Patent Calculator
A Patent is a full-cover bet on three selections, consisting of 7 bets: 3 singles, 3 doubles and 1 treble. It is the three-selection equivalent of the Lucky 15 and, like its bigger cousin, includes singles so you get a return from just one winner. Enter your three picks below to see a complete breakdown of every bet and your total returns.
Enter Your Selections
Total outlay: unit stake × 7 bets
Your Returns
Enter your three selections with odds and results, then hit Calculate to see a complete breakdown of all 7 bets in your Patent. The calculator shows every single, double and the treble, with individual returns for each.
Understanding the Patent Bet
The Patent is one of the most accessible full-cover bets available. Named after a patented pools bet from the early twentieth century, it covers every possible combination of three selections in 7 bets: 3 singles, 3 doubles and 1 treble. If you label your selections A, B and C, the seven bets are:
- 3 Singles: A, B, C
- 3 Doubles: AB, AC, BC
- 1 Treble: ABC
Because singles are included, you only need one of your three selections to win in order to see some return. That is the Patent's great advantage over its close relative, the Trixie.
Patent vs Trixie: The Key Difference
The Trixie is a 4-bet multiple on three selections: 3 doubles and 1 treble. It does not include singles. This means a Trixie costs less (4 units versus 7 units for a Patent) but requires at least two of your three selections to win before you see any return at all.
| Feature | Patent | Trixie |
|---|---|---|
| Selections | 3 | 3 |
| Total bets | 7 | 4 |
| Includes singles | Yes | No |
| Minimum winners for return | 1 | 2 |
| Cost at £1 unit | £7 | £4 |
| Cost each-way at £1 | £14 | £8 |
If you are reasonably confident about at least two of your picks, the Trixie is more cost-effective. But if you simply fancy three horses and want the widest possible safety net, the Patent is the better option. The singles act as insurance: even if only one lands, you recoup part of your outlay. At decent odds, a single winner can cover a significant chunk of the total stake.
When to Use a Patent
The Patent is ideal when you have three selections you like but are not entirely confident about any of them. It is a common choice for Saturday racing when punters pick one horse from each of the big three meetings, or for festival days where the form can be hard to separate. The total outlay of 7 units is manageable, and the inclusion of singles means a bad day is softened.
The bet really comes into its own when all three selections win at decent prices. A £1 Patent on three winners at 4/1, 3/1 and 5/1 would return £5 on the singles (5 + 4 + 6), £50 on the doubles (20 + 30 + 24), and £120 on the treble, for a total return of £175 from a £7 stake. That is £168 profit, which is a very satisfying return from three well-chosen horses.
Each-Way Patents
An each-way Patent doubles the bet count to 14 (7 win bets plus 7 place bets). This provides extra protection when your selections place without winning. The place part of each combination still pays out at a fraction of the win odds, and across all seven bets those place returns can add up to a worthwhile figure.
Each-way Patents work best with selections at bigger prices, where the place terms are more generous. Three horses at 8/1 or above, each running in competitive handicaps, make for an attractive each-way Patent. Even if only one wins and another places, the combination of the win single, the place singles and the place doubles can produce a profit.
Managing Your Stake
At 7 units, the Patent is one of the more affordable multiple bets, but it still pays to be disciplined. A £2 Patent costs £14, and each-way that becomes £28. Before placing the bet, always do the mental arithmetic: am I comfortable losing this entire amount? If the answer is no, drop the unit stake. The beauty of the Patent is that it works at any level, from 50p units upwards. The proportional returns are identical whether you are staking pennies or pounds.
Void Selections in a Patent
If one of your three selections is a non-runner, that leg is treated as void. In most cases, the void leg is settled at even money (1/1), which means it simply passes the stake through to the remaining legs. A Patent with one void selection effectively becomes three separate bets on the remaining two selections: two singles and a double. Always check your bookmaker's specific rules on void legs, as settlement can vary between firms.