There are a lot of ways to structure accumulator bets, especially when it comes to horse racing betting. Many players choose to lump a flurry of race favourites into one big pot and squeeze value from their low individual odds.
Other players prefer to bet a tiny stake on three or four outsiders and trust their luck.
If you’re somewhere in the middle of these two camps then an each way accumulator might be your best option. This bet structure gives you plenty of flexibility to back outsiders, while keeping your stake relatively low.
In this guide we’ll explain what they’re all about and point you to our each way accumulator calculator!
What is an each way accumulator?
An each way accumulator is a bet type used by punters to improve their profit potential without greatly increasing their stake. The idea is to bring together a number of each way selections into one big combination bet, and hope each selection wins or places in order for the wider bet to pay out.
The complicated part of an EW accumulator is each individual selection is split into two: a win bet and a place bet. Calculating each way accas therefore becomes quite difficult because there are a lot of different possible outcomes to consider.
How each way accas work
Perhaps the best way to understand each way accas is to see them in action. They work by bringing together multiple selections into one big bet. Each selection needs to win or place in order for the whole acca to win, and for you get to a payout.
However, the EW part of the acca means your overall stake is doubled too, to cover for all those possible place finishes.
Here’s an example of a four-fold each way acca:
- Mulgrave at 6.0 in the 18:00
- Star Harbour at 4.5 in the 18:30
- Moondharrig at 4.0 in the 19:00
- Lucky Question at 4.0 in the 19:30
You could be on these horses individually, or in a straight-up acca. However, these options are backing each horse to win. With an EW acca you split your stake so they are covered by the place as well.
As you can see here, a £10 EW accumulator costs £20 overall, and carries potential returns of £4407.04. Of course, this maximum return is reliant on all horses winning.
Should any place, you’ll still win but the amount will be lower. How to calculate those returns is a different matter entirely.
Each way accumulator calculator
Calculating your returns from an each way acca is very difficult. It requires knowing the place split of every individual selection and factoring that into your final outcome. A four-way acca can have 13 potential results:
- 1x All four selections win
- 4x Three selections win, one places
- 4x Two selections win, two place
- 4x One selection wins, three place
The best way to figure out your returns, then, is to each way accumulator calculator like the one here at Paddy Power! Simply enter your stake and odds in the accumulator each way machine and let it do the work for you.
Each way accumulator tips
Now you know about each way accas, we recommend reading these tips before you place one for the first time:
Take your time – Paddy Power has thousands of horse racing odds to choose from and there’s always another race round the corner. So, don’t rush into your bets. Take your time and look at your options, familiarise yourself with the Paddy Power betslip, and only wager when you’re happy with your choice.
Understand your profit options – There are 13 different outcomes from a four-fold each way acca, and even more for every selection you make. So, make sure you understand what profits you could claim from your stake. If each horse places, are you still in profit?
Do your research – Use Paddy’s horse racing tips and get expert analysis ahead of every major UK and Irish race, so you can stay ahead of the game. Our tipsters can help shape your each way accas and point you in the right direction.
Start with an each way treble – If big each way accas feel a little daunting then why not start with just three selections? An each way treble is ideal for newcomers who are still getting accustomed to racing betting.
Cash out if you want – Paddy Power allows players to cash out their accas at any point, so you can call it a day even after the first race. This might be a more sensible option if you get a change of heart and believe one of your latter picks will be a flop.