Betting Strategy Guide
Round Robin Betting Explained
Key takeaways
- A round robin turns one list of picks into every parlay of a chosen size: 3 picks by 2s make 3 parlays, 4 picks by 2s make 6 and 4 picks by 3s make 4.
- The total stake is the number of parlays times the stake per parlay, so 6 parlays at $10 each cost $60.
- With three -110 picks by 2s at $10 a parlay, two winning picks return $36.45 on $30 staked, while three winning picks return $109.34.
A round robin is a group of smaller parlays built from one list of picks. Instead of a single parlay that needs every pick to win, you bet every combination of a set size, such as all the two-team parlays from three picks, so one losing pick does not sink the whole bet.
How the number of parlays grows
The count depends on how many picks you list and how many legs each parlay has.
| Picks | Parlay size | Parlays |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | By 2s | 3 |
| 4 | By 2s | 6 |
| 4 | By 3s | 4 |
| 5 | By 2s | 10 |
With picks A, B and C by 2s, the parlays are A+B, A+C and B+C. Choosing more than one size adds them up: 4 picks by 2s and 3s is 10 parlays.
What a round robin costs
Total stake = number of parlays × stake per parlay. Three picks by 2s at $10 a parlay cost $30; four picks by 2s at $10 cost $60. The ticket grows quickly, so check the total before you confirm it.
A worked example
Take three picks, each at -110, by 2s at $10 a parlay, $30 in total. A two-leg parlay at -110 pays about +264, so each winning parlay returns $36.45.
- All three picks win: all three parlays win and return $109.34, a $79.34 profit.
- Two win, one loses: only the parlay of the two winners pays, returning $36.45, a $6.45 profit.
- One or none win: every parlay loses and you lose $30.
The same $30 on one three-leg parlay would return about $208.74 if all three won, and nothing if any one lost. The math is easiest in decimal odds.
Round robin or a single parlay?
- For: one losing pick does not end the bet, and a strong day still pays well.
- Against: more money is at stake, the top payout is smaller than one parlay with the same total stake, and the margin is paid in every parlay.
- Pushes: a leg that pushes is usually dropped from each parlay it is in, but this varies; check the house rules.
A round robin spreads risk across combinations; it does not remove it. Size it with your bankroll in mind.
Betting at Betcris Arizona
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a round robin bet?
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A set of smaller parlays made from one list of picks, covering every combination of a chosen size. Three picks by 2s, for example, makes three two-team parlays.
How many parlays are in a 4-team round robin?
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Six by 2s and four by 3s. If you choose both sizes, the round robin has 10 parlays.
How much does a round robin cost?
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The number of parlays times the stake per parlay. Six parlays at $5 each cost $30.
Is a round robin better than a parlay?
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Neither is better in general. A round robin can still pay when one pick loses, but it pays less than a single parlay with the same total stake when every pick wins.
