A Patent is a full-cover multiple bet on three selections, containing 7 individual bets: 3 singles, 3 doubles, and 1 treble. Because it includes singles, a Patent returns something even if only one selection wins — making it a more conservative version of the Trixie.
Cost: at £1 per line, a Patent costs £7. At £5 per line, it costs £35. The stake multiplier is always 7.
Structure breakdown:
- Singles: A, B, C (3 bets)
- Doubles: AB, AC, BC (3 bets)
- Treble: ABC (1 bet)
When only one selection wins, the return comes solely from that selection's single. With two winners, you receive two singles plus the relevant double. With all three winners, all seven bets contribute, and the full treble pays in addition to the other combinations.
The Trixie is the Patent minus the three singles. If you are confident enough in the selections that you do not feel singles are necessary, a Trixie at 4 bets is more efficient. If you are less confident and want insurance in case only one selection wins, the Patent provides that safety net through the singles component.
Patents are popular in horse racing, where bettors pick three races and want returns even from a single winner. They are also used in football accumulator strategies where the singles act as a partial hedge against a disappointing day.
Example
£1 Patent (£7 total) on three football matches: Team A wins at 3.0, Team B wins at 2.5, Team C loses. Returns: Single A = £3, Single B = £2.50, Double AB = 3.0 × 2.5 = £7.50. Total return = £13. Profit = £13 - £7 = £6 on a £7 stake — a small profit from only two correct selections.