What Is a Flag Bet? 23 Bets Explained With Examples and Comparisons
Last updated: April 2026
A Flag bet is 23 bets across 4 selections: a full Yankee (6 doubles, 4 trebles, 1 four-fold) plus 6 single-stakes-about (SSA) pairs — 12 additional conditional bets. A £1 Flag costs £23. It's a niche bet type that most recreational bettors will never need, but understanding it helps you see the full landscape of full-cover bets. The Flag bet explained simply: it's a Yankee with SSA pairs bolted on for additional conditional coverage.
Try the Flag Calculator → Work out your returns instantly with our free flag calculator.
Flag bet structure — all 23 bets
| Bet Type | Count | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Doubles | 6 | AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD |
| Trebles | 4 | ABC, ABD, ACD, BCD |
| Four-fold | 1 | ABCD |
| SSA pairs | 6 pairs = 12 bets | AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, CD (2 bets per pair) |
| Total | 23 bets |
The first 11 bets are identical to a Yankee. The extra 12 are single-stakes-about pairs.
What is single-stakes-about (SSA)?
An SSA pair links two selections with conditional bets. For selections A and B:
Leg 1: Stake on A. If A wins, the profit goes as a new bet on B.
Leg 2: Stake on B. If B wins, the profit goes as a new bet on A.
Each pair costs 2 units. The Flag has 6 pairs (all possible pairings of 4 selections) = 12 SSA bets.
How SSA results play out
| Outcome | SSA Pair Result |
|---|---|
| Both A and B win | Both legs pay — strong returns (similar to enhanced doubles) |
| Only A wins | Leg 1: A wins, profit stakes on B, B loses — net zero from pair |
| Only B wins | Mirror of above — net zero from pair |
| Neither wins | Both legs lose — loss of 2 units from pair |
The key insight: SSA pairs only produce returns when both selections in the pair win. A single winner in a pair gives you nothing — the profit is staked on the loser and lost. There's a psychology to SSA bets: they feel like they offer more protection than they actually do, because the "conditional" framing makes them seem safer than standard doubles. In reality, SSA pairs are roughly equivalent to enhanced doubles with a different payout structure.
Flag worked example
Four horse racing selections:
| Selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| A | 3/1 (4.00) |
| B | 5/1 (6.00) |
| C | 4/1 (5.00) |
| D | 7/2 (4.50) |
£1 Flag = £23 total stake
All 4 win
Yankee portion: 6 doubles + 4 trebles + 1 four-fold = approximately £1,134.50 at these odds.
SSA portion: all 6 pairs have both selections winning, producing returns based on conditional stakes. The SSA adds roughly £200-£350 on top.
Total approximate returns: £1,400-£1,500. Profit: ~£1,377-£1,477.
3 of 4 win (A, B, C — D loses)
Yankee: 3 winning doubles + 1 treble = £354.00. SSA: pairs AB, AC, BC all have both winners — those 3 pairs contribute. Pairs AD, BD, CD include loser D — contribute nothing.
2 of 4 win
Yankee: 1 winning double. SSA: 1 pair (the pair of both winners) contributes. 5 pairs contribute nothing.
Our Flag calculator handles the full SSA calculation alongside the Yankee portion.
Flag vs Yankee vs Lucky 15
| Flag | Yankee | Lucky 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selections | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Total bets | 23 | 11 | 15 |
| Cost (£1) | £23 | £11 | £15 |
| Includes singles? | No (SSA instead) | No | Yes |
| 1-winner protection | No | No | Yes (consolation bonus) |
Flag vs Yankee: the Flag costs roughly double (£23 vs £11) and adds SSA coverage. The extra returns from SSA pairs are meaningful when 3-4 selections win, but they add nothing when only 1-2 come in. For most bettors, the Yankee is simpler and more cost-efficient.
Flag vs Lucky 15: the Lucky 15 provides singles-based protection for 1 winner at lower cost (£15 vs £23). The Flag provides SSA coverage that only pays when pairs win. The Lucky 15 is more defensive; the Flag is more aggressive. For the vast majority of recreational bettors, the Lucky 15 is the better bet at 4 selections.
Super Flag bet
A Super Flag extends to 5 selections: a Canadian (26 bets) plus 10 SSA pairs (20 bets) = 46 bets total. A £1 Super Flag costs £46. Beyond the Super Flag, the format continues: Heinz Flag (6 selections), Super Heinz Flag (7 selections), and Goliath Flag (8 selections) — each adding SSA pairs to the corresponding standard bet. These are increasingly niche.
When to use a Flag
Honestly, for most bettors, almost never. The Flag occupies a narrow space between the Yankee and the Lucky 15, and neither the cost nor the coverage profile is clearly superior to either alternative.
- If you want 1-winner protection: choose a Lucky 15 (singles + consolation bonus, £15)
- If you want the cheapest no-singles coverage: choose a Yankee (£11)
- If you specifically want conditional SSA coverage: the Flag is the only option (£23)
Flags are primarily placed by experienced horse racing bettors who understand SSA mechanics. For everyone else, the Yankee or Lucky 15 is simpler, cheaper, and easier to understand. For managing multi-bet costs, see our bankroll management guide.
Frequently asked questions
Written by
David Burke
David is a gambling industry analyst and poker player based between London, Spain, and Malta. He has spent over a decade observing the European betting and casino landscape, with particular expertise in odds, probability, game strategy, and how the bookmaking industry works. At WiseStaker, David writes guides on bet types, game rules, and the mathematics behind gambling.
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