What is a 3-Way Bet Called and How Do the Odds Work? Your Guide to Mastering Regulation Time Betting

Have you ever found yourself watching a tight soccer match go into extra time after a scoreless 90 minutes and think “a draw was obvious, I should’ve just bet it!” Or seen a heavy underdog battling a superior team and wishing you pulled the trigger on them at +300?

If so, you likely would have benefited from placing a 3-way bet.

Also known as regulation time or 1X2 betting, 3-way wagering includes an extra option compared to standard win-lose moneylines. With 3-way odds, you can bet on the favorite, underdog, or bet that the game will end in a tie/draw after regulation.

Intrigued yet?

By understanding how to leverage 3-way lines (also called “3-way handicaps” or “3-way totals”), you can massively expand your betting arsenal and opportunities for profit.

This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know to master regulation time betting, with actionable tips to help you win more!

Why Bet 3-Way Lines?

Before diving into the different types of 3-way odds and how to bet them, it’s helpful to understand why you should consider using regulation time bets in your wagering strategy:

1. Draws happen more than you think

Just focusing on picking a winner loses value. In soccer, 21.5% of Premier League matches ended level from 2000-2019. That jumps to 26.8% in the Spanish La Liga over the same period.

Could you have capitalized betting all those draws at juicy plus-money odds?

2. Underdogs win less than you hope

The data shows favorites have historically won about 55% of matches across major soccer leagues. But ask most fans, and they probably think upsets happen far more often than that.

This bias leads recreational bettors to consistently waste money backing dogs at bad odds. 3-way lines help overcome this by letting you bet the draw.

3. Extra option expands your edge

More choices mean more opportunities. Having the draw available puts many more matchups in play to find an edge.

Savvy bettors can spot situations where public bias inflates the favorite or underdog’s odds higher than they should be versus the draw. This creates exploitable discrepancies.

Let‘s unpack how 3-way betting odds work so you can take advantage!

3 Main Types of Regulation Time Odds

While 2-way moneylines only involve betting Team A or Team B, 3-way odds add a third option – the draw/tie – with its own distinct odds.

The main formats you’ll see are:

3-Way Moneyline

Also called 1X2 betting, this is the most common type of regulation time odds:

Team A: -120

Draw: +280

Team B: +300

To win a 3-way moneyline bet, you simply need to pick the outright winner after regulation time or for the match to end drawn/tied.

Payout calculations are the same as with standard moneylines. A $100 winning bet on Team A at -120 would return $183.33. Meanwhile, a $100 wager on the +300 dog would net $400 if they pull the upset.

Hot Tip: The draw usually pays out at the highest odds. Betting draws has proven profitable over time compared to favorites.

3-Way Handicap

With this format, sportsbooks apply a handicap or spread to the match such as:

Team A -1.5: -130

Draw: +240

Team B +1.5: +110

Here you’d bet on the favorite covering a -1.5 goal handicap, the dog covering +1.5, or the draw.

This evens out lopsided matchups by giving the weaker team a “head start” to make the handicap odds competitive.

3-Way Totals

Also called Over/Under betting, books set a line for the total goals/points scored. Your options are:

Over 2.5: -110

Exactly 2: +275

Under 2.5: -120

You can bet whether the teams will combine to go over or under the set total after regulation, or predict the exact amount scored.

Understanding the math behind converting odds is key to calculating payoffs. Let‘s look at an example scenario to see how 3-way betting works in action.

How to Bet 3-Way Lines – A Walkthrough

Let‘s say Manchester City is hosting Arsenal in a Premier League clash. The regulation time odds are:

Man City: -150

Draw: +280

Arsenal: +475

Given City‘s talent and home pitch advantage, they are expected to win. But Arsenal‘s quality means they still have a solid chance to pull the upset or at least battle to a draw.

As a smart bettor, you should be thinking:

• City‘s odds are too short to provide value
• Arsenal at almost 5/1 odds is intriguing
• +280 for the draw seems high given Arsenal‘s defensive style

To optimize your edge, you decide to bet $50 on Arsenal +475 and $25 on the draw at +280.

Here are the possible outcomes:

• Man City wins 2-0 – You lose your $50 bet on Arsenal
• Arsenal wins 1-0 – You win $237.50 on your Arsenal bet (50 x 4.75)
• Draw 0-0 – You win $70 on your draw bet (25 x 2.8)

While City was viewed as the favorite, you took advantage of the inflated odds on Arsenal and the draw. This gave you multiple paths to profit on the match.

Let‘s dig into key strategies and considerations when betting 3-way lines to consistently make savvy wagers.

5 Proven 3-Way Betting Strategies

1. Shop for the best odds

Lines can vary significantly between sportsbooks. Make sure you have accounts with a few books so you can compare the options and maximize the payouts on your picks.

For example, if Book A is offering +260 on the draw but Book B has it at +290, that extra +30 of payout matters!

