What is a Yankee Bet?
Below you'll find the Yankee bet explained neatly, so you can make an informed decision on whether or not it is right for your punting needs.
What is a Yankee Bet? - Yankee Bet Explained
The 'Yankee' bet type is made up from four selections, with 11 individual bets across those chosen picks. In this bet, you will have six doubles, four trebles and one four-fold accumulator, meaning the bettor requires a minimum of two winning selections to gain a return.
The Yankee bet is often referred to as a 'full cover bet' because it covers all possible multiple combinations of your selections (except singles).
The Composition of a Yankee Bet
A Yankee bet is a multiple bet where you combine 11 different wagers into one. You make four selections and create combinations between them to craft all of those individual bets.
Using your four selections, the Yankee bet creates 11 unique bet as follow:
- 6 Doubles: (Bet 1: A+B, Bet 2: A+C, etc.)
- 4 Trebles: (Bet 1: A+B+C, etc.)
- 1 Four-Fold Accumulator: (A+B+C+D)
As a Yankee constitutes 11 unique bets, it is important to note that you should multiply your stake by 11, so a £1 Yankee effectively will cost £11, as your unit stake is repeated on all 11 individual bets.
How a Yankee Bet Works: An Example
Let's imagine a horse racing Yankee bet, where you back four horses (described below in fictional terms). For the bet to generate any return, at least two of the selections must win (which would complete one of the double bets).
- Lucky Boy to win @ 3/1
- Gemini to win @ 2/1
- King Kong to win @ 8/1
- Oscar's Elite to win @ 4/1
With this fictional Yankee, you are betting on the following 11 outcomes.
- Lucky Boy + Gemini to Win
- Lucky Boy + King Kong to Win
- Lucky Boy + Oscar's Elite to Win
- Gemini + King Kong to Win
- Gemini + Oscar's Elite to Win
- King Kong + Oscar's Elite to Win
- Lucky Boy, Gemini + King Kong to Win
- Lucky Boy, Gemini + Oscar's Elite to Win
- Lucky Boy, King Kong + Oscar's Elite to Win
- Gemini, King Kong + Oscar's Elite to Win
- Lucky Boy, Gemini, King Kong + Oscar's Elite to Win
With this bet, a £1 unit stake (stake per line / unique bet) will cost £11.
The combination odds on this would be as below:
| Line | Combo | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucky Boy + Gemini to Win | 11/1 |
| 2 | Lucky Boy + King Kong to Win | 35/1 |
| 3 | Lucky Boy + Oscar's Elite to Win | 19/1 |
| 4 | Gemini + King Kong to Win | 26/1 |
| 5 | Gemini + Oscar's Elite to Win | 14/1 |
| 6 | King Kong + Oscar's Elite to Win | 34/1 |
| 7 | Lucky Boy, Gemini + King Kong to Win | 107/1 |
| 8 | Lucky Boy, Gemini + Oscar's Elite to Win | 59/1 |
| 9 | Lucky Boy, King Kong + Oscar's Elite to Win | 179/1 |
| 10 | Gemini, King Kong + Oscar's Elite to Win | 134/1 |
| 11 | Lucky Boy, Gemini, King Kong + Oscar's Elite to Win | 539/1 |
In this instance, if all four horses win, the bet would return £1,167.00 profit from an £11 stake.
You can also use a betting calculator to reveal profit on a Yankee bet depending on how many selections have been successful. An each-way Yankee doubles the stakes and brings in the place market.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Yankee Bet
Positives
- It offers the potential for high returns from a relatively small outlay. It provides an interest across multiple events. Unlike a standard accumulator, it doesn't require all selections to win to get a return. Even if one horse fails to win you can still win big on three Doubles and a Treble
Negatives
- It is a more complex bet for beginners to understand. The total stake is higher than a simple accumulator. It can be difficult to get enough winners to secure a profit, depending on the prices of your selections.
Yankee vs. Lucky 15
A Lucky 15 is very similar to a Yankee, in that it also involves 4 selections but includes the addition of 4 single bets, making it 15 bets in total.
With many top firms Lucky 15s come with bookmaker bonuses (e.g. for having one winner), which Yankees do not.