It is funny in life how many people seem to fit in with their stereotype over time…
Let’s take teachers and lecturers for example. I’ve lost count on how many I’ve seen wearing them tweed jackets with what seems like the obligatory leather elbow patches and brown or khaki green cords.
Art teachers seem to wear flowery dresses, sandals and drive Citroen CVs (you know, the ‘upside-down pram on wheels’) and that’s just the male art teachers… Only joking, of course.
Still, botanists do tend to have beards bigger than the forests they are rummaging in… I could go on, but by now I think you catch my drift.
It seems they all want to ‘fit in’ to the image society expects from them, whether consciously or subconsciously. They may start off with individuality but soon become victims of conformity with the expectations of their profession and society.
With actors, the danger is being typecast into a certain role for so long that sees them lumbered with similar roles forever. Soap stars being a classic example. I mean, can you really see Ken Barlow as a Scarface-type baddie in a gangster film?
When it comes to betting, many seem to have pigeonholed themselves into continuing along the same path even though it may not be working for them – whether Backing, Laying or Trading.
I’ve often heard some say they don’t like Laying or Trading or whatever. I can never understand this rigid approach to betting when a little flexibility may well deliver them long term profits.
If you’ve already found a niche area to specialise in but only ‘Back to Win’ in that market then you could be missing out on some golden opportunities. Combining all three staking approaches can be very profitable, even within the same market.
If you specialise in five furlong sprints for example and you fail to form an opinion on the likely winner, but are confident of one or two that won’t win based on previous race analysis then the answer is simple – ‘LAY’ them.
Or, if you find you can narrow the field down to just one solid selection then of course ‘BACK’ especially where value has been found.
My point is not to write the race off just because it fails to meet with your long term preferred betting approach, as you always have the option of either Backing or Laying and in some instances Trading the selections.
Considering all three staking options within the same market can increase your long term profits as a result of a higher volume of bets. Most races have an opportunity to profit so long as they are thoroughly researched.
In regards to Trading and In–Play betting, if you know your football team inside out and they usually give away a one goal lead, then simply Lay them when they go 1-0 up and thus put profit over loyalty. This may seem a very simplistic approach, but it is one often overlooked by those stuck in old habits of using the same rigid approach to their betting style.
I’ve mentioned before about the importance of getting to know inside and out the area of betting you seek to derive profits from. This knowledge will then help you decide whether to Back, Lay or Trade the selection within that market.
For those who want to see how by using a flexible approach you can profit then look no further than my colleague Clive Keeling’s DRT strategy – Delay React Trade.
Clive has hit on a great angle with his Delay React Trade approach. An approach that can see you Laying at very short odds and Backing at big odds for some sizeable wins, as witnessed by myself on many occasions.
The DRT service is centred around extensive pre-match research that Clive will conduct on many carefully selected matches. Clive will then watch how the matches unfold and decide the right time and staking approach to apply before entering the market.
It’s a flexible approach I really like, and clearly liked by many others judging by feedback with winning Lays landed at 1.01 upwards.
I’m sure you’ll agree it is always great when someone else does the cooking for you… Well, Clive will do all the cooking for you in terms of research, leaving you to just sit back every Saturday afternoon and copy what Clive advises and taste some sizeable wins.
So going back to the subject of considering using a mix of different bet types depending on the strength/weaknesses of each contender, the ideal mix for me is;
Backing – when there is ‘clear’ value and the opposition is inferior
Laying – at short odds in high liquidity markets where you bet can be matched quickly, and on selections that your thought were inferior pre-event anyway.
Trading – if you want a defensive type of approach to your betting bank and are prepared to skim a small edge on a high volume of selections. Or, like the DRT approach where you delay entry on certain pre-researched events as the event unfolds. Then enter the market Laying at low odds, or on the flip side backing at big odds to small stakes. Don’t become obsessed with one form of rigid approach or another.
If you’re an historic ‘Backer’ of selections and no backing opportunities show themselves within the market then consider Laying or Trading, you may well find your interest increases and so too your profits.
Bottom line
Don’t be pigeonholed – or typecast, as they say in the acting world. If you have an adequate betting bank don’t be afraid to Back, Lay and/or Trade, not forgetting to thoroughly research your market first.