Multiples and Permutation Bets

Multiples and permutation bets take the accumulator concept further. Instead of one combined bet, you're placing multiple bets in a single stake—covering doubles, trebles, and accumulators across your selections. A Yankee, for example, is 11 bets in one: 6 doubles, 4 trebles, and 1 four-fold. Get the hang of these and you'll understand how serious punters structure their bets across several horses or races.

What Are Permutation Bets?

A permutation (or "perm") bet covers every possible combination of your selections up to a certain size. If you pick 4 horses, a "full cover" perm might include all doubles, trebles, and the four-fold. You're not betting on one outcome—you're betting on many outcomes at once, with one total stake that's divided across them. The appeal: if three of your four horses win, you don't get nothing (as with a straight four-fold). You get paid on the winning doubles and trebles. Perms offer a safety net—partial returns when you don't land the full acca.

The Main Perm Bet Types

Patent (3 selections)

A Patent is 7 bets from 3 selections:

• 3 singles
• 3 doubles
• 1 treble Stake: Usually 10p or 20p per line. £1 Patent = £7 total stake (10p × 7). Example: Horses A, B, C. If A and B win (C loses), you collect on the A-B double and the two singles (A, B). The treble and the double involving C lose.

Yankee (4 selections)

A Yankee is 11 bets from 4 selections:

• 6 doubles
• 4 trebles
• 1 four-fold No singles. A £1 Yankee = £11 total stake. Example: Horses A, B, C, D. If A, B, and C win (D loses), you collect on 3 doubles (A-B, A-C, B-C) and 1 treble (A-B-C). Four doubles, three trebles, and the four-fold lose.

Lucky 15 (4 selections)

A Lucky 15 is 15 bets from 4 selections:

• 4 singles
• 6 doubles
• 4 trebles
• 1 four-fold A £1 Lucky 15 = £15 total stake. Many bookmakers offer a Lucky 15 bonus: if all 4 win, they add 10–25% to the return. Some offer a "one winner" consolation—e.g. double odds if only one selection wins. Check the terms.

Lucky 31 (5 selections)

31 bets: 5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-folds, 1 five-fold. £1 Lucky 31 = £31 total stake.

Heinz (6 selections)

A Heinz is 57 bets from 6 selections:

• 15 doubles
• 20 trebles
• 15 four-folds
• 6 five-folds
• 1 six-fold £1 Heinz = £57 total stake. This is a serious bet—you need multiple winners to see a meaningful return, and the stake adds up.

Super Heinz (7 selections)

120 bets: all combinations from 7 selections. £1 Super Heinz = £120. For most punters, this is a once-a-year novelty rather than a regular strategy.

The Maths: How Perms Work

The number of bets in a perm follows a formula. For n selections:

• Doubles: n × (n−1) ÷ 2
• Trebles: n × (n−1) × (n−2) ÷ 6
• Four-folds: n × (n−1) × (n−2) × (n−3) ÷ 24
• And so on. For a Yankee (4 selections): 6 doubles + 4 trebles + 1 four-fold = 11 bets. Each bet is settled independently. Your return is the sum of all winning lines. If you have a £1 Yankee and two doubles win at combined odds of 8/1 and 12/1, you get £9 + £13 = £22 from those two lines, plus whatever the other winning lines (if any) pay.

When Perms Are Useful

You're Confident in Several Selections

If you've identified three or four horses across different races that you fancy, a Patent or Yankee lets you profit when two or three win—without needing a full acca. You're spreading risk and reward.

You Want Partial Returns

A straight four-fold pays nothing if one leg loses. A Yankee pays on the three trebles and three doubles that don't include the loser. That softens the blow and can still produce a profit from a "near miss."

The Bonus Offers Value

Lucky 15 and Lucky 31 bonuses (all winners bonus, one-winner consolation) can add value when the bookmaker's terms are generous. Always read the small print—minimum odds, qualifying races, and stake limits often apply.

When Perms Don't Make Sense

The Stake Is Too High

A £1 Heinz is £57. A £1 Lucky 31 is £31. If that's a significant chunk of your bankroll, you're overexposed. Use smaller unit stakes (10p, 20p) or stick to Patents and Yankees.

You're Chasing the Big One

Perms can encourage overconfidence. "I'll do a Heinz, one of them will land." Maybe—but most of the time, several legs will lose. The doubles and trebles might return something, but it might not cover the stake. Treat perms as entertainment or occasional plays, not a core strategy.

Singles Would Be Better

If you have four strong opinions, four singles might offer better value. You get paid in full when each wins. With a Yankee, you're diluting your stake across 11 bets. The maths can favour singles when your hit rate is good and the odds are fair. See our accumulator betting guide for when singles beat multiples.

Each-Way Perms

Each-way Patents, Yankees, and Lucky 15s exist. The place part of each bet is settled at reduced odds (1/4 or 1/5). This gets complicated—each line has a win and place component, and the total stake doubles. Our each-way betting guide covers the basics; for each-way perms, use a calculator and understand the terms before staking.

Summary

Permutation bets bundle multiple combinations into one stake. Patents and Yankees are manageable; Heinz and Super Heinz are for those with bigger budgets and a taste for complexity. Perms offer partial returns when you don't land the full acca—which can ease the pain of a near miss. But they're not a shortcut to profit. Use them when you have several genuine opinions and want to spread your risk. And always check the bonus terms on Lucky 15s and Lucky 31s—they can occasionally tip the scales in your favour. For more on the underlying accumulator logic, see our accumulator betting guide.