Simon Thatcher

A 1X2 bet is one of the simplest and most popular types of wagers in sports betting, allowing you to predict whether the home team will win (1), the match will end in a draw (X), or the away team will win (2).

The world of <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/sports-betting-guide" target="_blank" title="">sports betting</a> is full of jargon and <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/sports-betting-terminology-101" target="_blank" title="">terminology</a>, which can confuse newcomers and sometimes trip up seasoned bettors.&nbsp;

Like many other <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/types-of-bets" target="_blank" title="">bet types</a>, 1X2 bets are often named differently from one bookmaker to the next. This means that even if you’ve placed several bets on this market, you might not have heard this terminology if the bookmakers you bet with don’t use it.&nbsp;

If you’ve ever placed a bet on a football team to win, lose, or draw, you’ve already made a 1X2 bet - whether you realised it or not.

1X2 bets are very popular in sports that can end in a draw, especially typically low-scoring sports like football and ice hockey. With a 1X2 bet, you’re betting on one of three possible outcomes - a home win, an away win, or the draw. Let’s look at these types of bets in more detail.

Also known as Three-Way Betting, 1X2 markets allow you to bet on of the following outcomes:

Not all bookmakers use the term 1X2, and you’ll often see one of these alternative names for the market:

The above names are sometimes used by bookmakers for two-way markets that don’t include the draw (also called two-way moneyline markets).&nbsp;

You’ll always be able to tell if it’s a 1X2 market because it will be a three-way market with the draw or tie option.&nbsp;

<a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/what-is-a-single-bet" target="_blank" title="">Single bets</a> are the most common bet type for 1X2 bets, but they’re also often used in <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/what-is-an-accumulator-bet" target="_blank" title="">accumulators</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://outplayed.com/what-is-matched-betting" target="_blank" title="">Matched Betting</a> is a great <a href="https://outplayed.com/side-hustle-ideas" target="_blank" title="">side hustle</a>, where you take advantage of bookmaker offers by backing and laying bets to cover all outcomes. 1X2 bets are one of the most common bet types used by matched bettors.&nbsp;

They’re especially good for <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/qualifying-bet-guide" target="_blank" title="">qualifying bets</a> since you can often place bets with a small qualifying loss at slightly over the minimum odds for the offer. This reduces your liability, meaning you’ll have more money left in your betting exchange to fund more offers.&nbsp;

If you bet on an outsider at high odds, 1X2 bets are also great for free bets, which are best placed at higher odds.&nbsp;

There are several advantages of the 1X2 market for Matched Betting:

One of the most popular Matched Betting offers is the <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/want-more-profits-from-matched-betting-2ups-are-key" target="_blank" title="">2UP (Early Payout)</a> offer. In this offer, the bookmaker pays out if the team you bet on goes two goals clear at any point, even if they go on to draw or lose the game.&nbsp;

Betting on one of the teams in the 1X2 market is used for this offer, and if you can find decent odds, it offers great value.&nbsp;

By far the easiest way to find your 2UP bets is to use Outplayed’s <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/2up-master" target="_blank" title="">2UP Master</a>, which finds all the best bets for you and lists them in order of how much value they have.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Football is by far the most popular sport that uses 1X2 bets, but they’re also found across a range of other sports. Some bookmakers offer both 1X2 and two-way markets for the match result of certain sports, whilst others only offer one or the other.&nbsp;

Below, you’ll find a list of sports that use 1X2 bets.

<a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/how-to-bet-on-football" target="_blank" title="">Football</a>

Football is the world’s favourite sport and betting on a team win or draw is the most popular bet, so it’s not surprising that all bookmakers and betting exchanges offer the 1X2 market for all games.

Here’s the 1X2 market on Betfred, which they call Match Result:&nbsp;

Like football, ice hockey games tend to be relatively low-scoring (at least when compared to rugby and basketball). Because of this, they lend themselves well to 3-way 1X2 markets.&nbsp;

Here’s a 1X2 market for an NHL game on Coral, which they refer to as Match Betting (3-Way):

Basketball games are very high-scoring, meaning draws are relatively rare. As such, betting on a draw is likely to be much less common than in football or ice hockey.

