Most bettors start with singles and accumulators. But UKGC-licensed bookmakers offer dozens of structured bet types — from the Trixie to the Goliath — that combine multiple selections in specific ways to give you some return even when not every selection wins.
This guide explains every major bet type available at UK bookmakers: what it consists of, how many bets your unit stake is multiplied by, the minimum number of winners needed for any return, and when each type is genuinely worth using.
Quick Reference: All Bet Types at a Glance
| Bet Name | Selections | Total Bets | Min. Winners for Any Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Double | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Treble | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Trixie | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Patent | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| Four-Fold | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| Yankee | 4 | 11 | 2 |
| Lucky 15 | 4 | 15 | 1 |
| Canadian / Super Yankee | 5 | 26 | 2 |
| Lucky 31 | 5 | 31 | 1 |
| Heinz | 6 | 57 | 2 |
| Lucky 63 | 6 | 63 | 1 |
| Super Heinz | 7 | 120 | 2 |
| Goliath | 8 | 247 | 2 |
Single Bets and Accumulators
Single
One bet, one selection. If your selection wins, you win. If it loses, you lose your stake.
The single is the foundation of all betting and the most transparent bet type available. Your return is simply: stake × odds.
When to use it: Whenever you have a specific view on one outcome and want the clearest possible expression of that view. Singles also allow for the most precise staking — you control exactly how much is at risk on each selection independently.
Double
One bet combining two selections in different events. Both must win for the bet to pay out. The return from the first selection rolls into the second — your winnings are: stake × odds of selection 1 × odds of selection 2.
Example: £10 on Arsenal to win (2.00) and Liverpool to win (1.80). Return if both win: £10 × 2.00 × 1.80 = £36 (£26 profit)
When to use it: When you want the multiplied return of combining two selections but accept that either losing means the entire bet loses. The double offers better odds than two separate singles but no partial return if one selection fails.
Treble
One bet combining three selections in different events. All three must win. Returns multiply across all three: stake × odds 1 × odds 2 × odds 3.
The same logic as a double, extended to three selections. One losing selection voids the entire bet with no return.
Four-Fold Accumulator (and Beyond)
Any accumulator with four or more selections. All selections must win for any return. Each additional selection multiplies the potential return but also increases the number of ways the bet can lose.
The mathematics of accumulators: Adding one more 2.00 selection to an accumulator doubles the potential return but also halves the probability of winning. The bookmaker’s margin is taken on every leg, which compounds as legs are added. A five-leg accumulator where each leg has a 5% bookmaker margin has approximately a 23% combined margin built in — significantly more than any single bet.
Accumulators and value: Accumulators can be entertaining and occasionally produce large returns from small stakes, but the compounding margin means they are mathematically less efficient than an equivalent series of single bets. The primary reason to use them is the appeal of a large return from a small stake — which is a legitimate reason, provided you understand the odds.
Multiple Bets: Combinations With More Than One Unit Stake
The following bet types all involve multiple individual bets placed simultaneously. Your stated unit stake is multiplied by the number of bets in the structure. A £1 Patent, for example, costs £7 total — £1 per bet × 7 bets.
The key advantage over pure accumulators: because these structures include lower-level combinations (doubles, singles), you can receive some return even when not all selections win.
Trixie
3 selections | 4 bets | Minimum 2 winners for any return
Composition: 3 doubles + 1 treble
A Trixie covers all possible combinations from three selections, excluding singles. If two selections win, at least one of your three doubles pays out. If all three win, the treble also pays.
Cost: £1 unit stake × 4 bets = £4 total
Worked example: Three selections at odds of 2.00, 3.00, and 2.50.
If selections 1 and 2 win only:
- Double 1–2: £1 × 2.00 × 3.00 = £6
If all three win:
- Double 1–2: £6
- Double 1–3: £1 × 2.00 × 2.50 = £5
- Double 2–3: £1 × 3.00 × 2.50 = £7.50
- Treble 1–2–3: £1 × 2.00 × 3.00 × 2.50 = £15
- Total return: £33.50 on a £4 stake
When to use it: When you have three strong selections but want some insurance against one failing. The Trixie costs one more bet than a treble but gives you three chances for at least a partial return.
Patent
3 selections | 7 bets | Minimum 1 winner for any return
Composition: 3 singles + 3 doubles + 1 treble
The Patent covers everything the Trixie does, plus three individual singles — meaning even a single winner returns something. It is the most protective three-selection bet.
Cost: £1 unit stake × 7 bets = £7 total
When to use it: When you want coverage from three selections but cannot afford to rely on at least two winning. Common in horse racing where a single winner at long odds can return a profit even on the full seven-bet cost.
Patent vs. Trixie: The Patent costs nearly double the Trixie for the same three selections. The additional cost buys you returns from a single winner — worth paying if your selections include longer-priced horses where one large-odds winner could cover the bet cost. Less worthwhile if all three selections are short-priced favourites.
