Hot off the heels of last weekend’s French Grand Prix at Le Castellet, the second of three successive races in as many weeks rolls into Austria, for the Styrian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Returning to their home track of the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg for back-to-back races, Red Bull currently hold a sizeable 37-point advantage over Mercedes and will be keen to extend it, by the time the paddock arrives at Silverstone next month.
After repeated attempts – and failures – to win successive races in F1, Max Verstappen is presented with his third opportunity already this season, to break what is becoming an unwanted statistic. Currently, evens with all three of SkyBet, Betfred and William Hill, MansionBet are also offering 19/20 on the Dutchman finally winning back-to-back in Austria.
If, however, you fancy Lewis Hamilton to close the gap on his Red Bull rival, 888Sport will give you value of 13/8, whilst MansionBet dangle the carrot of 7/5 for the Briton to repeat his win of last year. During that race at the Red Bull Ring – the opening round of last season’s pandemic-hit campaign – the Silver Arrows came home with a customary 1-2, as has been the case on many occasions in previous campaigns. Achieving the same result this year however, looks a tall order given Valtteri Bottas has not had so much as a podium finish since Round 4 in Barcelona.
Whilst a Mercedes procession is perhaps fanciful, another Styrian podium of all three of Verstappen, Bottas and Hamilton looks rather more likely, at 5/2 with SkyBet. Or alternatively, you can get Mercedes at 11/8 – again with SkyBet – to be the winning team in the Austrian mountains.
Elsewhere in the field, Daniel Ricciardo recorded his third P6 this season in France last weekend, and the McLaren driver looks like he may finally be settling into his new surroundings. To be top six again in Spielberg, the Perth driver is 6/5 with SBK or evens with SkyBet.
Should you feel a little more adventurous though, a podium finish for the Australian is in his near future and for that happen this weekend, you can fetch 11/2 with Betfair, PaddyPower or Bet365.
Betting fundamentals and practical how-to guides
Whether you’re new to betting or sharpening your edge, this step-by-step guide covers the core skills that drive smart, sustainable decisions. It builds on our race-by-race analysis with practical tools you can use on every market and sport.
Use this as your foundation, then explore our bookmaker reviews and expert tips pages to compare offers and pick the right sites for you. Always keep stakes affordable, set limits before you bet, and make informed choices.
Start smart: build a safe, solid betting plan
Begin by defining your objective, your budget and your time commitment, then align your betting style to match. A clear plan keeps you consistent when emotions rise during a live match or a tense final lap.
Your plan should outline what sports you’ll focus on, typical stake sizes, and when you’ll review performance. This structure helps you avoid impulsive bets and supports safer, more enjoyable betting.
Understanding odds: fractional, decimal, moneyline
Odds express probability and price, and your first job is to translate them quickly. In the UK you’ll mostly see fractional odds, but many sportsbooks and exchanges use decimal for speed and clarity.
Learn to switch formats instinctively so you can spot value and compare prices across multiple bookmakers. It’s the cornerstone of every profitable decision you’ll make.
Converting odds to implied probabilities
Implied probability tells you what the bookmaker’s price suggests about the chance of an outcome. For fractional odds A/B, implied probability is B ÷ (A + B), and for decimal odds D, it’s 1 ÷ D.
Fractional versus decimal: quick conversions
To convert fractional (A/B) to decimal, use (A ÷ B) + 1, and remember decimals include your stake in the return. Choose decimals for rapid maths and fractional when comparing tradition-led UK markets.
Shopping for best price across odds formats
Convert everything into one format before comparing, then select the top available price to lock in maximum expected value. Marginal improvements of 0.05 to 0.10 in decimal can change your long-term edge.
Bankroll management: staking plans explained
Your bankroll is the money set aside exclusively for betting, and protecting it is non-negotiable. Decide on a staking plan, stick to it through variance, and avoid reacting to short-term swings.
Fixed and percentage staking suit most bettors, while more advanced models allocate stakes by calculated edge. Use a plan you can follow comfortably without stress.
Fixed, percentage and Kelly staking models
Fixed staking uses the same amount per bet, percentage staking uses a constant share of bankroll, and Kelly scales stakes by your estimated edge. Partial Kelly reduces volatility while retaining much of the growth benefit.
Setting limits, deposit and loss caps
Set daily, weekly and monthly caps, plus a hard stop-loss to remove risk of chasing. Use operator tools to enforce deposit and reality-check reminders that fit your plan.
Value betting: price, probability and edge
Value exists when your assessed probability is higher than the implied probability of the odds. It’s not about picking the most likely winner; it’s about finding the best price for the true chance.
Focus on process over results, because even great value bets lose frequently in the short term. Over time, disciplined value selection drives positive expected returns.