Even so, some bookmakers offer 3-way 1X2 markets for basketball, as you can see in this screenshot of an NBA game on Sky Bet. Match Result is used to describe both the 3-way 1X2 market (No OT) and the 2-way market (Inc OT):

Boxing is another sport where draws are possible, but relatively rare. This is reflected in the high draw odds for the Match Odds market in this bout listed by Paddy Power:

The 1X2 market will be found in <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/esports-betting-guide" target="_blank" title="">eSports</a> betting on sports like eFootball, as you can see in Paddy Power’s Match Winner - 3 Way market here:

Handball games are higher scoring than football and ice hockey, but lower scoring than basketball, so draws at the end of regular time are fairly infrequent. This leads to quite high draw odds in the 1X2 market, but not as high as those found in basketball.&nbsp;

Here’s a game listed on Betfred, listed as Match Result (No OT):

If a cricket match ends with both teams having completed their batting and with the scores level, this is classed as a ‘tie’.&nbsp;

This is not the same as a ‘draw’, which occurs if one or both teams haven’t completed all their innings by the close of play.&nbsp;

Here’s a 1X2 market for a test cricket match on Bet365, which they list as Match Winner 3-Way:

Gaelic football is one of the most popular sports in Ireland and you’ll find the 1X2 market used for betting on the match result. Odds for the draw tend to be high. The 9.0 draw odds in the Match Betting market of this game on William Hill are relatively low compared to those found in many games:

A handful of 1X2 markets can be found in golf, for example this 72 Hole Match-Up market on Bet365:

Rugby is another high-scoring game, so draws/ties are fairly rare. However, they happen from time to time, so some bookmakers offer 1X2 betting for rugby games. Here’s the Match Betting market for a Rugby Union game on Coral:

Although 1X2 bets are the most commonly placed type of bet, there are plenty of alternative bet types. Here are some of the most popular <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/types-of-bets" target="_blank" title="">bet types</a>:

Betting on a team to win or draw a match in the three-way 1X2 market is by far the most popular type of bet. Several other names are used for this market, incuding Match Betting, Full-Time Result, and Match Result. 

1X2 bets are most commonly placed on single bets but they’re also often used in accumulators. These often have high combined odds, giving impressive payouts if you’re lucky enough for all your legs to win.&nbsp;

Matched bettors often use 1X2 bets for qualifying bets, free bets, and other offers like the lucrative <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/want-more-profits-from-matched-betting-2ups-are-key" target="_blank" title="">2UP offer</a>.&nbsp;

To discover more about <a href="https://outplayed.com/what-is-matched-betting" target="_blank" title="">Matched Betting</a>, don’t miss out on Outplayed’s fantastic <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/free-matched-betting-trial" target="_blank" title="">free trial</a>. This includes everything you need to know to get started and gives you access to all of the sportsbook sign-up offers, plus full tutorials and tools to help you find and place your bets.

What Does 1X2 Mean In Betting?

Lynsey Thompson

If you’re new to gambling, then betting and betting terminology can feel like a bit of a minefield. Even those who enjoy a regular flutter can sometimes be confused by the names and terms of different bets.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a comprehensive look at betting, from the most basic wagers you can place to the more complex bets. We’ll also discuss factors you need to look out for, and how to get the most out of your bets too.

First things first, betting refers to wagering something of value on the outcome of a random event in order to receive something better in value. To the average punter like you and me, the ‘something of value’ is money and the ‘random event’ is usually sport, although it can be a casino game.

When it comes to sports betting, we place money on a predicted outcome of a match or race and if that outcome is successful we win more money in return. If it’s not successful, we lose our money. That’s betting in its simplest form.

However, what that outcome is, how much money we win and what needs to happen in order for us to win varies hugely depending on the type of bet and the specific odds. So, let’s look at this further.

Betting newbies often stick to the simplest of bets, which is a single bet on the winner of a match or race. Examples would be a bet on Arsenal to beat Aston Villa in the Premier League or a bet on horse Invictus Gold to win the 1.40 race at Newmarket.

But if you only ever stick to the ‘winner’ betting market, you are limiting yourself hugely in terms of odds, results and variation.

