Reverses and “IF” Bets
Last week I mentioned that you can play “if/reverses” in your book instead of playing parlays. You may not be able to place an “if/reverse” bet. This article will explain and compare “if” and “if/reverses bets and parlays. It also includes the best situations for each.
A “if” bet sounds exactly like it does. If Team A wins, you bet on it. The same goes for Team B. Parlays with two games happening at different times are a type “if” bet. You bet on Team A and, if it wins, you place double bets on the second team. A true “if” wager is one that you place an equal amount of money on both the first and second teams.
By telling your bookmaker that you would like to place an “if” wager, you can save two calls to the bookmaker. You can also place “if” bets on simultaneous games. The bookmaker will not place a bet until the first game has ended. The bookmaker will place an equal amount on the second match if the first one wins.
An “if” bet can be two straight bets at normal Vig, but you cannot cancel the second one later. The second bet cannot cancel after you have placed an “if” wager, even if the first game hasn’t yet started. If the first win, you’ll have action for the second. An “if” bet is more controllable than two straight bets. If the games that you are betting overlap in time, placing an “if” bet will allow you to only bet on one game if the other wins. Cancellation of the second bet is possible if two games overlap in timing. You will need to note that if the games begin at different times, many books won’t allow you fill in the second one later. When placing a bet, you must identify both teams.
If you want to place an “if” wager, tell the bookmaker that you would like to make one. Then, ask for Team A IF Team C for $100. This instruction will allow you to place $110 on Team A to win $100. Then, if Team A wins, you can wager $110 on Team B to win $100.
The “if” betting bet does not apply to the second team if the first team loses. Your total loss on the “if” bet, regardless of whether the second team wins or loses, would be $110. To win $100 if the first team wins, however you would need to place a $110 bet. If the second team loses, you would only lose $10. For a total win amount of $200, if both teams win, you will win $100 on Team A, and $100 on team B. The maximum loss for an “if” is $110 and the maximum win is $200. This balance is offset by the fact that you lose the entire $110 instead of $10 for each team that splits with the losing team.
It matters a lot which game you place first in an “if”, bet. Splitting means you lose the entire bet if you place the loser in the first game. If you split and the loser is on the second team, you lose the vig.
The best way to avoid uncertainty due to the order of wins or losses was to place two “if” wagers, one on each team and one on the other. Instead of wagering $110 on Team A if team B, you could bet $55 on Team A If Team B. For $55, you can make another “if” wager that reverses the order of the teams. This second bet would place Team B first and Team C second. This double bet reverses the order of the two teams and is sometimes called an “if/reverse” (or just a “reverse”).
A “reverse” refers to two distinct “if” wagers.
For $55, Team A can win $50 by winning Team B.
For $55 Team B can win $50.
Both bets don’t have to be stated. Simply tell the clerk that you wish to place a “reverse” bet.
The result of a double “if” wager for $100 would have the same outcome if both teams win. For a total win, you win $100 on Team A, $50 on Team B and $50 on Team A. The second “if” bet gives you a win of $50 on Team B and $50 on team A. This totals $100. When both teams win, the total win is $200.
Both teams losing would result in the same outcome as if they had played one “if” bet of $100. In the first “if” combination, Team A’s loss would result in $55 and Team B would lose nothing. The second combination would see Team B lose $55, while Team A would be left with nothing. Each bet would result in a $55 loss, with a maximum loss of $110 if both teams lose.
