The If Bet is normally less risky than other types of bets, though it gives you the chance to win a substantial amount. As a safer alternative to other types of bets, the If Bet is just as appropriate for seasoned bettors as it is for newcomers.
Overview
The If Bet is basically a modified version of the straight bet that gives your more chances to win a considerable sum, while being less risky than parlay or tease bets. It’s straightforward: you place up to seven bets on the same ticket; the second bet has action only if the first is successful; the third if the second, the fourth if the third, and so on. In order words, if A wins then B has action. If B wins then C has action, etc. With the If Bet you run the risk of losing no more than the value of the first bet on the ticket – the remaining bets are bonuses.
Rules
Bookmakers feature If Bet tickets that allow for as many as seven individual bets.
Though the If Bet must be made before the game in the first individual bet begins, the bets themselves don’t have to be made in the same order as the events they wager on take place in reality.
All the placed bets that come after the first bet are based on the value of the first bet.
Variants
There are two types of If Bets offered by bookmakers around the world, namely the If Win and the If Action.
The If Win enables you to select the order of each individual bet, as long as the first bet on the ticket is placed. The bets that follow the first one are only placed when the bet before them is successful. Note that if any bet in the series is a tie or a loss all bets except the first one become invalid (no action).
The If Action also enables you to select the order of each individual bet, as long as the first bet on the ticket is placed. The difference is that the second, third etc. bets are placed even if the one before them is a push or no action. The second, third etc. bets become no action only when they lose.
Example
Let’s suppose that you make an If Bet on a ticket that allows you to make up to three bets (the first bet included). You decide to bet on the outcome of various Champions League group stage matches. The matches are as follows:
◦ Real Madrid – Lyon (first bet)
◦ Werder Bremen – Chelsea F.C. (second bet)
◦ Valencia – A.C. Milan (third bet)
You bet that Lyon, Chelsea F.C. and Valencia will win.
◦ If you play an If Win ticket, then Lyon must win its match before any other results are taken into consideration. Let’s suppose that Lyon indeed wins. Then Chelsea F.C must also win its match for the third bet to be placed. If Valencia wins too, then all your bets win and you get a payout that doesn’t cover only the winnings of the first bet, but also those of the second and third bet.
◦ The If Action ticket works in a similar way, just that starting from bet two onwards your team doesn’t have to win for the bet to win – a no action or push is enough.
