Odds like 4/6 are considered very short. They are more commonly known as ‘Odds On’, they will always return less than you bet. Unless you plan on betting a large amount of money, they offer very little in terms of value. That said, they do indicate a clear favourite so are often less risky.
Really short odds are more common than you think. Just think of how many ways you can bet on a football match.
There’s the result, the first goalscorer, the exact score of the game, how many corners will be awarded, anytime goal scorers, both teams to score and many, many more.
The problem with that is there’s also a near-endless number of outcomes. So odds are designed to reflect the chances of something happening.
That doesn’t actually mean that they will. You may bet on your favourite player to score anytime but if 10 minutes into a game he goes off injured then your bet is over.
The bookmaker is basically saying that the player/horse/team on odds of 4/6 is roughly three times more likely to win than their opposition. On paper, their rivals are simply not as good.
But it’s still very important to do the research before committing to any bet. That way you’ll know if the odds offer decent value and if they truly represent your chances of winning.
However, the sport you choose will also be important. In a tennis match, as there are only two players, there are fewer outcomes. Basically, a player either wins or loses.
So the chances of your player winning are pretty decent. That is even more true if a top player is up against somebody from much lower down the rankings.
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But in a golf tournament, it’s a different prospect entirely. Even the best players in the world can have a bad round.
In big tournaments, there can be hundreds of players battling it out for a spot in the final rounds. With so much pressure, players can fumble so odds of 4/6 should be approached with some degree of caution.
Odds of 4/6 offer very little in terms of payouts. But a win is still a win. The amounts may be small but they do add up. Just don’t get carried away as favourites don’t always win.
So now you know a little bit more, let’s get to the maths!
A Very Simple Formula
The first number (4) is the amount you’ll win from wagering the second number (6). So for every £10 that you bet, you will get back £6.67 if your bet wins. You basically get a little more than two-thirds of what you bet, plus your stake back.
For instance, a £40 winning bet at 4/6 will payout £26.67 (plus your £40 stake is returned).
If you increase the stake to £50 you’ll get £33.33 back (plus £50 stake). The maths formula for a win-only bet is:
(amount staked x 4) / 6 = win returns + stake back = total amount of returns.
For example: (£30 x 4) = £120 divided by 6 = £20 win + £30 stake back = £50 returned in total.
Each Way Bets
There is an option to bet each way on most markets. However, it is generally advised not to do this unless the odds are over 6/1. The reason is that you can’t win any money if your bet loses the win but takes a place instead.
Traditionally most bookmakers pay out 1/4 of the odds on each-way bets. However, some run promotions with more paid places, and those place odds will then be reduced to around 1/5 of the fixed odds quoted.
This is often what happens in golf tournaments or major horse races such as the Grand National when a bookie will payout more places.
When you are already betting on such short numbers, it is almost impossible to get any money back on an each-way bet.
For example, if you placed £10 each-way (£20 in total) on odds of 4/6 you would get back £11.67 in TOTAL if you won the place part of the bet.
You would lose the win part of your stake, leaving you with the each-way winnings of just £1.67 plus that part of the stake back. That is a loss of -£8.33 on your original total stake. It really isn’t worth it.
So there you have it, 4/6 explained in simple terms. There’s a payout guide below for some common bets placed at those odds.
However, you can also use our online bet calculator to work out other odds and stake combinations.
4/6 PROFIT ON WIN BET
£1 = 67p
£2 = £1.33
£5 = £3.33
£10 = £6.66
£25 = £16.67
£50 = £33.33
£100 = £66.67
The amounts quoted above are based on Win bets only. The returns do not include the original amount staked. If you place an each-way bet and it wins, you get back the win and the place winnings, plus your original stake.
If you’re interested in placing bets online with a reputable bookmaker, then Betfair has a great welcome offer for new customers.