Trixe bets, another one of those terms that sounds like it belongs in a nightclub rather than a betting shop, but here we are.
A trixie is what happens when you fancy three different selections but want to cover yourself in case one of them lets you down. Instead of lumping everything on a treble that goes down the drain if just one pick fails, you’re spreading your risk across multiple combinations.
Think of it this way: you’ve got three horses you quite fancy across different races. Rather than putting all your eggs in one basket with a straight treble, a trixie gives you four separate bets from those three selections. You get three doubles plus one treble, which means you need at least two of your picks to come in for any return.
Let’s work through a proper example to make this clearer. Say you fancy Red Rum in the 2:30 at Aintree, Desert Orchid in the 3:15 at Kempton, and Kauto Star in the 4:00 at Cheltenham. Your trixie would create these four bets: Red Rum and Desert Orchid double, Red Rum and Kauto Star double, Desert Orchid and Kauto Star double, plus a Red Rum, Desert Orchid, and Kauto Star treble.
Now here’s the beauty of it: if Red Rum wins and Desert Orchid wins but Kauto Star finishes nowhere, you’ve still got the Red Rum and Desert Orchid double paying out. You’ve also lost three of your four bets, mind you, but at least you’re not walking away empty-handed like you would with a straight treble.
The mathematics get quite tasty when all three selections romp home. Not only do you collect on all three doubles, but you also bag the treble on top. This is where trixies can really pay dividends compared to backing three singles or even just going for the treble.
Here’s a realistic scenario from last weekend: you backed three Premier League goalscorers at decent odds – Kane at 5/2, Salah at 3/1, and Haaland at 2/1. All three obliged, so your trixie delivered big time. The Kane-Salah double paid out, the Kane-Haaland double came in, the Salah-Haaland double landed, and the treble sealed the deal.
Most punters use trixies when they’ve got strong fancies but aren’t completely confident about all three. It’s that middle ground between playing it safe with singles and going all-or-nothing with a treble. You’re essentially buying yourself some insurance while still giving yourself the chance of a proper result.
The downside is obvious: you’re placing four bets instead of one, so your stake quadruples. If you normally stick a fiver on a treble, you’ll need twenty quid for a trixie with the same unit stake. That can add up quickly if you’re not careful with your bankroll.
Trixies work particularly well in horse racing where you might have studied the form and identified three horses at decent prices across different races. Football’s another popular choice – maybe three teams you fancy in different matches, or three players you think will score.
The key is picking selections with reasonable odds. There’s no point doing a trixie on three heavy favourites because the returns won’t justify the extra stakes. Conversely, three massive long shots might sound exciting, but the chances of getting two winners are pretty slim.
Most seasoned punters view trixies as a sensible compromise. You’re not being overly cautious like backing three singles, but you’re not being reckless like needing all three to win. It’s calculated risk-taking, which tends to work better in the long run than pure gambling.
Just remember, you still need two out of three to show any profit, so pick your selections carefully.
