In any betting situation, having a contingency if one selection doesn’t come in is a strong position for a punter to be in and If-Bets provide just that.

The basic premise of an If-Bet centres round a punter making two correct selections in any given betting scenario but should only one of the selections prove to be correct; the punter’s winnings are altered accordingly.

How If-Bets work:-
In its purest form, making an If-Bet is essentially making two straight bets on two outcomes but instead of betting on each individual outcome – If-Bets allow the punter to combine two outcomes together in one bet – at a cost of course. Instead of being able to collect any profits after a single win (as punters can do with straight betting) the bettor must wait on all of their results before being able to claim any potential earnings.

If-Bets Breakdown:
• If both bets win: Once the first selection wins, the funds are rolled over and wagered on the selection which maximises the winning potential for the punter.
• First bet wins, second bet loses: The winnings for the first selection are earnt (same as straight betting) whilst the second bet losing comes at the loss of just the initial stake.
• First bet loses, second bet wins: The obvious downfall of If-Bets. As the first bet has lost, the stake doesn’t carry over to bet number two – costing the punter any chance of a profit.
• When both bets lose: The wager and the stake are lost.

Here is our guide on how to place If-Bets intelligently:-

 Bet with a capable bank balance
The perils of If-Bets are there for all to see – if the first selection lets the bet down, punters are instantly up against it meaning losing an if-bet is somewhat of an inevitability from time to time. Punters muse factor this into any predictions and if funds are limited – straight betting may be the preferred method rather than If-Bets. On the other hand, having a healthy balance can enable punters to win big through If-Bets and gamble with the added security that not all will be lost if only one of the two selections are part of the bet lets the player down.

Pick the order in which the bets are placed carefully
If-Bets give punters the opportunity to bet on two sporting outcomes with the caveat that if only one lets them down – they won’t leave completely empty-handed. However, should the first bet let the If-Bet down, winnings will be hampered on the second bet as the wager and winnings aren’t carried over from the initial bet – impacting the potential to win through the second bet. So ordering the bets carefully (i.e. Best chance of winning in bet 1, more of an outside shout in bet 2) is the intelligent way to approach If-Betting.

 Don’t chase the big win through If-Bets
Most bookmakers offer If-Bet markets and they are a valuable tool for any punter’s armoury but the hostile nature of If-Bets can prove costly for players laying big stakes in order to win hefty sums and if one selection doesn’t come in – it can be costly. The If-Betting market appeals more to the experienced punters who are looking to keep profits rolling – with the security of being able to get their stake back if one team/player lets them down – rather than a more adventurous punter that is looking to win big off a smaller stake.