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Hedge Bet Calculator
Find the hedge stake that locks in an equal result either way — or enter your own stake to see the profit and loss on both outcomes. Honest labelling when no profitable lock exists.
Your original bet
You make this profit no matter which side wins.
Both outcomes return the same profit to the cent — that's what the equalize stake buys.
Know when a hedge is worth it
Hedging trades EV for certainty.
A hedge locks a result but usually gives up expected value. TrueLine tracks your CLV and EV across every bet, so you can see whether locking in — or letting it ride — is the better long-term call for your bankroll.
How the math works
Both odds are converted to decimal, then the equalize stake solves for equal payouts:
hedge_stake = (orig_stake × orig_decimal) / hedge_decimal profit if original wins = orig_stake × (orig_dec − 1) − hedge_stake profit if hedge wins = hedge_stake × (hedge_dec − 1) − orig_stake
Because hedge_stake × hedge_dec = orig_stake × orig_dec by construction, the two profits are identical to the cent — that's the lock. When that identical amount is negative, no profitable lock exists: the tool calls it a loss-minimizing hedge, never a guaranteed profit.
Hedging trades upside for certainty. It lowers variance and can bank a sure result, but a long-term +EV bettor gives up expected value each time they hedge — it's a risk decision, not free money.
All math runs in your browser. We don't log or store your inputs.
Frequently asked questions
What is hedging in sports betting?
Hedging is placing a second bet on the opposite outcome of a bet you already have, to lock in a result regardless of what happens. It trades away upside for certainty — most commonly used on a live parlay or futures ticket that's one leg from cashing, or to guarantee profit when a line has moved in your favour.
When should you hedge?
Hedge when the certainty is worth more to you than the expected value you give up — for example, locking a large guaranteed profit on a futures ticket, or cutting your loss when a bet has gone against you. If you're a long-term +EV bettor with a small edge on each bet, hedging every time will lower your overall returns; it's a bankroll and risk-tolerance decision, not a pure math one.
Does hedging guarantee a profit?
Only when the numbers allow it. A hedge guarantees a profit if your original odds were long enough relative to the hedge odds; often the best you can do is guarantee a smaller loss. This calculator tells you honestly which case you're in — it labels a negative result a loss-minimizing hedge, not a profit lock.
How is the hedge stake calculated?
To equalize the outcome, hedge stake = (original stake × original decimal odds) ÷ hedge decimal odds. That's the amount whose payout on the opposite side equals your original bet's total return, so your profit is identical no matter which side wins.