Trixie Bet Explained

Last updated: by Leon Marshal

A Trixie bet is one of the most popular wagers in horse racing, but it can be used in various other sports, including football. The wager includes four bets on three different selections. It consists of three doubles and one treble.

Best Bookies for Trixie Bets

The table below includes a few of our top recommendations for trixie bets. All the online bookmakers on our site are safe, licensed and regulated.

The Top 3 Bookies for Trixie Bets
BookmakerWelcome BonusHighlightsRatingVisit BookmakerT&C
£50Markets: 98 Bet Types: 41 Odds Levels: 93.75%5.0 out of 5Full T&Cs apply. New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.
Get £30Markets: 101 Bet Types: 39 Odds Levels: 93.75%4.9 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! For new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. 18+ Begambleaware.org
£50Markets: 89 Bet Types: 32 Odds Levels: 93.04%4.8 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+

What is a Trixie Bet? – Detailed Explanation

A Trixie bet is a type of system bet. It combines several bets in one. Specifically, it contains four bets across three selections in separate events. In this bet, you have three doubles and a treble. If you have ever bet on an accumulator, then you can grasp how it works. Unlike with an accumulator bet, this system doesn’t require all the selections to win for you to get a return. Winning on two of the bets earns you profit.

  • Three Doubles: A double is a bet on two outcomes in different events. All selections must win for the bet to return a profit. In a Trixie, you have three different combinations of doubles from the three selections.
  • One Treble: A treble is similar to a double but involves three selections. All three must win for the treble to pay out.
  • Not All Need to Win: Even if one selection fails, one or two of the doubles can still win, giving you a partial return on your bet.

Due to its structure, this bet does not qualify as a full cover bet. Why is that? Well, the wager provides insurance in the event that your treble bet is not successful. Therefore, it is a cover bet. However, it does not include singles. In this respect, a Trixie bet is different from a patent bet. Full cover bets consist of single wagers. Another critical note about these wagers is they don’t allow betting on multiple outcomes in the same event. For example, you can’t stake money on the first team to score and the number of corners in the same game. Additionally, you can’t wager on events in different sports.


How Does a Trixie Bet Work?

The above description should have given you a clue of what happens when you’re using the system. However, if you are still unclear about how the wager works, then this section clarifies further. A Trixie bet explained simply is four bets combined into one. In other words, using this system, you have to multiply the amount you decide to spend on one stake by four.

If someone wagers £5 using the system, for example, then the full amount will be £20 (£5×4). Let’s take a theoretical bet where you wish to back outcomes A, B and C. In this instance, you will have the first wager as A and B, the second one as A and C, the third as B and C and the fourth as A, B and C coming true.

So, how do you play a Trixie bet? Once you understand how the bet works, the rest is easy. First, you need to choose from one of the best betting sites. Punters have more than enough sportsbooks to select from. After opening an account, decide the events on which you wish to wager. They work for just about any sport. Remember to check the odds to ensure that you are getting the best value. Then, proceed to choose a betting market then add three selections to your ticket. Enter your stake and confirm the bet.


How to Win With a Trixie Bet?

You need a winning double to get a return from a Trixie bet. Therefore, two of the outcomes that you backed must come back as true. Still using the same example as above, here is what to expect:

  • If all your picks fail, then you lose the entire stake.
  • If one of the bets is successful, then you lose the whole stake.
  • If two predicted events turn out to be true, then you win on one of the doubles. The return could be smaller or bigger than the initial wager.
  • If all three bets succeed, then you win on the doubles and trebles, which guarantees a profit.

When making these bets, you cannot afford to lose more than one of the selections because the wager does not let you cover single bets.


Is a Trixie a Good Bet?

Punters should consider Trixie betting when looking to spread liability across multiple picks. If you are sure about two outcomes in a match but are wary about the risk of the third one, then this system would make sense. Even when one of your selections doesn’t succeed, the bet still delivers returns. Another reason these wagers are good options is that they have excellent return potential. If you stake a decent amount, then you can expect a healthy profit if you win. However, the bet accommodates low stakes. A punter can place as little as 50p on one pick, meaning that the entire stake would cost £2.

