What is a combination forecast bet?
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What is a combination forecast bet?
The aim of the 'Combination Forecast' bet is to have two selections occupying the first and second places in a race, but with this bet you have more than two selections in the event, and as such, the stake is increased. Here you may have 3 or more selections, and will need two of them to fill the first two places, in any given order.
Bettors who feel they have a good grasp on the runners in a race and want to place a bet with a high chance of a return may be interested in placing a combination forecast bet. This term describes a kind of bet that offers multiple winning options and means that there's a very strong chance that one of them will work in the bettor’s favour and lead to a pay-out.
Combination forecast bets can be very complicated for people to understand and the terms and stake change depending on the number of participants being bet upon and the number of possible permutations that are available to the bettor. Put simply, the more selections that are made, the higher the cost to the bettor because each selection means that the bettor is essentially making additional bets.
This means that along with the higher chance of winning, there is also a greatly increased cost of placing a combination forecast bet. With each additional selected participant come additional potential outcomes and then additional bets which must be covered by the stake. This usually means that combined forecast bets are for bettors who are prepared for quite a heavy outlay.
Combination forecast bet
The possible variations of a combination forecast bet can be difficult to understand, but it's very important to comprehend them in detail before placing a bet of this nature so that you don’t suffer frustration or avoidable loss.
A combination forecast bet allows the bettor to select between three and six participants in a race and state that any combination of these participants will finish in the top two. For example, a bettor may wish to place a combination forecast bet on three selections. This means that there are six bets being placed. In this scenario, the bettor has selected Horse 2, Horse 5 and Horse 7, and so the following bets are made.
• In the first bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 2 will win and Horse 5 will finish in second place
• In the second bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 2 will win and Horse 7 will finish in second place
• In the third bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 5 will win and Horse 2 will finish in second place
• In the fourth bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 5 will win and Horse 7 will finish in second place
• In the fifth bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 7 will win and Horse 2 will finish in second place
• In the sixth and final bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 7 will win and Horse 5 will finish in second place
With each additional selection, the possibilities become more complicated and the number of bets being made gets higher. Six is the maximum number of selections a bettor can make and this creates a very complicated set of circumstances. In this scenario, the bettor might select Horses 1 through 6 and in just the scenario that Horse 1 wins, there are a number of bets that are being made:
• In the first bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 1 will win and Horse 2 will finish in second
• In the second bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 1 will win and Horse 3 will finish in second
• In the third bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 1 will win and Horse 4 will finish in second
• In the fourth bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 1 will win and Horse 5 will finish in second
• In the fifth bet, the bettor is stating that Horse 1 will win and Horse 6 will finish in second
This is why a six selection combination forecast bet would end up with 30 bets. A bet is made for every one of the selections to win with the other selections finishing in second.
Of course, with so many bets, there's also a large stake being placed. If, for example, a stake of £5 were being placed per bet, the actual stake would be £30 if three selections (and six bets) were being made. If six selections (and 30 bets) were being made, this figure would rise to £150.
With so many horses being bet on, it's possible for problems to arise when runners pull out; this will change the conditions of the combination forecast bet. If one or more of the selections withdraws and at least two selections remain, many bookmakers will typically break the combination forecast bet down into separate bets and settle them as separate forecasts and win singles. If all of the selections don't run, bets are voided altogether.
Other terms and conditions apply for other scenarios like this and different bookmakers will apply these rules in different way. It’s well worth checking with your bookmaker to understand the ramifications of all possible consequences before betting.
Bets similar to combination forecast bets
A combination forecast bet is a variation on a straight forecast bet and a reversed forecast bet, and also has certain similarities to a tricast bet. Like a combined forecast bet, a tricast bet also allows the bettor to make multiple selections. There are two kinds of tricast bet.
A tricast bet means that the bettor can select who will come first, second and third. The selections must finish in that exact order otherwise the bet will be lost.
On the other hand, a combined tricast bet means that the bettor can make between three and six selections and that they can finish in first, second and third in any order; the bettor does not have to specify exactly what the order is. As the bettor is predicting three places with up to six selections, it is possible for someone making a combination tricast to place up to 120 bets.
• 3 selections means there are 6 bets
• 4 selections means there are 24 bets
• 5 selections means there are 60 bets
• 6 selections means there are 120 bets
Plus, don't forget to check out our bet calculator, where you can calculate your winnings.
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