Betfair Trading for Beginners
Whether you are completely new to Betfair or frustrated by “magic” systems that over-promise and under-deliver, this guide will show you the real way to approach trading on the Betfair Exchange.
It distils the essential lessons from my video Betfair Trading for Beginners: How You Really Should Trade and gives you a clear, repeatable framework you can copy straight into your next session on Bet Angel.
Watch the video it you want to watch me go through this, step by step.
Why Most “Strategies” Fail New Traders
A shiny strategy means nothing if you overlook the basics. Too many beginners:
- Chase tips without understanding why a price moves.
- Change stakes mid-trade, creating messy P&L swings.
- Ignore risk management and then blame “bad luck”.
Master the underlying process first – the profits follow.
Understand the Core Trading Workflow
- Open a trade (enter the market).
- Close the trade (lock in the opposite order).
- Repeat the trade if possible (This increases profit chances)
- Hedge/Green-up (spread profit or limit loss across all outcomes at the end).
Follow that process every single time. Deviate and you invite chaos.
For example, lots of people back or lay to start a trade then hedge to trade out. Please don’t do this, hedging should be the final thing you do.
Each individual trade should be seperate from the hedging process. Fail to do this and your trade will end up unbalanced as any profit you have banked it spread across the field, but any loss isn’t!
Choosing the Right Runner – It’s Not Always the Favourite
The favourite attracts most liquidity, but that doesn’t mean you must trade it.
- Scan each ladder for balanced queue sizes.
- Look for clear, definable chart movements on your Bet Angel price charts.
- Shorter priced runners can offer quicker fills, but small profits and large movements
- Big priced runners can offer better, per tick profits and slower movement. Ideal for scalping.
- You don’t have to trade the favourite, but you should always be watching it.
Reading the Ladder and Order Book
Reverse your ladder so back prices rise and lay prices fall vertically – this makes it easier to visualise price movement.
Key signs to watch:
- Volume spikes: big money tells you where sentiment is shifting.
- Queue balance: similar money on both sides often leads to quick fills.
- Short-term chart slope: confirm momentum before you click.
Managing Open Positions: In-Trade Decisions
- Keep your stake size constant within a market – it keeps risk measurable.
- Use the net stake column to monitor exposure; it should return to zero before you open a fresh position.
- If the market speeds up, consider sliding your closing order a tick or two to capture extra value – but only when momentum is clear.
Hedging and Greening Up for a Stress-Free Finish
Hit the hedge button only after you have finished active trading. This:
- Locks in profit (or a manageable loss) on every runner.
- Removes emotion when the race goes in-play.
- Lets you watch the event knowing the trade is done – good or bad.
Timing Your Entry: The Optimal Pre-Race Window
Trade when:
- Liquidity is building (about 10–2 minutes before the off).
- The market still has structure – avoid the last frantic seconds.
- You can exit comfortably before the off to dodge in-play volatility.
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
- Focus on process, not magic systems.
- Keep trades tidy: open → close → hedge.
- Only trade if you have a good reason to do so.
- Don’t try to outthink the market
- Decide on a strategy then wait for it to unfold
- Maintain consistent stakes and track your net exposure.
Ready to put this into practice?
- Download Bet Angel for a free trial and replicate the ladder setup shown in the video.
- Join the Bet Angel Academy to deepen your skills.
- Share your trades and learn from like-minded traders on the Bet Angel Forum.
Commit to this structured approach and you’ll stop leaving money on the table – and start trading like a professional.