Betfair Hedging Strategies: Lock in Your Profits

Hedging is how you turn gambling into trading. Instead of hoping your bet wins, you guarantee profit by covering multiple outcomes. Here's exactly how to do it.

What is Hedging?

Hedging = placing bets on different outcomes to guarantee profit or limit loss.

Simple example:

1. Back Team A at 3.00 before kickoff (£10 stake)
2. They score early, odds drop to 1.80
3. Lay Team A at 1.80 (£16.67 stake)
4. Result: Profit whether they win or not

This is trading, not gambling. You've locked in profit before the event finishes.

Why Hedge?

1. Lock in Profits: Secure winnings before the event ends. No more nail-biting finishes.

2. Reduce Risk: Spread exposure across outcomes. Volatile markets become manageable.

3. Stay Flexible: Adjust positions in-play as odds shift and new information emerges.

Back-Lay Hedging (The Foundation)

The most common and profitable hedging technique.

When to use:

• Odds have moved significantly in your favor
• You want to secure profit before event finishes
• Uncertainty increases (injuries, red cards, etc.)

Traderline Hedging Modes

Cashout Mode

Splits profit/loss evenly across ALL outcomes.

Example:

• Backed Liverpool at 3.00, now 1.80
• Cashout and P&L modes calculates exact lay stake
• Result: Same profit whether Liverpool wins or not

Use when: You want guaranteed equal profit regardless of winner.

Freebet Mode

Focuses profit on ONE selection, zeros out others.

Trade Button

One-click close ALL positions at best available price. Better control than Betfair's auto cash-out.

Dutching: Multi-Selection Hedging

Back multiple selections to guarantee same return.

Example - Horse Racing:

• Back Horse A at 5.0
• Back Horse B at 6.0
• Back Horse C at 8.0

If any horse wins, you profit. Covers more outcomes than single bet.

Hedging by Sport

Football

Best opportunities:

• After goals (odds shift dramatically)
• Half-time (odds reset for second half)
• Red cards or injuries (major odds changes)

Strategy: Back favorites pre-match, lay after they score

Horse Racing

Best opportunities:

• Pre-race (back early, lay when odds shorten)
• In-running (back/lay as positions change)

Strategy: Dutching multiple horses, then trading out winners

Tennis

Best opportunities:

• After winning first set (odds shift significantly)
• Break points (momentum swings)
• Between games (stable moments to hedge)

Strategy: Back underdog at high odds, lay after winning set

Common Hedging Mistakes

When NOT to Hedge

Don't hedge if:

• You're very confident in original bet
• Liquidity is too low to exit cleanly

Let winners run sometimes. Not every trade needs hedging.

Calculating Hedge Stakes

Smart approach: Use Traderline's automatic calculator

• Instant calculations
• Accounts for commission
• Shows profit for all outcomes
• One-click execution (if selected)

Next Steps

Hedging transforms betting into trading. Master it and you'll never sweat a finish again - you've already locked in profit.