To get the most out of sports betting it pays to look at, not only the different types of bets you can place, but also on the huge variety of outcomes you can bet on.

Take any sport, like football for example, and think of a range of different events or outcomes that can happen in one single match. There can be goals, corners, penalties, yellow and red cards, scorers, fouls, tackles, shots, passes and saves to name a few.

When you place football bets you will find betting markets on all of these things and more, there is so much more than just who wins the match. The same goes for every sport out there except maybe horse racing.

Although horse racing only really has one clear outcome in terms of a winner, there are still a huge abundance of different horse racing bets you can place, which we’ll go into later.

Before we go into the range of different bets, let’s just briefly touch on odds.

Betting odds represent the likelihood of a particular outcome occurring. They also show you what you will earn if your bet wins. Bookmakers calculate the odds based on a mathematical sum on the probability of the event occurring.

Odds can be shown as fractions such as 5/1 or decimals such as 6.0. The lower the odds, the more likely the outcome will occur.

If we take the favourite horse to win a race that has odds of 2/1. This means that for every £1 you bet (the number on the right), you will win £2 back (the number on the left) plus your initial £1 stake. So this would return £3.

Another horse in the same race that isn’t expected to win might have odds of 17/1. This means that if you bet £1, you will win £17 plus your initial stake so you’d get an £18 return.

Because the favourite horse was more likely to win, he had lower odds and therefore a lower payout. Whereas the horse less likely to win, had higher odds and a higher pay out.

That’s basically how odds work and it's crucial to know that when looking at what bets to place. Of course, it can get a lot more complicated when we look at the different types of bets, but the fundamentals remain:

Low odds – low risk – lower returns

High odds – high risk – higher returns

Now we’ve looked at the different types of outcomes we can bet on and how to understand odds, let’s delve deeper into the huge range of bets you can place:

Deciding which bet to place can be difficult, especially if you’re a beginner. The best advice is to start with single bets, get familiar with the odds, how to place bets and the payouts.

Once you’re more comfortable, then you can move on to each way betting, handicap betting, bet builders or multiple bets such as doubles, triples or accumulators.

The main things to consider when placing bets are:

Choose what stake you are comfortable with losing. If you want to try betting each way but don’t want to double your money, then reduce your stake accordingly. For example, if you’re used to betting £10, then place a £5 each way bet to give a total of £10 rather than a £10 each way bet which will be £20.

If you are going for more complex bets such as Lucky 15 or Yankee bets, then remember multiple bets are being placed at once, meaning even a 25p stake can end up as a £7.50 bet overall. The bookie should always show you what the full stake will be before you confirm the bet, so make sure you check this.

Get as familiar with odds as possible so you understand the difference between favourites, underdogs and mid-level bets. Work out your potential pay out and decide whether it's worth placing a single bet or whether you want to go for something a little more advanced in order to increase your odds.

It’s also a good idea to search an odds comparison site such as <a href="https://www.oddschecker.com/">Oddschecker</a>. This will search through a range of online bookmakers and provide a table of the different odds provided at each site. The best odds are highlighted in bold so you can easily identify them.

Although there is absolutely no way of guaranteeing any sport result, having as much information as you can before placing bets can give you an advantage. For example, how prolific a striker has been lately, how well a horse has been running, how well a tennis player plays on a particular surface. Any knowledge you can give yourself when placing bets can help you make your predictions.

A good way to get the most out of placing sports bets is to look out for bookmaker promotions. These can help either to boost your odds, reduce your risks or improve your chances of winning.

<a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/price-boosts-enhanced-odds-offers-what-they-are-and-why-you-should-be-doing-them">Bet Boosts</a> – bookies will boost the odds of a particular team or horse to win

<a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/horse-racing-refunds">Horse Racing&nbsp;Refunds</a> – bookies will give you a refund or free bet if your selection comes second

<a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/extra-place-offers">Extra Places</a> – bookies offer extra places on horse races, e.g. 5 places instead of 4, which means you have more chance of hitting one of the paid places

Free Bets – bookies offer free bets when you place another bet, commonly known as bet and gets

If you haven’t heard of Matched Betting, then look it up. Matched Betting can give you an edge over the bookmakers when it comes to placing a range of different sports bets.

