How to Sequential Lay
Sequential laying is a calculation method we use when we need
to lay outcomes that finish after each other.
Some examples of outcomes you can sequential lay:
- Fact To File (15:30) & Arsenal To Win (16:30)
- Respond (13:30 Chester) & Galiyan (14:05 Chester) both to win
- Arsenal (12:30), Chelsea (15:00) & Man City (17:30) to win
Since each outcome finishes before the next one starts, we can
use a sequential lay calculator to work out how much to lay on
each one.
Example
Take a profitable boost on two horses to win: Respond (13:30
Chester) & Galiyan (14:05 Chester) both to win, boosted
from 7.00 to 8.00. First, make sure the events don't overlap.
Then head to Smarkets and find the current lay odds for each
horse to win their race.
The current lay odds for Respond to win are 2.84,
and for Galiyan they are 2.66. Enter the
outcomes in the order they finish, earliest first - the
calculator relies on this order to work out the correct lay
stakes.
£10 back stake at 8.00 boosted odds, two legs
Only lay each outcome after the previous leg has won. Wait for
Respond to win before laying Galiyan. If Respond loses, there's
no need to lay Galiyan - the boost is already lost.
The breakdown section then shows the potential profit if all
legs win.
Modes
You can switch the mode at the top to Lock In,
which increases the lay stake on the final leg so you profit
no matter what happens. Like standard laying, this is less
profitable long term.
Advanced
Turning on Advanced unlocks two extras: Free Bet (SNR)
for when the back bet is a stake-not-returned free bet, and a
per-leg in-play lock-in toggle that lets you
place a second short-odds lay during a match to insure against
a late equaliser.
⚠ Risks with sequential laying
-
Make sure the events don't overlap, even if they kick off at
different times. If a football match is still being played
when you lay the next leg and that match then loses, you'll
lose both the back bet and the lay, resulting in a double
loss.
-
Be cautious when sequential laying legs spread over a long
period, as lay odds can move before each leg starts. Man
City's lay odds might be 1.56 when you first calculate, but
if they announce squad rotation the next day the odds could
drift to 1.95, which would ruin the margin and profit for
your acca.
-
Make sure your exchange balance can cover the liability of
every leg, not just the first one. If the earlier legs win,
you'll need enough funds to lay each following leg at the
odds shown in the calculator. Running out of balance mid-acca
means you can't place the next lay, leaving you fully exposed
if that leg loses.
-
Long gaps between legs make it easy to forget the next lay.
Set a reminder or note before each event so you don't miss
one - a missed lay can turn a profitable boost into a loss.
