Key Components of Systematic Parlays

Parlay System Bets

There are a multitude of systematic parlays that can be placed at live, online and mobile sportsbooks all over the world. Some of them, such as a Round Robin, are so common that they can be placed simply by adding 3 or more picks to a bet slip, then checking the box labeled “Round Robin”. Others are more complicated, and will need to be placed on an individual-bet basis by the bettor.

Please note that parlay betting systems do not change the ratio of risk to reward. You can place a bet with high risk and high reward, or a bet with low risk and low reward. Systems such as these are typically designed to impact both risk and reward factors evenly. They cannot guarantee a win (short of line shopping for unique hedging and arbitrage opportunities).

The parlay betting systems we’ll be covering in this document include:

Round Robin – 3-15 picks, 3-105 bets

A round robin is the most basic of all parlay bet systems. It requires a minimum of 3 picks, with the number of bets growing exponentially alongside the number of picks. The idea is to place a 2-leg parlay on all possible two-team combinations.

For example, the most basic 3-pick round robin will feature 3 bets in all, placed on 2-leg parlays as follows:

• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 2
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 3
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 2 and 3

The concept is that, by placing 2-leg bets on all combinations of the three picks, even if one team loses, you will still win one of your bets. That winning bet should have odds high enough to cover the three bets placed, with a small profit left over. And of course, if all three teams win, you make a much nicer profit.

This last chart shows how many bets you’ll need to place, based on the number of picks you’re making (up to 15). It also details the maximum profit (Max Profit) if all picks win, followed by the least number of picks you’ll need to win (Min-Wins) to secure the smallest possible profit (Min-Profit). The chart assumes $1 bets with all picks at odds of -110. Profits do not include return of original money bet.

Trixie Bet – 3 picks, 4 bets

A Trixie parlay is very similar to a round robin except for two major factors. First, it is not as versatile in the number of picks you can make. Its strict rules only support 3 picks being made. Second, on top of the three 2-leg parlays a round robin calls for, you’ll also be placing one standard parlay on all three picks to win.

For example, if your picks are Team 1, Team 2, and Team 3, your bet slip will have a total of 4 wagers, like so:

• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 2
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 3
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 4
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 2 and 3

The Problem: This is an absolute sucker bet. If you win all three picks, you’ll make a nice chunk of change. However, if just one of your teams loses, you can’t possibly make a profit. In a 3-pick round robin, one loss still grants you a profit of $0.64 per $1 wagered. In a Trixie bet, the loss of the 3-leg parlay results in an overall loss of money. Long story short – It’s not worth it, because one loss is a total loss.

Patent Parlay – 3 picks, 7 bets

The Patent parlay system is another 3-pick method that requires a total of 7 bets to be made. It includes all the same bets found in a Trixie, plus three additional single bets on each of the teams you’ve chosen to win.

With the picks of Team 1, Team 2, and Team 3, your bet slip will have a total of 7 wagers, like this:

• Single Bet on Team 1
• Single Be ton Team 2
• Single Bet on Team 3
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 2
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 3
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 2 and 3
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 2 and 3

This bet has greater potential than the Trixie bet, since losing just one pick will still result in a small profit.

Yankee Bet System – 4 picks, 11 bets

The Yankee is one of the more popular parlay betting systems. It calls for 11 bets across 4 picks. They include all six possible 2-leg parlay combinations, all four possible 3-leg parlay combination, plus one 4-leg parlay on all picks combined.

Example, with the picks of Team 1, Team 2, Team 3, and Team 4, your bet slip will have a total of 11 wagers, like so:

• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 2
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 3
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 4
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 2 and 3
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 2 and 4
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 3 and 4
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 2 and 3
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 2 and 4
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 3 and 4
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 2, 3 and 4
• 4-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 2, 3 and 4

Lucky 15 Bets – 4 picks, 15 bets

Placing a Lucky 15 allows for the selection of 4 picks, and requires – you guessed it – 15 bets. These will include a single bet for each pick (4), all possible 2-leg parlay combinations (6), all possible 3-leg combinations (4), and a 4-leg parlay on all picks (1).