By using a combination of bookmaker promotions, betting exchanges and strategy, it's possible to lock in profits and ensure you get the most value from placing your sports bets. To find out more check out our <a href="https://outplayed.com/what-is-matched-betting">comprehensive Matched Betting guide</a>.

Types Of Bets: A Comprehensive Betting Guide

Ben Adams

You can stay super organised using our&nbsp;free Matched Betting spreadsheet (available below) or profit tracker to help you know how much profit you’ve made and where your money is.

This isn't the most fun part of&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/what-is-matched-betting">Matched Betting</a>&nbsp;so the quicker and easier you make it - the better.

You’ll then have more time to focus on offers which will lead to more profits!

In this article, we’ll show you how to make your Matched Betting admin super simple so you can see your progress clearly and manage your bankroll like a pro.

As an Outplayed member, you can use our awesome Profit Tracker to record your Matched Betting earnings quickly and easily.

Our advanced tracking software is designed to replace the need for a traditional Matched Betting spreadsheet and will give you more time to focus on smashing the offers and building up more profit.

The Profit Tracker is customisable, with filters and sort options, as well as the capacity to visualise profit over time in the form of a graph which is great to keep you motivated.

We’ve kept the Profit Tracker as simple as possible so that it’s easy to use and navigate.

However, at the same time, it’s packed with useful features.

You can access your own Profit Tracker from your "My Account" area when logged in.

You can save your profits from each matched bet on your tracker directly from the Oddsmatching calculator by clicking the “Store in Profit Tracker” button.

Your progress will then be accurately tracked in seconds without the need to go to a separate spreadsheet and type in the offer details manually.

Your profit will automatically be recorded and saved on your Profit Tracker ready for you to view.

As well as tracking your profit, a key aspect of Matched Betting is keeping track of your bankroll as it's likely to be spread across multiple betting accounts.

You can use the Balance Sheet tool to help you know where your bankroll is at any point. 

You can access your own Balance Sheet from your "My Account" area when logged in.

You can set your starting amount in the Bank Balance box, and you can add or remove bookmakers as you need to.

You can withdraw and deposit to different bookmakers allowing you to transfer money between your bank balance and the bookmaker to help you know where your money is at any time.

This is a cosmetic feature to help you keep track of your money and doesn’t move any money between your actual bank account and your bookmaker accounts.

We’re aware you may still prefer a good old-fashioned spreadsheet approach for keeping track of your progress. 

If you are pretty handy in the spreadsheet department you can of course make your own from scratch or use our simple&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArvM4YvvNOxQdDk2SFZnTVRhYmlDZ2piQWs0M0RkOWc&amp;usp=sharing" target="_blank">free Matched Betting spreadsheet</a>.

This includes the basic information you’ll need to record to help you track your progress and manage your bankroll effectively.

To use this yourself you'll need to have a Google account.

When logged into Google, open the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArvM4YvvNOxQdDk2SFZnTVRhYmlDZ2piQWs0M0RkOWc&amp;usp=sharing" target="_blank">Spreadsheet</a>, click "File" and "Make a Copy" to create your own version that you can edit.

You should choose a method of keeping track of your progress that works best for you.

If you need any extra help when it comes to being organised when Matched Betting - remember you have access to experienced Matched Betting experts who are ready to support you.

Our&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/news/matched-betting/how-to-get-matched-betting-support">support&nbsp;</a>team is open and ready to help you 7 days a week. You can use email or live chat and we’re also proud to be the only Matched Betting service to offer phone support, so&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/contact">give us a call</a>&nbsp;whenever you need any extra guidance.

Now you’re set up and organised you’ll be ready to learn how to maximise your profits this year by following our top&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/news/matched-betting/matched-betting-tips">Matched Betting tips</a>.

Download Outplayed's free matched betting spreadsheet to organise your accounts and track profit across multiple bookmaker accounts

FREE Matched Betting Spreadsheet

Paul Trevor

The gambling industry is full of different betting strategies and systems that players employ to try and enhance their profits when placing different <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/types-of-bets">types of bets</a>.

