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It would be great to be able to pick out a winner in every horse race we bet on, but the reality is that this simply isn\u2019t possible \u2013 there are many instances where we need to hedge our literal bets.<\/p>\nIt would be great to be able to pick out a winner in every horse race we bet on, but the reality is that this simply isn\u2019t possible \u2013 there are many instances where we need to hedge our literal bets.<\/p>\n
Sometimes we might think an outsider is the best value on a racecard, but aren\u2019t necessarily convinced they will win.<\/p>\n
In both of these scenarios, each way betting is an essential weapon in the armoury, and understanding the ins and outs of E\/W bets will leave you better equipped to tackle the challenge of betting on the horses.<\/p>\n
There are two things that tend to confuse individuals when it comes to each way betting \u2013 the place odds and the number of places paid.<\/p>\n
So, in this article, we thought we\u2019d offer a beginner\u2019s guide on everything you need to know about hitting the places with your E\/W bets.<\/p>\n
Clearly, the object of the connections of any racehorse is to win each and every renewal that they enter, but clearly this isn\u2019t possible \u2013 unless the horse is a freak of nature like Frankel, of course, who was unbeaten over the course of his fourteen race career.<\/p>\n
What the places in horse racing allow for is connections to earn prize money even when their entry doesn\u2019t win, and punters share this same benefit too, because bookies will pay out on place bets or each way bets if your horse finishes in one of the top spots.<\/p>\n
Each race has a specified number of places paid \u2013 this is largely determined by the number of runners in a field. You will see it displayed on the racecard provided by your bookmaker \u2013 either on the sheets provided in your local betting shop, or on the website\/app of the bookie in question.<\/p>\n
![\"Each](\"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/each-way-odds-on-racecard-765px.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Here, we have the head of the market for the Punchestown Gold Cup, and highlighted in red we can see:<\/p>\n
So, we know that if our horse finishes second or third, we will be paid out at 1\/5 of their odds.<\/p>\n
While it\u2019s not an exact science, for reasons we will detail in the next section, there is a general rule of which confirms how many places will be paid \u2013 and the place terms \u2013 based upon the number of horses in the race.<\/p>\n
You can use the following as a reliable guide:<\/p>\n
| No. of Horses<\/th>\n | Places Paid<\/th>\n | Place Odds<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4<\/td>\n | win only<\/td>\n | n\/a<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| 5 to 7<\/td>\n | 2<\/td>\n | 1\/4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| 8 to 11<\/td>\n | 3<\/td>\n | 1\/5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| 12 to 15<\/td>\n | 3<\/td>\n | 1\/4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| 16+<\/td>\n | 4<\/td>\n | 1\/4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n There\u2019s a couple of caveats to note here. In handicap races, you will enjoy the 1\/4 odds displayed for races of eight or more runners. But in non-handicap races of 8+ entries, you will revert back to the 1\/5 terms instead.<\/p>\n When Do Bookmakers Pay More Places?<\/h3>\n![\"Extra](\"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/extra-place-offer-765px.jpg\") There are some instances in which the general rule of thumb over each way places\/odds gets cast aside.<\/p>\n It usually happens with the big races, where the bookmakers \u2013 seeking as much traffic as they can get their hands on \u2013 will publicise enhanced offers of five, six or even seven places for major renewals like the Grand National.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also find these days that many books offer advanced each way terms at the expense of shorter odds \u2013 these are promos often with names like \u2018each way extra\u2019 or \u2018each way edge\u2019. Punters can increase the number of places at their disposal while accepting less-generous odds, so the chances of a result are higher but the payout is smaller\u2026 finding the sweet spot between the two is usually the key to value betting.<\/p>\n Each Way Betting vs To Be Placed<\/h2>\n
First, let\u2019s have a reminder of how each way bets are calculated. You have \u00a310 in hand and want to bet on Clan Des Obeaux in the Punchestown Gold Cup.<\/p>\n So, you take him \u00a35 each way \u2013 a fiver of that goes to the win portion, the other fiver to the place market \u2013 at odds of 7\/1.<\/p>\n The place terms in the nine-horse race are 1-2-3 and 1\/5, and so we can calculate our potential returns as follows:<\/p>\n
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Most bookies offer you the option to bet on the \u2018to be placed\u2019 market alongside their traditional each way offering. But which is the most sound option financially?<\/p>\n