Your bet slip will look something like this:

• Single Bet on Team 1
• Single Bet on Team 2
• Single Bet on Team 3
• Single Bet on Team 4
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 2
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 3
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 1 and 4
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 2 and 3
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 2 and 4
• 2-leg Parlay on Teams 3 and 4
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 2 and 3
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 2 and 4
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 3 and 4
• 3-leg Parlay on Teams 2, 3 and 4
• 4-leg Parlay on Teams 1, 2, 3 and 4

Canadian Parlay – 5 picks, 26 bets

If you’re not betting in $1 increments, things are going to start getting expensive from here on out. A Canadian is a 5-pick system that calls for 26 wagers. By now, you should have a good idea of how these systems work, so I’ll stop listing each bet individually at this point, and start listing them in groups, by bet type. The Canadian requires placing…

• 10 Bets on all possible 2-leg parlay combinations
• 10 Bets on all possible 3-leg parlay combinations
• 5 Bets on all possible 4-leg parlay combinations
• 1 Bet on 5-leg parlay combination

Lucky 31 Accumulator – 5 picks, 31 bets

A Lucky 31 is exactly the same as a Canadian, except that you’re placing an additional 5 bets on all the single teams in your rotation. The result is a total of 31 bets across 5 picks.

• 5 Single Bets; one on each team
• 10 Bets on all possible 2-leg parlay combinations
• 10 Bets on all possible 3-leg parlay combinations
• 5 Bets on all possible 4-leg parlay combinations
• 1 Bet on 5-leg parlay combination

Heinz Bet System – 6 picks, 57 bets

Things get even more complicated with the Heinz betting system, in which 57 bets are placed on 6 picks. (If you didn’t catch the pun, this one gets its name from “Heinz 57” sauce). It’s the same as a Canadian, with one extra pick in the mix. The bets include:

• 15 Bets on all possible 2-leg parlay combinations
• 20 Bets on all possible 3-leg parlay combinations
• 15 Bets on all possible 4-leg parlay combinations
• 6 Bets on all possible 5-leg parlay combinations
• 1 Bet on 6-leg parlay combination

Lucky 63 Betting – 6 picks, 63 bets

Making the Lucky 63 bet requires (of course) 63 bets across 6 picks. It is the same as the Heinz parlay system, but also includes a single bet on each of the 6 picks in the rotation. The total bets include:

• 6 Single Bets; one on each team
• 15 Bets on all possible 2-leg parlay combinations
• 20 Bets on all possible 3-leg parlay combinations
• 15 Bets on all possible 4-leg parlay combinations
• 6 Bets on all possible 5-leg parlay combinations
• 1 Bet on 6-leg parlay combination

Super Heinz System – 7 picks, 120 bets

As you may have guessed, the Super Heinz is an exact copy of the Heinz method, but with one more pick in the mix. The result is a 7-pick system with a whopping 120 bets to be placed. That one additional pick makes a huge difference in cost. The total bets include:

• 20 Bets on all possible 2-leg parlay combinations
• 35 Bets on all possible 3-leg parlay combinations
• 35 Bets on all possible 4-leg parlay combinations
• 21 Bets on all possible 5-leg parlay combinations
• 7 Bets on all possible 6-leg parlay combinations
• 1 Bet on 7-leg parlay combination

Goliath Parlay System Bets – 8 picks, 247 bets

Last but most certainly not least is the aptly nicknamed Goliath parlay bet. This is a “super sized” version of the “Super Heinz” method. It’s a big one, and a costly one at that. With 8 picks in the rotation, you’ll need to place a staggering 247 wagers; a minimum of $247, assuming you keep your bet size down to units of $1. The range of bets includes:

• 28 Bets on all possible 2-leg parlay combinations
• 56 Bets on all possible 3-leg parlay combinations
• 70 Bets on all possible 4-leg parlay combinations
• 56 Bets on all possible 5-leg parlay combinations
• 28 Bets on all possible 6-leg parlay combinations
• 8 Bets on all possible 7-leg parlay combinations
• 1 Bet on 7-leg parlay combination