How do "if" bets work?

I've seen them on the boards, but don't have the foggiest idea as to how to play them. Can I get some help please

You wager on multiple games and IF the first one wins, you then have action on the next game, so on and so forth..

Like today for example, i have a 3 team IF wager going..

First i have Oakland, If they win i have a play on St Louis, If they won i have a play on the white sox..

If oakland loses i lose the first bet only, if oakland wins and st louis loses i win the oakland bet, lose the st louis bet and have no action on the white sox.

Yuo can combine them in any order you want. Its an excellent way to wager if you are short stacked..

Brock-

Why not just put in a parlay instead? Is that not the same thing?

Nope, what if you win 2 of 3 bets in the If play..then you are still ahead, or should be if you figure the money right. In a parley if you lose that 3rd game, you lose it all..

OIC--

Thanks brock for the heads up.

This might be helpful. This is from the SPORTSBETTING.COM website:

If Bets -- If Win and If Action

An If Bet allows you to increase your betting power and limit your risk by placing multiple bets on one betting ticket; each individual bet after the first bet will only have action if the previous bet in the sequence is successful. This limits your risk to the dollar amount of the first bet on your betting ticket.

An If Bet is also useful if you want to make more than one bet, but do not have adequate funds in your account to cover the second bet unless the first bet wins. An If Bet will place the second bet immediately upon success of the first bet.

If Bet rules are as follows:

- One If Bet can contain two to seven individual bets.
- If Bets must be made prior to the start time of the earliest event.
- Bets do not have to be made in the order of each event's start time.
- The first bet's limit is set by the house.
- Additional bets in the sequence use the bet amount of the first bet.
- The first bet is always placed unless it is considered a no action event.
- Two Types of If Bets


If Win

You choose the order of each bet in the series. The first bet is always placed. Each subsequent bet is placed only if the previous bet wins. If any bet in the If Win series loses, ties or is considered no action, then all subsequent bets on the betting ticket are considered no action.


If Action

You choose the order of each bet in the series. The first bet is always placed. Each subsequent bet is placed only if the previous bet is won, considered no action or is a tie game (also know as a push). If any bet in the If Action series loses, then all subsequent bets on the betting ticket are considered no action.


For example, on October 7th, you place an If Win bet on the Raiders to beat the Dolphins in their October 12th game. Then you select the Patriots to beat the Colts in their October 11th game. The game on October 12th wins and the second part of the If Bet is placed on the Patriots/Colts game with the original bet amount.

This second bet is placed even though this game started prior to the first event and already had a final result of a loss. The first part of your If Win bet is a win but the second part is a loss.

Your If Win bet placed on October 7th is placed prior to the start time of both events so you are able to bet on both games while ensuring that your preferred bet on the Raiders game gets placed even if your second choice, the Patriots, lose.

Normally the only way this would be possible would be to expose yourself to both bets separately. An If Bet puts a restriction on your bet that says if the Raiders lose, do not place a bet on the Patriots/Colts game. This limits your risk to the first bet amount, but provides you with the opportunity to make a second bet with the original stake if your first bet is successful.

www.sportsbetting.com

i do not think anyone of us in our entire lifetimes will come across a more lenghty description of what an "if" bet is.

it is still a good post none the less. thanks