Betting on three teams or horses with a standard parlay is unforgiving: one losing leg kills the entire ticket. Trixie and Patent bets spread the stake across multiple combinations of the same three selections.
With a Trixie, two winners from three can still return money. With a Patent, even one winning selection can return something because singles are included.
In the United States, similar structures are often described as Round Robin bets. The exact sportsbook label can vary, so always check whether singles, doubles, and trebles are included before placing the bet.
Trixie & Patent Bet Calculator
Calculate 3-selection system returns with win, place, lost, and void outcomes.
| Selection | Win odds | Place odds | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | |||
| B | |||
| C |
Understanding the Systems
Both systems use 3 selections. The difference is whether single bets are included.
Trixie: 4 Bets
A Trixie consists of 3 doubles and 1 treble. It does not include singles.
- Total stake: 4 × unit stake, or 8 × unit stake each-way.
- Minimum for a return: 2 winners.
- Best suited to: three selections where you expect at least two to win.
Patent: 7 Bets
A Patent is a full-cover version of a Trixie. It includes everything in a Trixie plus 3 singles.
- Total stake: 7 × unit stake, or 14 × unit stake each-way.
- Minimum for a return: 1 winner.
- Best suited to: higher-odds selections where singles can offset part of the total cost.
Worked Example: Trixie
You pick three football matches, each priced at 3.00. Your unit stake is $10.
- Total cost: $40, because a Trixie has 4 lines.
- If 2 selections win: one double pays $10 × 3.00 × 3.00 = $90. Profit = $50.
- If all 3 win: three doubles return $270 total, and the treble returns $270. Total return = $540. Profit = $500.
- If only 1 wins: no return, because a Trixie has no singles.
A standard $10 treble at 3.00 × 3.00 × 3.00 would return $270 if all three win, but it loses if any one leg fails. A Trixie costs more because it adds the three doubles around the treble.
Worked Example: Patent
You back three horses at 8.00 each in a Patent with a $5 unit stake. Total cost is $35.
- If only 1 wins: the single returns $5 × 8.00 = $40. Profit = $5.
- If 2 win: singles return $80, and one double returns $320. Total return = $400. Profit = $365.
- If 3 win: singles, doubles, and treble all return. Total return = $3,640. Profit = $3,605.
The Patent’s singles make it more forgiving than a Trixie, but the total stake is higher. At low odds, the singles may not be enough to justify the extra cost.
Each-Way Trixies and Patents
For UK and Ireland horse racing, Trixies and Patents are often placed each-way. Each-way betting doubles the number of lines because every line has a win part and a place part.
- Each-way Trixie: 8 total lines — 4 win lines and 4 place lines.
- Each-way Patent: 14 total lines — 7 win lines and 7 place lines.
The place odds are calculated from the win odds using the bookmaker’s place fraction:
Place Odds = 1 + ((Win Odds – 1) × Place Fraction)
For example, a horse at 6.00 with 1/5 place terms has place odds of 2.00.
Trixie & Patent vs Other Full-Cover Bets
| Bet | Selections | Bets | Includes singles? | Minimum for return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trixie | 3 | 4 | No | 2 winners |
| Patent | 3 | 7 | Yes | 1 winner |
| Yankee | 4 | 11 | No | 2 winners |
| Lucky 15 | 4 | 15 | Yes | 1 winner |
| Heinz | 6 | 57 | No | 2 winners |
| Lucky 63 | 6 | 63 | Yes | 1 winner |
When to Use Trixie vs Patent
- Choose a Trixie when: you want lower total cost and expect at least two selections to win.
- Choose a Patent when: you want single-bet coverage and your selections are priced high enough for singles to matter.
- Use each-way versions when: you are betting on racing selections where a placed finish can still return part of the ticket.
Calculator Limitations
- The calculator handles void selections by refunding affected lines, but it does not apply Rule 4 deductions.
- Dead-heat reductions are not modeled.
- Bookmaker bonuses are not included.
- Enhanced place terms, extra-place promotions, and money-back offers are not modeled.
- Figures are gross returns at the entered odds before tax, bookmaker-specific adjustments, or promotional terms.
Related Tools
For other system bets, see the Parlay & Accumulator Calculator, Heinz Bet Calculator, and Lucky 31 / Lucky 63 Calculator. To remove margin from underlying prices, use the No-Vig Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use a Patent instead of a Trixie?
Use a Patent when you want single-bet coverage and your selections are priced high enough that one winner can return a meaningful amount. A Trixie is cheaper but needs at least two winners to return anything.
What is a Round Robin and is it the same as a Trixie or Patent?
Round Robin is a common US term for combination betting. Depending on sportsbook settings, a three-selection round robin can resemble a Trixie or Patent, but the exact included lines should always be checked.
How does each-way work in a Trixie or Patent?
Each-way doubles the number of lines. Each line has a win part and a place part. The place part uses reduced odds based on the bookmaker’s place fraction, such as 1/4 or 1/5.
What happens if one of my selections is void?
Lines containing the void selection are normally refunded, while lines that do not include the void selection remain active. Bookmaker-specific rules and Rule 4 deductions can still affect final settlement.
What is the difference between a Trixie and a treble?
A treble is one bet that needs all three selections to win. A Trixie includes the treble plus three doubles, so it can still return money if exactly two selections win.
Is a Patent the same as three singles plus a Trixie?
Mathematically, yes. A Patent contains three singles, three doubles, and one treble, which is the same line structure as three singles plus a Trixie.
Responsible gambling notice: System bets reduce the probability of a total wipeout compared with a single accumulator, but they also increase the total stake exposed. The bookmaker margin applies across multiple lines. Treat these bets as entertainment, not as a way to guarantee returns.