Using expected value and closing line value
Expected value (EV) multiplies your edge by your potential returns, showing the long-run merit of a bet. Monitor closing line value (CLV) to see if your price beats the final market, a reliable sign of sharp selection.
Avoiding overconfidence and sample bias
Edge estimates are uncertain, so keep assumptions conservative and track actual outcomes. Avoid reading too much into small samples, short streaks or one-off big wins.
Markets and bet types across major sports
Most sports share core markets: match odds, handicaps, totals and player props. Learn how each market is priced, and when certain markets become inefficient.
Specialise in a few markets so your knowledge compounds and you recognise mispricing faster. Specialisation also helps you avoid low-liquidity traps and high bookmaker margins.
Match odds, handicaps and total points lines
Match odds price the win/draw/lose outcomes, handicaps level the playing field, and totals focus on combined scores. Handicaps and totals are ideal for applying model-driven edges across leagues.
Outrights, futures and each-way strategies
Futures pay for long-term predictions but tie up bankroll and carry more uncertainty. Each-way structures in racing and some specials can reduce variance if the place terms are favourable.
Research basics: data, form and context
Data without context misleads, and context without data is guesswork. Blend form, injuries, styles and schedule with quantitative measures like xG, pace or sector times to build a fuller view.
Index your notes by sport and competition so you can reuse insights quickly. A structured research routine trims noise and reduces bias from headline narratives.
Team news, weather and schedule effects
In football and rugby, travel fatigue, fixture congestion and rotation can swing probabilities more than most casual bettors realise. In cricket and golf, weather shifts alter playing conditions and price moves.
Track characteristics and circuit profiles
In motorsport, circuit layout, tyre wear, altitude and safety car tendencies change team strategies and car performance. Courses like the Red Bull Ring reward power units and traction, with track limits and weather adding risk.
Live betting, cash out and in-play strategy
In-play markets move fast, and patience beats FOMO when liquidity is thin. Focus on entry timing around key game states like injuries, penalties, pit windows or set-piece clusters.
Always price your bet before placing it, then act only if you still have an edge at execution. Live betting magnifies leaks in discipline, so prepare rules beforehand.
Timing entry, liquidity and price moves
Enter when spreads widen or prices overreact to low-impact events, not when the market is most efficient. Use intervals, powerplays or virtual safety car phases as potential windows, but verify the data first.
Cash out: maths, margin and alternatives
Cash-out includes margin, so compare it to a manual hedge across books or exchanges. If cash-out value is inferior to a simple lay or opposing pick, skip it and maintain your plan.
How to compare bookmakers and welcome offers
Price is king, but execution, markets, limits and service matter just as much. Use multiple trusted UK-licensed bookmakers to access more lines, higher limits and better boosts.
Explore our bookmaker reviews to compare odds quality, promotions and user experience. When you’re ready, click our banners and affiliate links to secure featured offers we recommend.
Bonuses, free bets, boosts and qualifiers
Intro offers vary by value once wagering, min odds and market restrictions are applied. Choose offers that fit your natural betting style, and don’t distort your strategy just to qualify.
Reading terms, conditions and wagering
Always check expiry windows, payment method exclusions, and withdrawal rules before you claim. Transparent T&Cs and clear support channels are signs of a book you can trust.
Practical tools, checklists and bet tracking
Simple tools reduce errors and keep you focused on process. Use calculators, odds grids and checklists to validate a selection before you stake.
Tracking results turns experience into feedback loops that improve your edge. Record stakes, odds, closing prices and notes on reasoning to sharpen future decisions.
Pre-bet checklist for smarter decisions
Confirm edge via implied probability, verify team news or line-ups, and check weather or schedule effects. Compare prices across at least three books and set a stop-loss for the day.
Monthly review: ROI, yield and variance
Review ROI, stake-weighted yield and average closing line delta to see if your edge persists. Note which markets you beat consistently and drop those you don’t.
Safer gambling: controls, limits and support
Betting should be entertaining and never a solution to financial or personal problems. Set firm limits, take regular breaks and avoid betting when tired, stressed or under the influence.
Use licensed UK operators with strong safer gambling tools, and keep betting separate from daily finances. If betting stops being fun, stop and seek help.
Setting time-outs, reality checks and limits
Enable deposit limits, reality-check pop-ups and session time-outs to stay within your plan. These tools reduce impulsive behaviour and support healthier habits.
Recognising warning signs and seeking help
Warning signs include chasing losses, hiding activity and neglecting other commitments. If you’re concerned, use operator tools immediately and seek guidance from BeGambleAware.
Common mistakes to avoid and risk controls
Chasing losses, over-staking and expanding into unfamiliar markets are frequent bankroll killers. Build friction into your process with an approval checklist and pre-set stake ranges.
Watch for recency bias, anchoring on early prices and confirmation bias from social chatter. A disciplined routine beats hot takes and keeps your edge intact.
