Learn what extra place offers are and how to use them with each way betting.
Sometimes a bookmaker pays more places than usual on a race (for example, paying 1-4 instead of the standard 1-3). Exchanges typically keep the standard place market (e.g., 1-3). That mismatch creates an opportunity: if your horse finishes in the ‘extra’ position (4th in this example), your bookmaker PLACE wins and your exchange PLACE lay wins as well.
• Standard places: the usual places paid for that race type and field (e.g., 1-3).
• Extra place: the bookmaker pays one more place (e.g., 1-4).
• Exchange place market: normally stays on standard places (e.g., 1-3).
• The edge: landing exactly in the extra place means your bookie PLACE wins while your exchange PLACE lay also wins.
An EW bet is two bets: a WIN bet and a PLACE bet on the same horse. £10 EW = £10 WIN + £10 PLACE. Bookmakers set place terms (a fraction of the win odds, like 1/5 or 1/4) and the number of places paid. On exchanges, WIN and PLACE are separate markets.
1) Back EACH WAY at the bookmaker (two bets: WIN + PLACE). Note the EW terms (fraction and places).
2) On the exchange, LAY the WIN market and LAY the PLACE market. The exchange PLACE market will usually be the standard places (e.g., 1-3).
3) You want races where the bookmaker pays an extra place (e.g., 1-4) but the exchange offers standard places (e.g., 1-3). If the horse finishes 4th, the bookie pays place but the exchange place lay also wins, which is the 'double win'.
1) Find an extra place opportunity on the Extra Place Matcher.
2) Choose your stake and BACK the horse each way at the bookmaker.
3) On the exchange, LAY the horse to WIN.
4) Check the number of places in the exchange place market and LAY the horse to PLACE accordingly.
5) Confirm both lays are matched before the race goes off.
If you find a good extra place bet manually (not with our extra place matcher), you can use our extra place calculator to calculate your stakes and profit.
• WIN: Bookmaker WIN + PLACE both win; both exchange lays lose → usually a small planned qualifying loss overall.
• Standard place (e.g., 2nd/3rd): Bookmaker PLACE wins; exchange PLACE lay loses → again a small qualifying loss overall.
• EXTRA place (e.g., 4th): Bookmaker PLACE wins AND the exchange PLACE lay WINS → this is the big profit outcome.
• Outside places: Bookmaker bets lose; both exchange lays win → typically a small qualifying loss overall.
It is possible to scroll through the bookmakers and exchanges finding extra place bets, however it's much more efficient to use our extra place matcher.
If you do want to find extra place bets manually (not with our extra place matcher), head over to our extra place races list page which updates the extra place races for each bookmaker daily.
You trade a small cost most of the time for a larger win some of the time. Two numbers help you judge the trade: your qualifying loss (QL) if the horse doesn’t hit the extra place; and your extra-place profit (EPP) if it does. From these you can estimate a break-even hit rate.
Non-runners can change the number of places paid and trigger Rule 4 reductions on winnings. Always re-check the bookmaker's extra place terms and the exchange place market close to the off. If places change (e.g., down to 1-3 at the bookie), your plan may no longer have an edge, so re-calculate or skip.
A dead heat splits winnings between tied horses. Bookmakers and exchanges have dead-heat rules; your back and lay positions should still balance overall, but the profit/loss will be different from clean results. If a race looks messy (big fields, frequent ties), price that risk into your choices.
Our tools make it easier to find and execute extra places quickly.
