reduce the need for every leg to win. They do not change the average when the prices are poor. 18+.