The 1 3 2 6 betting system offers a structured approach to gambling and is particularly popular with <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-casinos">Casino betting</a>.

It’s believed that the system emulates and is a different version of the <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/paroli-betting-system">Paroli Betting System</a>.

The gambling industry is full of different betting strategies and systems that players employ to try and enhance their profits.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The 1 3 2 6 betting system is mainly used for games such as <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/how-to-play-blackjack">Blackjack</a>, Craps and <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/how-to-play-roulette">Roulette</a>.&nbsp;

But does the 1 3 2 6 betting system actually work? This guide will explain the 1 3 2 6 betting system in more detail, how it works and the advantages and drawbacks to using it.&nbsp;

Similar to the <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/fibonacci-betting-system">Fibonacci betting system</a> and other <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/unit-betting-system">Unit betting</a> systems, this system requires you to follow a predetermined sequence with set stakes.

The first thing to do is choose your unit stake.&nbsp; To do this, you must assess your bankroll and decide what would be affordable.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For example, if you chose £10 as your unit bet and you won your first four bets, you would be betting 1 unit (£10), 3 units (£30), 2 units (£20) and finally 6 units (£60).&nbsp; After this sequence, you then go back to the start of the sequence.&nbsp;

If any of your bets lose during the sequence, you start at the beginning again with a 1 unit stake (in this example £10).

The 1 3 2 6 betting system is intended to be used when the odds are even so there’s a 50/50 chance of winning.

That’s why the system is popular in casino games as there are games that provide odds close to evens:

As mentioned, the system is based on a sequence of four different unit sizes, 1, 3, 2 and 6.&nbsp; Each time your bet wins, you increase your unit stake by the next number in the sequence.&nbsp; If you hit a loss, you simply revert back to the start of the sequence again.

Let’s assume you’re using a unit stake of £10 and see what it looks like:

Sequence Step One: 1 Unit

Sequence Step Two: 3 Units

Sequence Step Three: 2 Units

Sequence Step Four: 6 Units

Let’s say you have a great day with your bets and all four of your bets in the sequence win:

Now, let’s not get carried away as you shouldn’t expect this type of luck on a regular basis.&nbsp; However, this outcome would result in £120 profit which is not to be sniffed at.

So what would happen if the boot was on the other foot and all four bets lost?&nbsp;&nbsp;

So, this time you’re £40 down and whilst that might have provided a little damage limitation, it’s still a bit of a hit to your bankroll.

The above two sets of results aren’t unheard of but you’re more likely to get a mixture of results.&nbsp; Let’s have a look at what a realistic run might look like using the 1-3-2-6 betting system with a unit bet of £10:

In this example we have run through the 1-3-2-6 betting system sequence twice to show you how the mixture of wins and losses might look. With 4 losses and 4 wins, you still make £80 profit.

Had all eight bets lost, you would be £80 down so always bet according to your budget.&nbsp; This might mean unit bets of £5 instead of £10.

Pros And Cons Of The 1-3-2-6 Betting System

As with any betting strategy or system, there will always be advantages and disadvantages as no betting system comes with guarantees.&nbsp; Here’s some of the advantages and disadvantages of using the 1 3 2 6 betting system:

Hints For Using The 1-3-2-6 Betting System

Start Small: Whilst you’re new to the 1-3-2-6 betting system, keep your <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/unit-betting-system">unit bets</a> low whilst you familiarise yourself with the sequences. It might be wise to practice the 1 3 2 6 betting system in a simulated or free set-up.

Pick the Right Unit Size: It’s important that you don’t overspend. You need to choose a unit size that matches your risk tolerance and bankroll.&nbsp; It’s suggested that you restrict your unit size to 1-2% of your bankroll. So with a bankroll of £100, your unit bets should be £1 to £2 each.

Keep Sessions Short: Positive progression systems are better when done in short stints.&nbsp; Playing for longer periods can result in the house edge diminishing any advantage.

Know When to Stop: Systems like this, the <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/paroli-betting-system">Paroli system</a> and the <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/does-martingale-strategy-work">Martingale system</a> can preserve your bankrolls if you have a lucky run.&nbsp; However, the luck will run out at some point so try to set limits on how many times you play the sequence.&nbsp; Don’t forget, the bookies and casinos will always play with a <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/what-is-house-edge">house edge</a>.&nbsp;

Bet Selection: Remember, the 1-3-2-6 betting system has been designed for placing bets that have even money odds or as close to 50/50 as possible.

