What is Dutching? A Complete Guide

Dutching is a powerful betting technique that lets you spread your stake across multiple selections in a race (or event), so you win the same profit no matter which one comes in. If you’re looking to improve your betting strategy, especially in horse racing, this method is well worth understanding.

Dutching Explained

Let’s say you’re watching a horse race and you think two or three horses have a genuine shot at winning. Rather than putting all your money on just one, Dutching lets you split your stake between them—so your total payout is the same no matter which one wins.

How Does Dutching Work?

1. Pick your selections: Choose two or more horses (or teams, players, etc.) you think could win.
2. Find the odds: Check the current odds for each of your selections.
3. Calculate your stakes: Work out exactly how much to bet on each one, so that your profit is the same regardless of which selection wins.

The maths can be tricky, but good news: our Dutching Calculator does the hard part for you!

A Quick Example

Imagine a 5-horse race. You believe Horses A, B, and C have the best chance. Their odds are:

• Horse A: 3.0 (2/1)
• Horse B: 4.5 (7/2)
• Horse C: 6.0 (5/1)

If you want to bet a total of £30, you’d use a Dutching Calculator to work out your individual stakes. You might end up with something like:

• £13.64 on Horse A
• £9.09 on Horse B
• £7.27 on Horse C

No matter which of these three wins, your total payout (profit) would be roughly the same.

Why Use Dutching?

• Reduce risk: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—cover multiple likely outcomes.
• Flexible: Works with as many selections as you want (within reason).
• Consistent profit: If one of your chosen horses wins, your profit stays the same.

Dutching Tips

• Always check the total “overround” (bookmaker’s margin). The more horses you include, the higher the total margin might be—so Dutching is best when you spot real value.
• Use a calculator for accuracy—manual maths can lead to mistakes!
• Shop around for the best odds on each horse for better profit.

FAQ: Dutching

• Can I Dutch each-way bets? Yes! Advanced Dutching can also cover each-way bets, but the maths gets more complex.
• Does Dutching guarantee a profit? No, only if one of your chosen horses wins! You still lose your whole stake if none of them do.
• Where can I try it? Use our Dutching Calculator to test out real or example races.