Every sports betting enthusiast is constantly searching for the most successful strategy or method for placing bets. There is a vast number of different systems and approaches, and one of the oldest and most reliable methods is betting on the open and closing lines. Many professionals in the betting world favor this approach and actively use it. In today’s article, we will discuss open and closing line bets, delve into all the nuances, and explore the best betting options.
Open Line Betting in Sports
This term refers to the lines that have just appeared in the bookmaker’s offerings.
At this point, the odds have not yet been adjusted, and bettors have not influenced them in any way. In such a situation, a player can place a very successful bet and maximize their profit. Every bettor knows that odds can significantly change a few days before a match and just before the event. The odds for the favorite team decrease, while those for the underdog increase. This is what the bettor should capitalize on if they want to make substantial earnings. The changes in odds depend on the bank’s inflows and unexpected news about the upcoming sports event. If a large number of players bet on the favorite, the odds will significantly decrease. The initial odds promise good profits, unlike the final odds.
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Let’s analyze it with an example:
In the match between “Manchester United” and “Wolverhampton,” the initial odds for a home win (P1) in the open line were 1.71. Four minutes before the start of the match, there was a final odds change, after which the match went into live mode. The final odds were 1.58. A player who bet on the victory of “Manchester United” before the match lost 18% of the potential winnings. Considering the bookmaker’s margin, this is a significant percentage. Undoubtedly, the bettor takes a risk when choosing the winner weeks before the match, but the initial odds compensate for it.
Another example: In the final of the 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League, “Chelsea” had odds of 3.56 before the match. However, the opening line showed odds of 4.1! A player could have earned much more if they had bet immediately after the event appeared in the bookmaker’s offerings.
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The most experienced players use various bots that alert them to the appearance of lines for the desired match. This greatly simplifies the task for beginners and saves a lot of time.
Changes in bookmakers’ odds for a football match
Closing Line Betting in Sports
The closing line is the final odds change for an event before it goes into live format.
This final value differs significantly from the initial parameter and allows skillful bettors to make good money. The closing odds are designed for players who can filter out unnecessary information and rely on their own knowledge. It’s easy to understand that we are interested in odds increases in such a situation. This occurs when an event appears highly predictable, and any novice in the world of betting would bet on the obvious outcome. Bets with increasing odds before the match always confuse the majority of bookmaker customers. It is safe to say that everyone has encountered a situation where an event seems obvious in theory, but in practice, it turns out differently. The most preferable bets in such situations are the form and total. Let’s try to understand this with an example:
Once again, let’s consider the recent UEFA Champions League final. The odds for the under 2.5 total goals at the opening lines were 1.86, but before the match itself, they increased to 2.12. This is because many newcomers and casual football fans decided to try their luck in sports betting. The “Chelsea” – “Manchester City” fixture promised many scoring opportunities and a high-scoring match. However, experienced players know the style of each team and could predict a less goal-filled game with a high probability. And that’s exactly what happened. The changes in odds were not significant, but in betting, every percentage of the bank has its weight.
How to Use the Opening and Closing Lines?
The essence of each tactic is clear; now let’s understand which sports are best suited for these approaches. I can immediately say that top-level championships are not the best option. Bookmakers take into account all the nuances and factors, including weather conditions, player injuries, and tournament standings, when setting the odds. Consequently, any changes that occur are also calculated by the bookmaker. We need a situation where the bookmaker has not noticed certain game peculiarities or made an error in the initial odds.
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The most promising option would be to bet on lower divisions because bookmakers automatically adjust the odds for such events. The computer calculates the odds based on the history of previous encounters and overall performance. The machine does not consider injuries, motivation, or tournament standings. If a player is making professional bets, they should closely follow such championships to find an opportunity to outsmart the bookmaker.
One should also not forget about high-profile events that always attract a large number of fans. In such situations, there are often surges in betting on the favorite, which benefits any experienced bettor. To choose the right event, one needs to conduct extensive analytical work. Studying information from news sources will help correctly identify the best moment to place a bet. Also, one should not disregard the danger of collective thinking; a true professional never listens to the opinions of surrounding advisors.
Conclusion
Betting on open and closing lines is an excellent option for those who prefer traditional bets. Even an apparent event with low odds can bring significant profits if the bet is placed at the right time. The opening line is suitable for bettors who rely more on luck and gut feelings, while the closing line is suitable for players who conduct in-depth analysis of upcoming games. Such tactics can teach a novice to view matches correctly and not succumb to collective thinking. These qualities are crucial for every sports betting enthusiast.