Yankee
4 selections | 11 bets | Minimum 2 winners for any return
Composition: 6 doubles + 4 trebles + 1 four-fold
The Yankee is one of the most popular structured bet types at UK bookmakers, particularly for horse racing. It covers all combinations of doubles, trebles, and a four-fold from four selections — but includes no singles, so at least two selections must win for any return.
Cost: £1 unit stake × 11 bets = £11 total
When to use it: Four selections where you are confident at least two will win. The Yankee produces significant returns if three or four selections win, especially at longer odds. The lack of singles means a single winner returns nothing — factor this into your selection strategy.
Lucky 15
4 selections | 15 bets | Minimum 1 winner for any return
Composition: 4 singles + 6 doubles + 4 trebles + 1 four-fold
The Lucky 15 is the Yankee plus four singles — the same four selections covered at every combination level. One winner guarantees at least a small return.
Cost: £1 unit stake × 15 bets = £15 total
Bookmaker bonuses on Lucky 15: Many UK bookmakers offer bonus payouts on Lucky 15 bets — for example, double odds on a single winner, or a percentage bonus if all four selections win. Check your bookmaker’s Lucky 15 bonus terms before placing, as these can meaningfully improve expected returns.
Lucky 15 vs. Yankee: The Lucky 15 costs £4 more than the Yankee for the same four selections. In return, you receive coverage from a single winner. Whether this is worth the extra cost depends on the odds — at longer prices, a single winner can return more than the £4 additional cost; at shorter prices, it may not.
Canadian (Super Yankee)
5 selections | 26 bets | Minimum 2 winners for any return
Composition: 10 doubles + 10 trebles + 5 four-folds + 1 five-fold
The Canadian — sometimes called a Super Yankee — extends the Yankee structure to five selections. No singles, so two winners are needed for any return. Five winning selections delivers the maximum return including the five-fold accumulator.
Cost: £1 unit stake × 26 bets = £26 total
When to use it: Five selections where you believe at least two or three will win. The Canadian is particularly popular for football accumulator-style betting where the five-fold provides a large headline return alongside the insurance of partial returns from doubles and trebles.
Lucky 31
5 selections | 31 bets | Minimum 1 winner for any return
Composition: 5 singles + 10 doubles + 10 trebles + 5 four-folds + 1 five-fold
The Lucky 31 adds five singles to the Canadian, providing single-winner coverage. Like the Lucky 15, many bookmakers offer bonus payouts for single winners or all-five winners.
Cost: £1 unit stake × 31 bets = £31 total
Heinz
6 selections | 57 bets | Minimum 2 winners for any return
Composition: 15 doubles + 20 trebles + 15 four-folds + 6 five-folds + 1 six-fold
Named after the Heinz “57 Varieties” brand. Six selections, no singles — at least two must win for any return. With all six winning, the full combination of every double, treble, and multiple pays out.
Cost: £1 unit stake × 57 bets = £57 total
Practical note: At £57 for a £1 unit stake, the Heinz is a significant financial commitment for what may produce modest returns if only two or three selections win. Consider whether a Trixie or Yankee from your three or four strongest selections would be more efficient.
Lucky 63
6 selections | 63 bets | Minimum 1 winner for any return
Composition: 6 singles + 15 doubles + 20 trebles + 15 four-folds + 6 five-folds + 1 six-fold
The Lucky 63 adds six singles to the Heinz, providing single-winner coverage. As with the Lucky 15 and Lucky 31, look for bookmaker bonus offers on Lucky 63 bets.
Cost: £1 unit stake × 63 bets = £63 total
Super Heinz
7 selections | 120 bets | Minimum 2 winners for any return
Composition: 21 doubles + 35 trebles + 35 four-folds + 21 five-folds + 7 six-folds + 1 seven-fold
Cost: £1 unit stake × 120 bets = £120 total
At this level, the total stake is substantial for relatively modest unit stakes. A 10p Super Heinz costs £12 — still meaningful. The Super Heinz is most commonly placed in horse racing where the potential return from seven winning longer-priced selections justifies the total cost.
Goliath
8 selections | 247 bets | Minimum 2 winners for any return
Composition: 28 doubles + 56 trebles + 70 four-folds + 56 five-folds + 28 six-folds + 8 seven-folds + 1 eight-fold
The largest standard named bet type. A £1 unit stake Goliath costs £247 total. Even at 10p per bet, the total cost is £24.70.
When the Goliath makes sense: In theory, when you have eight selections with genuine confidence across the board and want to capture every possible combination of returns. In practice, the sheer cost means most Goliath bets are placed at very low unit stakes (5p–10p) for the entertainment of potential large returns, particularly in themed betting events like Cheltenham Festival each-way Goliaths.
