What is a Patent Bet? 7 Bets, 3 Selections Fully Explained
A Patent bet covers 3 selections in 7 bets — 3 singles, 3 doubles, and 1 treble. Unlike a Trixie (which also covers 3 selections but skips the singles), a Patent gives you a return from even a single winner. That makes it the most forgiving of the three-selection system bets, at the cost of a higher total outlay.
If you've ever placed a treble and watched two selections win while the third drifted, a Patent is the structure that would have still put money back in your pocket.
The Structure — All 7 Bets
| # | Bet Type | Selections | Min. Winners Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Single | A only | 1 |
| 2 | Single | B only | 1 |
| 3 | Single | C only | 1 |
| 4 | Double | A + B | 2 |
| 5 | Double | A + C | 2 |
| 6 | Double | B + C | 2 |
| 7 | Treble | A + B + C | 3 |
At a unit stake of £5, your total outlay is £35 (7 bets × £5). This is the key difference from the Trixie: the Patent costs 75% more but guarantees a return as long as any single selection wins.
Worked Example — Three Selections, Three Scenarios
You back three football matches at decimal odds:
- Selection A — Man United to win at 2.50
- Selection B — Real Madrid to win at 1.80
- Selection C — Bayern Munich to win at 2.20
Unit stake: £5 per bet. Total outlay: £35.
Net loss: £22.50 (outlay £35, return £12.50) — but you got something back. A Trixie in this scenario returns £0.
Net profit: £116.80
Patent vs Trixie — Which Should You Use?
| Feature | Trixie | Patent |
|---|---|---|
| Number of bets | 4 | 7 |
| Cost (£5 unit) | £20 | £35 |
| Singles included? | No | Yes |
| Minimum winners for return | 2 | 1 |
| Max return (all 3 win) | Higher ROI | Lower ROI |
| Best for | Confident bettors | Cautious/value plays |
The decision is straightforward: if you need the singles as a safety net, use the Patent. If you're confident that at least two of your three selections will win, the Trixie costs less for the same double/treble coverage.
Patent Bets in Horse Racing — Why They're Popular
Patents are particularly common in horse racing because the sport has a high variance even for well-fancied selections. A horse at 2/1 — apparently a good thing — still loses more than a third of the time. Three such selections placed in a treble will lose 70% of the time. A Patent on those same selections means one winner at 2/1 pays £15 on a £5 unit stake (covering one of your seven £5 bets, returning something rather than nothing).
Many horse racing punters use Patents for races where they have genuine opinions on three selections but acknowledge the sport's unpredictability. The singles provide floor, the doubles provide the meat of the return, and the treble is the bonus.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting the total outlay. A "£2 Patent" sounds cheap. It's 7 × £2 = £14. Always multiply your unit stake by 7 before confirming.
Using short-priced selections where singles barely cover losses. If Selection A is at 1.20, your single returns £6 on a £5 bet. You're getting back £6 from 7 bets worth £35. Make sure your selections have enough price to justify the safety net.
Each-way Patents. An each-way Patent is 14 bets (7 win, 7 place). At £5 each way, that's £70 total. This is a significant commitment — factor it in before placing.
Calculate Any Patent Instantly
Enter your unit stake and three selections. BetMan calculates all 7 bets and your total return automatically.
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