Alphabet Bet Calculator

Home / Bet Calculator / Alphabet

An alphabet bet is one of the most obscure bets that currently exists. Containing 26 different bets, the bet is called an alphabet bet due to the number of lines reflecting the number of letters within the alphabet.

It could be that you are reading this and know exactly how it works, or like many, this will be the first time that you have heard about it and you may not have any idea as to how it actually works.

Looking for more calculation options for your bets? Read our comprehensive bet calculator guide. If that is the case then fear not, as in this guide we will have every angle of the alphabet bet covered.

We will reveal how it works and what different combinations make up its 26 different betting lines. We will also explore what you need to do to win, how the odds are calculated and assess what some of the advantages and disadvantages of placing a bet like this can be.

An Alphabet Bet Explained

As we have already mentioned, an alphabet bet gets its name due to the fact that it consists of 26 different betting lines. In order to place it you must first choose six different selections. Whereas some multi bets lend themselves well to particular sports, an alphabet bet is very flexible and can be applied to almost every sport that can be bet on.

Whereas other forms of multiple bets consist of singles, doubles, trebles, four folds, five folds and other multiples, the way an alphabet bet is constructed is very unique as it contains two patents, one Yankee and one six fold accumulator.

As a reminder a patent consists of seven different combinations, so due to the fact our six selections will make up two patents, that will be 14 different lines that will contribute towards the 26 line combination.

The Yankee element contains a further 11 bets which takes us to 25 combinations and the final line is taken up by the one six fold bet.

An Alphabet Winning Example

One sport where alphabet betting has been used well in the past is in football betting and for the purpose of this guide, let’s run a scenario where we pick six different teams from the Premier League.

Ahead of a matchday let’s predict that Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool and Newcastle will all win their respective matches.

The first element of the alphabet is the two patents and they will be constructed by using the first three selections and then the fourth, fifth and sixth selections.

Patent 1 will contain - Arsenal, Chelsea and City. Patent 2 will contain - Utd, Liverpool and Newcastle.

If the patent element of the alphabet bet is easy to understand, the Yankee part of the bet is a little more tricky as the selections we use are 2,3,4 and 5. So in our case this will be Chelsea, City, Utd and Liverpool.

When thinking of the order of your teams it is wise that you put the teams, players or horses you are the least sure about at positions 1 and 6 as they won’t be included within the Yankee.

Lastly all six teams will participate in our six fold.

So, let’s assume Arsenal, Chelsea, City and Liverpool win, but Newcastle and Man Utd lose. This would mean the following in terms of our success.

Due to two of our selections losing, the six fold will be a loser as all six teams would have needed to have won for that to come in.

When it comes to the patents there are mixed fortunes. Patent 1 containing Arsenal, Chelsea and City would have won all seven lines;

  • Arsenal single win
  • Chelsea single win
  • City single win
  • Arsenal and Chelsea double
  • Arsenal and City double
  • Chelsea and City double
  • Arsenal, City and Chelsea treble

However, because Newcastle and Utd lost, patent 2 would only see the Liverpool single bet being paid as a winner.

When it comes to the Yankee part of the bet we would win the following

  • Chelsea and City double
  • Chelsea and Liverpool double
  • City and Liverpool double
  • Chelsea, City and Liverpool treble

Due to the fact that Utd lost, any line of our Yankee that contains them in the bet would be classed as a loser, therefore only four of the fourteen lines would have resulted in us earning some form of profit.

When looking to place an Alphabet bet it’s important to remember that in order to make some form of return, only one selection needs to win, but it is highly likely that if only one of your six selections is a winner you won’t be able to cover your original betting stake.

The only way to win big with an alphabet bet is if all six of your selections are predicted successfully.

What is the Stake for an Alphabet Bet?

Just like when placing other multiples, when you want to place an alphabet bet, you will need to apply an equal stake to every betting line. Let’s say that for the example above you want to bet £1 for every line, you would need to be willing to bet £26 for the bet to be accepted.

If you wanted to bet £10 per line your bet total would be £260. 50p per line would still require a stake of £13.

When looking to place an alphabet bet make sure it is a bet you can afford.

How are the Odds and Returns Calculated?

Just like in other multiples, a line within an alphabet bet is calculated by multiplying the odds of the selections together. When multiplied together this will give the total that will be returned to the bettor.

If there are numerous winning selections within a bet, the totals of all of the winning lines will be added together to give you your overall winning total.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Placing Alphabet Bets

Just like every bet type, there are advantages and disadvantages to placing an alphabet bet.

Advantages

  • Big returns can be won
  • Can be used across multiple sports
  • The bet is hugely flexible
  • Only one selection is needed to win in order for some profits to be made

Disadvantages

  • Can be expensive
  • In reality at least four or five selections need to hit in order to turn a profit
  • Is a little difficult to understand in comparison to other multiples
  • Can be complex to follow and track if not everyone of your bets wins