To Flex or Not to FlexAs Hamlet didn't say, that is the question.I've just completed an article for Practical Punting Monthly and while I was researching it I had a sort of change of heart. I was playing with the "flexi" concept, in which the investor can place an amount which is a fraction of a dollar, right down to one cent, on each of a number of combinations. That is to say, he takes a "spread".I've tended to think it all a bit wishy-washy, but I was doing the maths prior
To Flex or Not to Flex
As Hamlet didn't say, that is the question.
I've just completed an article for Practical Punting Monthly and while I was researching it I had a sort of change of heart. I was playing with the "flexi" concept, in which the investor can place an amount which is a fraction of a dollar, right down to one cent, on each of a number of combinations. That is to say, he takes a "spread".
I've tended to think it all a bit wishy-washy, but I was doing the maths prior to the article's completion, and I realised that what I had planned to write didn't hold up.
For the average punter, the opportunity to crack a big one is only available via two sources: the flexi bet and your fairy godmother.
The former is a better bet.
Say you want to try for the Big 6 (six winners in six predetermined races... forget the consolation for picking five as it's a pathetic pay).
OK, you are prepared to have $30 or $40 on the Big 6, and treat it as Lotto.
If you have two in each leg you can bet a 50 cent unit for $32.
I'll back myself to get a couple of legs in, but after that no confidence at all.
But give me, say, FOUR chances in each leg.
That's $4000 and a bit for the dollar.
But for a ten cent share it's $40.
A Big 6 often pays $500,000 and more.
Ten per cent of that is $50,000!
And maybe FIVE in each leg?
Fifteen grand.
But for FIVE cents it's $781. A bit rich for most.
So I turned to the Quadrella and wondered about FIVE in each leg.
Five cents' worth is $31.
A quaddie paid $25,000 the other day at a metropolitan meeting.
Five cents' worth of that would be $1250. Nice?
They rarely, if ever, pay less than several hundred dollars,
You need a pay of $640 to cut square. After that you're in profit.
With the chance of thousands.
A lot for a little.
Worth pondering? I think so. I didn't, but I do now.
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