When deciding if this is the best system for you, consider the profit margins. If you only end up with a winning double, will the returns be favourable? For a proper assessment, you need to define your risk tolerance as well because it requires you to place four times the stake of one bet. Therefore, you should ask yourself if you are fine with losing the entire amount in case your backed outcomes don’t turn out well.

A Trixie is ideal if the three picks that you intend to back have short odds that would not generate much profit if you wagered in single bets. Therefore, you get to increase your potential wins by boosting your gambling power. Before using it in a certain scenario, punters should take the time to compare its value against other combination bets using a calculator.


Trixie Bets in Horse Racing

A jockey rides a horse around a dirt track. A Trixie is one of the common bets in horse racing. It would be suitable if you intend to stake money on different horses in separate events. Say these are the three horses – Shergar, Roger Rabbit and Carlitos. Rather than back the horses individually, you can opt to combine your bet, thereby multiplying your odds. So, from what you have learned about the system, the four bets would look like this; for the doubles, you would have, Shergar and Roger Rabbit to win, Shergar and Carlitos to win, Roger Rabbit and Carlitos to win. Then, Shergar, Roger Rabbit and Carlitos to win as the treble.

In horse racing betting, a win-only bet is suitable if the selections have short prices. Usually, a win-bet is the best if the odds are 2/1 or less. However, if the above horses have longer prices, then an each-way Trixie would be more practical.

Trixie Bet Example

If you want to bet a Trixie but still have some questions about using a calculator, then the following example should help:

In three horse races, we bet £5 per selection for Shergar to win at odds of 5/6, Roger Rabbit at 16/5 and Carlitos at 11/5. If all the outcomes are true, then the wager would pay the maximum of £257.89. So, considering we staked £20 (£5 x 4 bets), we have made a profit of £237.89. However, if Shergar finished second, then it would mean only two of our picks are correct. In that case, the winning combination would fetch 5 x 4.20 (16/5) x 3.20 (11/5) = £67.20.

Use an online bet calculator to see the potential returns before making the bet. When you know what you stand to gain, you can decide if this type of bet is the most suitable.


Our Conclusion to Trixie Betting

If you started reading this guide wondering, how does a Trixie bet work? Then by now, you should have more than a faint idea. Any punter who wants to wager a Trixie can do so without too many problems. This online bet is uncomplicated once you comprehend the combination and the winning options. You should also be clear about the most appropriate scenarios to use the system. Also, know when to pick a win-bet and when to consider betting each way. As with any other wager, do your homework and use a calculator to ensure that you make informed selections to add to the combination.


FAQs to Trixie Betting

What is a better bet - Trixie or Patent?

Many punters, especially beginners, confuse a Trixie bet and patent bet because they are both combination wagers. However, there is a slight difference. While a Patent bet wager also includes a trio of double bets and a treble bet, it contains singles on all the selections, as well. So, in total it consists of seven wagers - three doubles, three singles and a treble. Whether a patent or Trixie is the best option varies across scenarios. A Patent would be more suitable if the odds of your selections are large enough to make the return from a single bet worth it. So, if you need a full cover bet, pick a Patent over a Trixie. Here is a more detailed overview of the two different systems.

How much does a Trixie bet cost?

A Trixie bet costs four times the stake you place on a selection. All the wagers in a Trixie are equal. So, the total amount of the wager depends on the cost of one bet. For example, if you choose to bet £3, the entire stake will be £12 (£3 x 4). However, if you are betting on an each-way Trixie, then the entire stake will be double that. Like in a traditional bet, an each-way wager is twice the cost of a straight one.

How many bets are in a Trixie?

Trixies consist of four bets on three. When you want to wager on at least three selections, a Trixie is one of the combination bets to consider. It is made up of three double bets and a treble. For a Trixie bet to bring a decent return, you need at least two winning selections.

Is a Trixie a good bet?

In the right circumstances, a Trixie is a good bet. If you are confident about the winning chances of particular selections, then putting them in a Trixie could work out well. This wager is perfect when you need to hedge your bets. Even if one of your choices doesn’t turn out how you expected, you don’t lose the whole stake. If all of your picks are successful, then a Trixie bet can be extremely lucrative.