Chasing losses and staking too aggressively
Increase stakes only when your bankroll and edge justify it, not to recover a previous result. Reset after a losing day and return when you can think clearly.
Misreading small samples and hot streaks
Short runs are noisy, and winning streaks don’t guarantee future outperformance. Protect gains by sticking to your plan rather than ramping stakes on emotion.
Sport-specific tips: football, racing, motorsport
In football, set pieces, rest days and travel can define matchups more than headline narratives. In racing, going, draw, pace maps and trainer form often create inefficiencies in the market.
In motorsport, tyre compounds, pit windows and safety car probabilities shift race dynamics quickly. Circuits with frequent track-limit penalties and variable weather add further volatility to in-play prices.
Football: xG, set pieces and schedule spots
Use xG and set-piece data to spot teams over- or underperforming the headline scorelines. Fixture congestion and rotation can flip match odds if you act before the market adjusts.
Horse racing: going, draw and pace maps
Combine going and draw biases with pace maps to identify races that favour front-runners or hold-up horses. Each-way terms can be valuable in big fields if place fractions are generous.
Motorsport: tyres, safety cars and strategy
Plan entry points around undercut/overcut windows, tyre degradation and safety car likelihood. Track characteristics like long straights or tight sectors reward different packages and can expose mispricing.
Advanced topics: hedging, arbing and dutching
Hedging can reduce variance and protect positions when new information changes the picture. Use it thoughtfully, weighing cost against the benefit of smoothing outcomes.
Arbitrage and dutching require discipline, reliable execution and awareness of limits. Manage account health and expect restrictions if you consistently take mispriced lines.
Hedging positions to manage event risk
When team news or weather shifts undermine your pre-match read, consider partial hedges that fit your plan. Price the hedge like any new bet and avoid panic-driven decisions.
Understanding arbs, limits and gubbing
Arbs exist when prices differ enough across books to guarantee a small margin, but execution risk and account limits are real. Rotate action and keep bet behaviour natural to maintain longevity.
Matched betting basics and fair cautions
Matched betting uses offers to lock in small profits, but it still requires accuracy and record-keeping. Check terms carefully and remember promotions can change or be withdrawn without notice.
Glossary of key betting terms and acronyms
Implied probability: the chance suggested by the odds; Expected value (EV): the long-run average outcome of a bet; CLV: the difference between your odds and the closing market price. Margin/overround: the bookmaker’s built-in edge; Stake: your risked amount; Yield: profit as a percentage of turnover; ROI: profit as a percentage of bankroll.
Handicap/Spread: adjusts outcomes to balance teams; Total/Over-Under: combined points or goals; Props: player or team-specific markets; Outright/Future: season-long or tournament markets; Each-way: split bet on win and place in racing. Dutching: spreading stakes across multiple outcomes; Hedge: offsetting risk with an opposing bet.
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Q: What is Best Of Bets and how can it help me bet smarter?
A: Best Of Bets is a UK-focused betting tips, strategy and bookmaker review site that helps you compare licensed sportsbooks, understand odds, and make safer, value-led decisions.
Q: How do I convert fractional odds to decimal and work out implied probability?
A: Convert fractional A/B to decimal with (A ÷ B) + 1, then get implied probability as B ÷ (A + B) for fractional or 1 ÷ D for decimal.
Q: What is a simple staking plan for beginners?
A: Start with fixed or percentage staking tied to a ring‑fenced bankroll, set daily/weekly limits, and stick to the plan through variance.
Q: What does “value betting” mean?
A: Value betting means your assessed probability is higher than the bookmaker’s implied probability, so you take the best available price across multiple books.
Q: How should I compare bookmakers and welcome offers?
A: Prioritise price quality, market depth, limits and service, then read T&Cs on wagering, min odds and expiry before claiming an offer via Best Of Bets.
Q: What is closing line value (CLV) and why is it important?
A: CLV is the difference between your odds and the market’s closing price, and consistently beating it is a strong indicator of a genuine edge.
Q: What checks should I do before placing a bet?
A: Confirm your edge via implied probability, verify team news and weather, compare at least three prices, and pre‑set a stop‑loss for the day.
Q: When is cash out worth using in live betting?
A: Use cash out only if its value exceeds a manual hedge across books or exchanges and it fits your pre‑defined plan and price.
Q: How can I bet more safely and stay in control?
A: Use UK‑licensed operators’ tools like deposit limits, reality checks and time‑outs, avoid betting when tired or stressed, and seek help at BeGambleAware if needed.
Q: Who can use Best Of Bets and are there age restrictions?
A: Best Of Bets is for UK adults aged 18+ and promotes UK‑licensed bookmakers, with gambling laws and eligibility depending on your jurisdiction.
