Accumulators and parlays

An accumulator is one stake through two or more names. Britain and Ireland say accumulator. North America says parlay. Same bet, different hat. Every name must win. One loser and the ticket is paper. That is the entire trick, and it is why a three-fold looks clever in the queue and quiet in the car park.

Worked double. 5/2 and 6/4, £10. 5/2 is 3.50. 6/4 is 2.50. 10 × 3.50 × 2.50 = £87.50 returned. Profit £77.50. Add a 2.10 third leg and the same tenner returns 10 × 3.50 × 2.50 × 2.10 = £183.75. That third name is why the Saturday coupon looks like a pension until 4.55pm. It is also why the coupon is a comedian. One name at 6/4 that finishes second, and the £183.75 was a font.

Put the prices in the accumulator sheet. Add legs up to 100 if you must. The sheet does not care if the names are matches, horses or fights. It multiplies. You still have to be right about every name. A hundred legs is not a strategy. It is a column of hats.

If you want something left when one name is beaten, that is not an accumulator. That is a full cover— Trixie, Lucky 15, Yankee. Separate article. Separate sheet. The cover pays you for the combinations that still stand. The acca does not. Do not ask this desk to pretend those are the same Saturday.