First Four Betting Guide

I personally think that a First Four bet is one of the most thrilling and profitable exotic bets in Australian horse racing. In this guide, you will learn how to make a First Four bet, how much it will cost you, and the various types of bets, as well as how to maximise your odds of winning - all at AustralianBettingSites.

First Four betting involves choosing the horses that will come 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in a specific order. It is among the most difficult exotic bets to hit but it can pay huge amounts, sometimes in thousands.

• First four bet meaning: Place a bet on who will finish first, second, third and fourth in a race.
• First four bet explained: It can be played in several ways, straight, boxed, standout, or a combination of several. The more the coverage, the higher your chance, but the more expensive it becomes.

These new betting sites are worth trying out because of their improved odds and offers - ideal for first four betting, that’s for sure.

Here are 5 first four betting strategies to help you land a big win:

1. Box Key Runners: Select one outstanding or favourite horse as your key to win and box some other horses around it to fill other placings. This provides you with a little flexibility, but a good anchor. This approach is effective in large races with an obvious stand-out, such as what punters seek in Melbourne Cup Tips.
2. Use Speed Maps: Speed maps assist you in determining which horses will go on the lead, midfield, or start out the back. A range of running styles also provides you with more coverage. Similarly to NRL Tips, where the formation and momentum of teams are important, the pace scenarios can be used to make wiser choices.
3. Throw in Roughies: Adding one or two outsiders can make a huge difference to your potential gain. These longshots can creep into the placings, particularly in large and unpredictable fields, just as hidden value may be found in Greyhound Betting, where a wide box runner may surprise an upset.
4. Watch Betting Moves: It is possible to get late market movements indicating stable confidence or good mail by insiders. When a horse firms up a lot, it would be worth considering, even when it was not on your radar in the first place. Just as in Tennis betting, when sharp money can turn the odds, late action is often a lot to tell.
5. Flexi Betting: On a flexi bet, you can increase the amount of your investment and still receive a piece of the payout even when you are not able to invest in the full unit. It is a cost effective method of covering more combinations, as it is with multiple leg multis in AFL tipswhereby risk is spread cheaply.

The comparison between risk and reward can be made with the help of understanding first four vs other bet types, such as the difference between exacta.

Bet Type	How It Works	Example Bet	Winning Bet	Losing Bet
Exacta	Pick 1st and 2nd in exact order	4 to win, 7 to run 2nd	Result: 4-7 → Win	Any other order → Lose
First Four	Pick 1st to 4th in exact order	3, 5, 1, 9	Result: 3-5-1-9 → Win	One horse out of order → Lose

This first four bet horse racing comparison with trifectas is all about greater risk and greater prices.

Bet Type	How It Works	Example Bet	Winning Bet	Losing Bet
Trifecta	Pick 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in exact order (or box in any order)	7, 2, 1	Result: 7-2-1 → Win	Any horse outside top 3 or wrong order → Lose
First Four	Pick 1st to 4th in exact order	4, 9, 2, 6	Result: 4-9-2-6 → Win	Any horse out of order or outside top 4 → Lose

It is good to have an idea of how various types of bets are actually played out in real races when making a First Four. With the best betting apps and betting sites, you can have access to different First Four formats and customise your bet in terms of risk and reward.

Bet Type	How It Works	Example Bet	Winning Bet	Losing Bet
Boxed First Four	Select 4+ horses to finish in top 4 in any order	Horses 1, 3, 5, 7	All finish top 4 in any order → Win	One or more horses finish outside top 4 → Lose
Straight First Four	Pick exact order of top four finishers	4, 6, 2, 1	Finish in that exact order → Win	Any horse finishes out of order → Lose
Standout First Four	Pick one horse to win and others to fill 2nd–4th in any order	8 to win; 1, 2, 6 to place	8 wins; others finish in top 4 → Win	8 doesn’t win or others miss top 4 → Lose
Multiple First Four	Pick multiple combinations for each position	1-2 for 1st, 3-4 for 2nd/3rd, 5-6 for 4th	Any one combo matches exact order → Win	All combinations fail to match race order → Lose

Among the exotic bets, First Four betting is one of the bets that can pay the highest and it is also a difficult bet. It is important to measure your risk tolerance and anticipated payoff when comparing it to other alternatives, such as quinellas or trifectas. Most betting bonuses extend to exotic bets that can provide your bankroll with an added advantage.

Bet Type	How It Works	Example Bet	Winning Bet	Losing Bet
Quinella	Pick 1st and 2nd in any order	Horses 4, 5	Finish 4-5 or 5-4 → Win	One horse misses top 2 → Lose
Trifecta	Pick 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in exact order	1, 7, 9	Finish in that exact order → Win	Wrong order or any horse misses top 3 → Lose
First Four	Pick 1st to 4th in exact order	2, 6, 1, 4	Finish in that exact order → Win	One or more horses in wrong position → Lose