Use The Same Markets:&nbsp; It’s recommended that you try to bet on the same type of markets as you work your way through the sequence. For example, if you bet on a player on your first bet, continue placing player bets for the remaining three bets in the betting sequence.

Use Multiple Bookies: Don’t just restrict yourself to one bookmaker.&nbsp; Open a few accounts as this gives you more opportunities to find the right odds.

Look For Offers: Following on from using multiple bookies, a lot of them offer all sorts of bonuses on sports and <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/why-you-need-to-do-casino-offers">casinos</a>. These can be in the form of free bets or odds boosts.&nbsp;

What To Use The 1-3-2-6 Betting System On

This system was devised to be used on certain <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/best-casino-bonuses">casino games</a> because of the even money odds available on some games.

That’s still its main use but in recent years, the use of it has evolved a little to other <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/sports-betting-guide">sports betting</a>. Let’s take a look at what you might use the 1 3 2 6 betting system on:

Alternatives To The 1-3-2-6 Betting System

There are plenty of different betting systems and strategies out there that you could try.&nbsp; What might be right for one person may not be right for another. As usual, there are no guarantees of success with any of them.&nbsp;

The only guaranteed way to beat the bookies house edge and swing it in your favour is by utilising strategies such as <a href="https://outplayed.com/what-is-matched-betting">Matched Betting</a> or <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/what-is-value-betting">Value Betting</a>.

Let’s take a quick look at some other betting systems:

This is known as a positive progressive betting system that requires you to increase and decrease your stake based on the outcome of your bets. This system is also based on <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/paroli-betting-system">Unit Bets</a> where you are looking for even money odds (50/50).

The <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/paroli-betting-system">Paroli betting system</a> dictates that you double your unit stake after each win and revert back to your original stake after a loss.&nbsp; If you manage to land three wins on the bounce, you then drop back down to the original stake.

This works in contrast to the Paroli betting system because this time you double your stake after a loss and go back to using the original stake when you win.&nbsp;

The Martingale strategy needs a significant bankroll as in essence, you could be chasing losses. Depending on your stake size, with a run of losses, you could be placing large bets which could also hit problems if there are betting maximums at casinos.&nbsp; To get an in-depth understanding, read the <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/does-martingale-strategy-work">Martingale betting system guide</a>. &nbsp;

The <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/what-is-the-dalembert-system">D’Alembert system</a> is one of the more conservative betting systems in that you only ever move up or down by one unit.&nbsp; If your bet loses, you increase the bet by one unit and if your bet wins, you increase it by one unit.

This strategy is low risk as it’s aimed at limiting losses and gaining smaller wins.&nbsp; You need to be patient with this strategy as you are never going to win big in one go.

This is one of the more complex unit betting systems. You need to create a sequence of numbers of your choice which are based on the profits you’re targeting.

Your first bet sees you betting the total units of the first and last number in the sequence.&nbsp; If the bet wins, you eliminate those two numbers and place a bet using the next first and last numbers combined. Thai continues until you lose.&nbsp; Once you lose, you add the value of the bet that lost to the end of the sequence and begin all over again.&nbsp;

The original Labouchere system was based on creating sequences of 10 numbers.&nbsp; However, this can take some time to work through so you can create smaller sequences if you wish.

As mentioned, this is a complex betting system so we recommend you read our dedicated <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/labouchere-betting-system">Labouchere Betting System article</a> if it’s a system you want to explore.&nbsp;

What is the 1-3-2-6 betting system?

What is the purpose of the 1-3-2-6 betting system?

Which games is it suited to?

Is the 1-3-2-6 betting system profitable long term?

How To Use The 1 3 2 6 Betting System

Stephanie Sorrell

The world of sport (and of <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/sports-betting-guide">sports betting</a>) is chock full of highly specific, niche terminology, and tennis is no different.