2. Consider betting the draw

Recreational bettors often overlook the tie option. Monitor scenarios where the draw odds seem inflated based on your own handicapping. Pouncing when the linesmakers get it wrong delivers insane value.

3. Buy low on underdogs

Wagering on dogs at plus-money odds has proven profitable over time. The key is choosing select underdogs wisely rather than betting them blindly.

Study stylistic matchups, home/away statistics, and trends to identify live dogs with upset potential.

4. Bet against the public bias

The masses tend to bet favorites and overlook draws. Analyze public betting percentages and target opportunities where the odds shift too far from the true probabilities due to this tendency.

5. Manage your bankroll

Have a dedicated betting budget and use proper bet sizing to survive the inevitable variance. Personally I risk no more than 1-3% of my bankroll on a given wager.

Slow and steady wins the race! Don’t chase losses.

Now let‘s break down key factors to consider when assessing any 3-way betting lines.

Handicapping 3-Way Odds – What Matters Most

While handicapping regulation time betting involves looking at similar factors to standard moneyline wagers, the addition of the draw odds requires a slightly nuanced approach.

Here are the essential criteria to evaluate:

• Team styles – How teams match up tactically impacts draw probability. For example, two attacking squads boosts the chance of a tie.

• Table position – Teams battling for a title or trying to avoid relegation tend to play conservatively, leading to more draws.

• Streaks – Major momentum, or lack thereof, can affect matchups. Also look at trends in a team‘s draw rates lately.

• Rest & injuries – Fatigued or depleted squads correlate to more draws. Make sure to check team news!

• Head-to-head history – Some team pairings tend to produce more draws than others based on how they match up.

• Home/away split – Most draws occur in away matches as visitors play more conservatively. But some teams excel at drawing on their home pitch.

• Public %s – As mentioned earlier, track betting splits to spot biased odds. For example, high public backing of the favorite lowering the draw odds.

• Advanced stats – Useful metrics like expected goals (xG) and PDO can hint when a team‘s form is a mirage or due for reversion.

While skill and knowledge are essential, you‘re unlikely to predict match outcomes with 100% accuracy. That‘s where the inherent value of plus-money 3-way odds comes in.

Hitting just 33% of your +300 dog bets would have you profitable in the long run. By expanding your opportunity set using regulation time betting, you give variance more chances to work in your favor.

Now let‘s examine how to maximize your edge by understanding where the best payouts lie between 3-way and 2-way wagering.

Should You Bet 2-Way or 3-Way Lines?

Standard win-lose moneylines remain popular as they offer simplicity and potential for big underdog payouts. But 3-way betting ultimately provides superior value.

To demonstrate, let‘s convert some hypothetical 3-way soccer odds into 2-way moneylines:

3-Way

Home: -120

Draw: +260

Away: +285

2-Way Equivalents

Home: -145

Away: +155

Notice how the favorites‘ odds get worse going from 3-way to 2-way format. This is because removing the draw option shifts more win probability to the favorite compared to the underdog. You have to lay more juice betting favorites without the draw in play.

The value takeaway: You gain significant edge in 3-way betting from middle opportunities. Betting dogs and draws at inflated plus-money odds overcomes the vigorish in the long run.

While 3-way lines offer better overall value, both formats present frequent advantages. Don‘t limit yourself!

I recommend mixing up 3-way and standard moneyline bets to capitalize on biases and discrepancies in the odds. Be open-minded in your approach.

Final Tips for Betting 3-Ways Profitably

Before wrapping up this complete guide on regulation time betting, here are a few final tips to drive your success with 3-way wagering:

• Compare odds across multiple sportsbooks – Don‘t leave money on the table failing to line shop.

• Learn advanced handicapping – Predicting match outcomes with accuracy takes next-level data analysis and Models. Study up!

• Watch for reverse line movement – When odds move opposite public betting percentages, it signals sharp action. Pay attention!

• Monitor statistical trends – Teams fluctuate through hot and cold streaks you can capitalize on when the odds lag.

• Stay disciplined – Stick to standard bet sizing and bankroll management no matter what. Avoid tilting and emotion.

Conclusion – Use 3-Way Betting to Unlock Your Profit Potential

We‘ve covered everything you need to know to crush 3-way betting:

• How regulation time odds work with the extra draw option

• Key formats like 3-way moneylines, handicaps and totals

• Proven betting strategies and factors that influence draw probabilities

• Comparing 2-way vs 3-way odds to find the best value

By mastering when, why and how to utilize regulation time betting you can massively expand your opportunity horizon and profits.

The added flexibility of 3-way wagering puts many more matchups into play and allows you to capitalize on public bias.

So next time you confidently predict a draw or spot a tempting underdog line, leverage the value and profit potential of 3-way odds.

It‘s one of the most powerful tools you have as a bettor – so use it!

Good luck out there, and remember to always wager responsibly.