The dutching calculator splits a total stake across several mutually exclusive outcomes so that the net result is the same if any selected outcome wins. Enter your total stake and decimal odds to see the stake allocation, combined implied probability and net profit or loss for a covered outcome. If an outcome you have not backed wins, you lose the total stake.
Dutching is a betting strategy that divides a total stake among several mutually exclusive outcomes of an event. The aim is to receive the same payout, and therefore the same net profit or loss, whichever selected outcome wins. The name is commonly linked to Dutch Schultz, the American gangster.
Unlike a single bet, dutching covers several outcomes at once. This can increase your chance of backing the winner, while reducing the payout compared with putting the entire stake on that winning selection. The payout exceeds the total stake when the selected outcomes' combined implied probability is below 100%. At exactly 100%, a covered winner breaks even; above 100%, it produces a net loss. None of these thresholds protects you against an uncovered outcome winning.
Consider an illustrative Russian Premier League (RPL) match: CSKA versus Dynamo. You think CSKA will avoid defeat, but are unsure about an outright win. You back two outcomes: a CSKA win (1) at decimal odds of 2.10 and a draw (X) at 3.40. Your total stake is 3,000 units.
The calculator allocates approximately 1,854.55 units to the CSKA win and 1,145.45 units to the draw. If CSKA wins, the payout is 1,854.55 × 2.10 ≈ 3,894.56 units. If the match is drawn, it is 1,145.45 × 3.40 ≈ 3,894.53 units. The net profit is approximately 894.55 units in either covered case; the small difference comes from rounding the stakes. If Dynamo wins, both bets lose and the loss is the full 3,000 units. The formula below equalizes the payouts before rounding.
Dutching stake allocation formula:
Stake(i) = Total stake / (K(i) × Σ(1/K(j)))
K(i) is the decimal odds for outcome i, and Σ(1/K(j)) is the sum of the reciprocal decimal odds for all selected outcomes.
Net profit or loss if a selected outcome wins:
Net profit = Total stake / Σ(1/K(j)) − Total stake
Consider another illustrative match: Zenit versus Krasnodar. You think the match will not end in a draw and want to stake 5,000 units across two outcomes:
Sum of the reciprocal odds:
1/1.95 + 1/4.20 = 0.7509157509… ≈ 0.751
Stake on the home win (1), using the unrounded sum:
5000 / (1.95 × (1/1.95 + 1/4.20)) ≈ 3,414.63 units
Stake on the away win (2):
5000 / (4.20 × (1/1.95 + 1/4.20)) ≈ 1,585.37 units
Payout if either selected team wins, before stake rounding:
5000 / (1/1.95 + 1/4.20) ≈ 6,658.54 units (net profit +1,658.54 units)
If Zenit wins, the rounded stake returns 3,414.63 × 1.95 ≈ 6,658.53 units. If Krasnodar wins, it returns 1,585.37 × 4.20 ≈ 6,658.55 units. The net profit is almost identical: approximately 1,658.54 units if either team wins. A draw is uncovered: both bets lose, resulting in a loss of 5,000 units.
Dutching is used in several common situations:
Dutching is closely associated with horse racing, where you might back 2–3 favorites in a field of 8–15 horses. At decimal odds between 3.00 and 6.00, the combined implied probability of three selections can range from 50% to 100%; calculate it from the actual odds. If your chosen selections total 60–80%, the dutching payout exceeds the total stake when one of those horses wins. You still lose the total stake if another horse wins.
In football, dutching can cover two of the three outcomes in a 1X2 market. Extra time in a cup match does not remove the draw from a market settled on 90 minutes plus stoppage time: backing 1 + 2 leaves that draw uncovered. A separate market such as “to qualify” may include extra time and penalties, depending on its rules. Check the settlement period before treating two selections as complete coverage. The margin calculator can check the sum of the selected implied probabilities; use all outcomes of a market to calculate its full margin.
In dutching, the sum of the selected outcomes' implied probabilities determines the net result when a selected outcome wins:
The bookmaker margin is reflected in the odds. In a market with a positive margin, covering every outcome at one bookmaker gives a sum above 100% and therefore a net loss. Promotional or unusual prices can differ, so check the actual odds rather than assuming this is always the case. A sum below 100% may be possible when you cover only some outcomes or combine odds from different bookmakers. Partial coverage is still exposed to uncovered winners; its implied probability total alone does not demonstrate a profitable betting strategy.
Dutching and surebets (arbitrage betting) are related, but serve different purposes:
The calculator above can be used in either situation. You need to check whether your selections cover every possible outcome and whether the odds produce a positive net result; the calculator does not verify those conditions for you.
All three approaches involve covering more than one outcome, but their purposes differ. Dutching commonly splits a stake among selected outcomes before an event starts. Arbitrage betting uses prices that allow all outcomes to be covered with a positive net result, usually across different bookmakers. Hedging adds an opposing bet after an initial bet has been placed, often because the situation or odds have changed.
Dutching may suit a plan to back 2–3 outcomes and balance their payouts. Arbitrage requires complete coverage, suitable prices and consistent execution; bookmaker limits can affect that execution. Hedging applies when you already have a bet and want to adjust your potential profit or loss.
Over a longer run, such as 200 or more bets, dutching still requires a sound assessment of the bookmaker's prices and the actual chances of the selected outcomes. A low combined implied probability is not proof of an edge: the chance of an uncovered outcome winning matters. Covering several outcomes can smooth payouts, but does not automatically reduce variance in every comparison or improve expected returns. Your win rate depends on the outcomes you leave out. If an uncovered underdog wins, you lose the total stake allocated to that event, reducing your bankroll; the whole bankroll is lost only if you have staked it all.
Disclaimer: a responsible attitude to betting
The information on this page is for informational purposes only. By betting on sports with bookmakers, you risk your own money. Profytball is not a gambling operator and is not responsible for possible losses. Always treat betting as entertainment, not as a way to make money. Play responsibly!
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