If you have a casual interest in tennis - or just a casual interest in <a href="https://outplayed.com/blog/tennis-betting-guide">betting on tennis</a> - you might have heard any number of terms tossed around by tennis aficionados or commentators and felt completely baffled by them.

In this article, we’ll tackle the term ‘walkover’ - exactly what it means (and what it doesn’t mean), where it comes from, and the consequences a walkover can have on your tennis betting.

If a tennis match is a ‘walkover’, it means that one player has pulled out before the start of the match - specifically, before the first serve of the first game is struck.

Even if a player pulls out during the pre-match warm-up, therefore, the match would be considered a walkover, as play itself hasn’t begun, even if the players are both on court.

As a result of a walkover, the opposing player effectively gets a free pass to the next round, without having to play a single point.

It’s a simple enough concept, but there are some specific regulations surrounding what is counted as a walkover, especially because it can have consequences for a player’s rank and prize money, which is of course of huge significance to their career.

More generally, people often use the word ‘walkover’ to mean any extremely one-sided contest, where one term or player is almost certain to win - to the extent that their opponents might as well have not bothered turning up. This is, however, very different to a technical walkover in tennis, so it’s important not to mix them up.

The ATP (The <a href="https://www.atptour.com/en">Association of Tennis Professionals</a>) defines a walkover as follows:

Walkover: Match did not begin because:

a) losing player was ill or injured or

b) losing player was subjected to penalties of Code of Conduct before first serve of match was struck or otherwise not permitted by ATP or tournament Supervisor to play.

Source: <a href="https://www.atptour.com/-/media/files/rulebook/2024/2024-rulebook_19mar.pdf">2024 ATP Official Rulebook</a>

There are therefore two main types of walkover acknowledged within tennis:

1. The player withdraws voluntarily, usually due to illness or injury. Occasionally, a player may also withdraw due to personal circumstances (for example, serious illness or death of a family member).

2. The player is not permitted to compete as a result of Code of Conduct violations, and so withdraws involuntarily. 

The second type is, of course, very much rarer than the first, but it’s useful to be aware that this situation can occur, and would still be considered a walkover.

Where Does The Term ‘Walkover’ Come From?

There have been some contradictory claims regarding the origin of the term ‘walkover’, but dictionaries agree that the term originates in horse racing, and dates from the early 19th century.

It was much more common in the past for large numbers of horses to pull out of a race before it began, due to the fact that there was often no guarantee of any prize money for second or third place, only for the winner.

In races where an owner might deem their horse to have little chance of winning, they would often withdraw their horse, rather than wasting its energy and risking injury on a race it was almost certain to lose.

As a result, it was not uncommon in races with a clear favourite for no horse but the favourite to be left by the start of the race. In that event, the remaining horse would still have to at least walk over the racecourse to be considered to have won the race - and this happened frequently enough for the dedicated term ‘walkover’ to come into use.

The 18th century racehorse Eclipse, for example, was so dominant that around half of his eighteen wins were walkovers, as no other horse could hope to match him.

What’s The Difference Between A Walkover And Retirement, Withdrawal Or Default?

The crucial difference between a walkover and a retirement from a match is that a walkover can only happen before a match begins. If a player becomes ill or is injured once a match has begun, and has to forfeit the match as a result, it would be counted as a retirement, and not as a walkover.

Although the terms ‘walkover’ and ‘withdrawal’ are sometimes used interchangeably, ‘withdrawal’ also has a specific meaning in tennis. A withdrawal occurs when a player pulls out ahead of an entire tournament, rather than just a match within that tournament.

While this may sound like a pretty much identical situation to a walkover, because a withdrawal occurs before the entire tournament has started, another player will be able to take their place. This will generally be one who had been knocked out during the qualifying rounds, and so is known as a ‘lucky loser’, as they lost a qualifying match yet were still lucky enough to receive a spot in the main tournament.

More rarely, a player may be obliged to ‘default’ on a match. A default occurs when the tournament supervisor, in conjunction with the umpire, decides that a player’s Code of Conduct violations have been so severe or so numerous as to justify their removal from the match.

One famous case of a default was during the 2020 US Open, when Novak Djokovic was defaulted due to hitting a ball in frustration, which struck a line judge in the throat.

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