What Does ‘Fourfold’ Mean in Sports Betting?
In the world of sports betting, a ‘fourfold’—also known as a four-leg parlay or a four-team parlay—is a type of bet that combines four different selections into a single wager. For the bet to be successful and yield a return, all four of your chosen selections must win.
How a Fourfold Bet Works
The core concept of a fourfold bet is straightforward: you select four different outcomes in separate events. These selections are then linked together in one bet. The primary appeal of a fourfold is that the odds of each individual selection are multiplied, which can lead to a significantly higher potential payout compared to placing four separate single bets.
However, this potential for a larger reward comes with increased risk. If even one of your four selections fails to win, your entire bet is lost.
Fourfold Bet Example
To calculate the potential winnings of a fourfold bet, you simply multiply the decimal odds of all four selections together, and then multiply that result by your stake.
Imagine you place a $10 parlay on a weekend of sports with the following four selections (legs):
- NFL: Kansas City Chiefs (moneyline) at -150 odds to beat the Denver Broncos.
- NBA: Los Angeles Lakers (point spread) at -4.5 (-110 odds) against the Phoenix Suns.
- MLB: New York Yankees / Boston Red Sox (total) to go Over 8.5 runs (-110 odds).
- NHL: Vegas Golden Knights (moneyline) at +120 odds to beat the Colorado Avalanche.
For this parlay to cash, you need the Chiefs to win, the Lakers to win by 5 points or more, the Yankees/Red Sox game to have 9 or more total runs, AND the Golden Knights to win.
If all four of those things happen, your $10 bet would turn into a significantly larger payout (in this specific example, it would pay out approximately $122.88). However, if three of the legs win but the Golden Knights lose their game, the entire parlay is lost. This high-risk, high-reward nature is what makes parlays so popular.
Key Points to Remember
- All Selections Must Win: The all-or-nothing nature of a fourfold bet is its defining characteristic.
- Higher Potential Returns: The multiplicative effect on the odds can lead to substantial payouts from a small stake.
- Increased Risk: With four outcomes needing to be correct, the probability of winning is lower than with a single bet.
- Versatility: Fourfold bets can typically be placed across a wide range of sports and markets, allowing you to combine selections from different events.
In essence, a fourfold bet is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that can be an exciting way to engage with multiple sporting events simultaneously.