Experienced bettors worldwide are practicing the art of hedging in sports betting. But what is that? Shortly, hedging is the action of placing bets against your original bet in order to reduce the money loss or lock in profits.
As you suppose, it’s a complex strategy that requires knowledge and experience. Not every bettor is able to recognize the hedging potential, or they take it for granted. But it requires a lot of attention and skills that only experienced bettors have. If you browse around this website, you’ll see that there are so many matches to bet on, so you can test the hedging yourself.
But can you do it easily? What does it take to learn how to practice hedging in sports betting? No worries because here we are to explain these things to you.
Understanding the Idea Behind Hedge Betting
In order to learn how to bet this way, you first need to understand the basic concept behind this idea. In general, it’s a betting technique that requires placing at least two different bets in one game in order to win some money, no matter the outcome.
It happens during the game or before the game. Some experienced bettors may combine the two approaches to maintain a better betting result.
So, here’s what it means:
What is Live Hedging?
Live hedging is betting on the opposite team during the game, as the odds are changing every minute. For example, if you bet on team A to win the game, and they end up tied in the first quarter or half, you can place another bet on team B just in order they change the game’s turn.
That way, you protect the profits, especially in case the game ends tied. On the other hand, you win money, no matter what team is the winner at the end of the game.
This approach requires a lot of attention and effort, as you must watch the game and predict some patterns that others can’t really see.
The Art of Pre-Game Hedging
Pre-game hedging means you bet on both team A and team B before the game starts. That way, you’re a winner anyway. It takes plenty of confidence, and surely some money to place two bets on one game, but experienced bettors know exactly what they do.
It often happens when the bettor is pretty confident in the result, but there is a tiny belief that things can turn the other way. Pre-gaming hedging is more convenient compared to live hedging because the bettor doesn’t need to stress about unpredictable changes and turns during the game.
What does it Take to Successfully Place a Hedge Bet?
Just like any other kind of betting, the odds represent the probability for the team to win or lose a particular game. Experienced bettors know how the odds work and what they mean. In general, the bigger the number that represents odds is, the lower the chances for the team to win.
For example, 1/2 means the team has a realistic chance to win, while 2/1 means it’s more likely to lose the game. It’s the same with the decimal number odds, as, for example, 0.25 is a huge chance to win, while 2.40 is a bigger odd, and the team is more likely to lose.
Another important thing is bankroll management, as every bettor must behave responsibly with their money. Sometimes, you may need to give up on some pretty good bet, especially if it means you’ll lose a huge amount of money or you already invested too much before. That’s why it’s important to set limits for any given event you plan on betting.
And finally, risk management is an essential component in sports betting, especially the hedging bets. By understanding the risks, you can minimize the loss and maximize the profit.
How to Hedge a Bet Step-by-Step
Now that you know the basic things about hedge betting and all the challenges that come with it, you can take the following steps:
- Decide what amount you’re willing to invest in the match
- Split the amount the way you think it’s better, or simply in half
- Place the original bet with the bigger amount or half of the amount
- Calculate the potential loss on your original bet
- Place a bet on your second team
For example, you decide to spend 50 dollars on the game between Team A and Team B. Team A’s odds are 2/1, while Team B’s odds are 3/1. At this point, you can split the amount in $25 for each team, or 30+20 or even 40+10 in favor of the team with better odds.
So, your initial bet is, for example, $40 on Team A and $10 on Team B.
The catch is, no matter the outcome – you win anyway. If Team A wins, you also win more money. But if Team B wins, you win money, and you eventually aren’t as much of a loss as you would be if Team B won, but you invested the whole amount on Team A.
And while it seems like an easy thing to handle, you need to know these important tips:
- Practice hedge betting on games you’re most confident about
- Calculate the potential loss for each outcome before placing the bet
- You can place hedge bets with different bookmakers, depending on the odds
- Keep a track on your bets, so you can see if there’s any pattern
Remember, hedge betting can be a powerful tactic, but you must know how to leverage it properly.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you are now clear about the concept of hedge betting and what it means for you. Follow the tips that we have shared, but also try to create your own strategy that will bring you the biggest profits. That’s the only way you can be a winner, regardless of the outcome of the game.
However, be smart and wise and limit the amount of money you spend because betting is unpredictable and can sometimes bring you loss in the long run.