What is a Lucky 15 and how does it work?

Telegraph

11-03-2025

A Lucky 15 is a multiple bet comprising four selections in 15 combinations of singles, doubles, trebles and an accumulator. This article explains in easy-to-understand terms how a Lucky 15 works and why it is ideal for Cheltenham, where there are seven top-class races on each of the four days of the Cheltenham Festival.
Lucky 15s – the basics
Lucky 15s are most commonly used for horse racing bets but can also be placed on other sports.
A Lucky 15 consists of 15 bets of equal value made on four selections in separate events. It comprises four singles, six doubles, four trebles and a fourfold accumulator, and you only need one selection to win to ensure a return. However, the more selections that win, the higher your return will be.
Lucky 15 permutations
A Lucky 15 covers your four selections (called A, B, C and D here) in the following ways:
Lucky 15s – advantages and disadvantages
A Lucky 15 works well when you have four selections in which you have a good degree of confidence. One winner out of four guarantees some return but that number rises to three winning permutations for two winners, seven for three winners and 15 if all four come in.
On the downside, each of the 15 bets must have the same unit stake, so you can't allocate a greater stake to, say, those bets involving any of your selections you think are stronger than the others. But you can work around this by placing the 15 bets individually and allocating different stakes to some.
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Each-way Lucky 15 betting
With an each-way Lucky 15, all the bets are each-way bets so there are 30 in total, making the total stake of an each-way Lucky 15 double that of a regular one.
The main advantage of an each-way Lucky 15 is that you earn a return for each selection that places. Therefore, it makes sense to have selections in which the each-way place payout will be more than your original stake. So if a bookmaker is paying ⅕ of the odds for a place, back selections at 5/1 or greater, and if they are paying ¼ for a place, ensure the price is 4/1 or greater.
Lucky 15 variations
The most common similar multiple bet to a Lucky 15 is a Yankee, which consists of four selections as well but has only 11 permutations: the six doubles, four trebles and one accumulator. A Yankee saves on your stake money but a minimum of two selections must win to ensure a return.
A Patent removes one more selection from the equation, so there are three singles, three doubles and a treble and, again, only one winner is needed to guarantee a return.
If the Patent and Yankee can be considered smaller siblings of the Lucky 15 family, there are bigger (but more expensive) relatives too. They include:
Lucky 31: Five selections (five singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 fourfolds and one fivefold)
Lucky 63: Six selections (six singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, six fivefolds, one sixfold)
Super Heinz (120 bets): Seven selections (21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 fourfolds, 21 fourfolds, seven sixfolds and one sevenfold)