Be clear on your total stake before placing. A Goliath at 50p per bet costs £123.50 total — significantly more than many bettors realise when they see “50p Goliath” on their bet slip.
Permutation (Perm) Betting
A permutation bet — often called a “perm” — allows you to select a specific combination type from a larger pool of selections without covering every possible combination.
Examples:
- Doubles perm from 5 selections: Instead of placing all 26 bets in a Canadian, you bet only on the 10 doubles. You receive a return if any two selections win.
- Trebles perm from 6 selections: From six selections, bet only on the 20 possible trebles rather than the full 57-bet Heinz.
- Any-2 from 4 selections: Back whichever two of your four selections win, without specifying which two in advance. This covers all 6 doubles from 4 selections.
Why use a perm? It allows you to target the combination level you are most confident about — if you believe two or three selections from a group of five will win but you are not confident about four or five winning — without paying for the full bet type structure.
Cost calculation: A perm bet costs: unit stake × number of combinations in the perm. A 10-double perm from five selections at £1 per bet costs £10.
How to Calculate Your Total Stake
The most common cause of surprise at the betting window or checkout is not knowing the total stake before placing.
Total stake = unit stake × number of bets in the bet type
| Bet Type | Bets | £1/bet total | 50p/bet total | 10p/bet total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patent | 7 | £7 | £3.50 | £0.70 |
| Trixie | 4 | £4 | £2.00 | £0.40 |
| Lucky 15 | 15 | £15 | £7.50 | £1.50 |
| Yankee | 11 | £11 | £5.50 | £1.10 |
| Lucky 31 | 31 | £31 | £15.50 | £3.10 |
| Canadian | 26 | £26 | £13.00 | £2.60 |
| Lucky 63 | 63 | £63 | £31.50 | £6.30 |
| Heinz | 57 | £57 | £28.50 | £5.70 |
| Super Heinz | 120 | £120 | £60.00 | £12.00 |
| Goliath | 247 | £247 | £123.50 | £24.70 |
Always verify the total stake shown on your bet slip before confirming. The potential return displayed is the maximum possible return — achieved only if every single selection wins.
Choosing the Right Bet Type
For two strong selections: A double is straightforward and efficient. Both must win.
For three selections with moderate confidence: A Trixie gives partial returns from two winners without the cost of singles. A Patent adds single coverage at higher total cost — worth it at longer prices.
For four selections in horse racing: The Lucky 15 is widely popular, particularly with bookmaker bonus offers. The Yankee is more efficient if you are confident at least two will win.
For five or more selections: Consider whether the total stake is proportionate to your bankroll. A £1 per bet Lucky 63 costs £63 — the same money could place 63 individual singles with complete flexibility over which events you back.
The general principle: The more bets in the structure, the higher the total cost, and the more winners you typically need to profit overall. Larger bet structures are most cost-efficient when you have genuine confidence across most selections and longer prices where partial returns from doubles and trebles cover or exceed the total stake.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest multiple bet type?
The Double (1 bet) and Trixie (4 bets) are the most economical multiple bet types. For coverage from a single winner, the Patent (7 bets from 3 selections) is the lowest-cost option.
What is the difference between a Lucky 15 and a Yankee?
Both use four selections. The Yankee has 11 bets (no singles) — at least two selections must win for any return. The Lucky 15 has 15 bets (includes four singles) — one winner produces some return. The Lucky 15 costs £4 more per unit stake than the Yankee.
Do all selections have to be in different events?
For the accumulator component (doubles, trebles, four-folds) to be valid, selections must be in different events. You cannot include the same event twice in a double. Singles within a Patent or Lucky 15 can technically be from any event but must be independent outcomes.
What does “unit stake” mean?
The unit stake is the amount you wager on each individual bet within the structure. A £1 unit stake on a Yankee means £1 per each of the 11 bets, totalling £11. Bookmakers allow very low unit stakes on large structures — 10p or even 5p per bet — which keeps the total cost manageable while preserving the combined return potential.
Can I include each way selections in named bet types?
Yes. Each way selections in a named bet type double the total stake — each bet within the structure becomes two bets (win and place). A £1 each way Lucky 15 costs £30 total (15 win bets + 15 place bets at £1 each). Each way named bets are popular in horse racing where place returns can partially cover the cost of losing win selections.
What happens if one selection is void in a multiple bet?
If a selection is void (non-runner in horse racing, abandoned match, etc.) it is typically removed from the multiple and the remaining selections form the bet. A four-fold accumulator with one void becomes a treble. A Yankee with one void becomes a Trixie. This applies automatically at most UKGC-licensed bookmakers — confirm your operator’s specific rules.
Sources: UK Gambling Commission; Tattersalls Rules on Betting; independent bookmaker terms and conditions. All external links verified as of March 2026.