The Zigzag strategy has received a lot of flattering reviews. It is said to give good results in basketball or hockey betting. The method is only suitable for skill-based games. It cannot be used during the regular season.
The essence of the Zigzag strategy
The method is based on the psychology of the teams and players. The NBA and NHL use a 7-match play-off series. The bettor has to wait for the first match between the teams. After the meeting, bet on the losing side to win the next round of the series.
The advantages of this method are abundant. The main pluses are:
- Higher odds on the losing team.
- Increased motivation of the players to take the second game and level the score.
- Relaxation of the winners of the first game.
The creation of the tactic is attributed to Tony Salinas. The capper has noticed that the BCs often underestimate teams after their first loss in a series. And the bookies give good odds on the losing side having to play on someone else’s court.
A few words on the calculations of the ZigZag strategy
Betting companies base their odds on different criteria. The venue in which the match takes place is also taken into account. Statistically, it is easier for teams to play with the support of the home stands. In the National Basketball Association the winning percentage of home games is around 64%. The figure is lower in the NHL. The overall numbers are as high as 55%.
Because of the bookmaker’s overestimation of the importance of home games and there is an opportunity to earn good money when betting on a victory of guests. In the NBA, away games are won 36% of the time. The figures seem insignificant. In fact, it is more than a third of the matches. That is, out of 9 bets, 3 will score. The total number seems small. However, it’s worth adding here:
- higher odds on the underdog;
- the correct allocation model for the pot;
- a preliminary analysis of the game.
Yes, you will have to analyze the matches too. Without it, you can’t count on success in betting. Not a single strategy will work if a player just bets blindly, without regard for the characteristics of the teams or players involved. Such bets will be of no use.
The NHL is ideal for Zigzag tactics
When choosing a sporting discipline for the above game scheme, we recommend opting for NHL games. There are several reasons for this advice. The league has its favourites and underdogs. However, the “average hospital temperature” during the playoffs evens out. Random teams don’t get into the playoffs. The competition is fierce and series scores of 4-0 in the first round are very rare. In the 2020-2021 season this has only happened 2 times. The St. Louis Blues and Edmonton Oilers left the knockout stages with a dry run.
In the season before last, only the New York Rangers did not win a single match. That is, the Zigzag tactic could potentially work in 11 pairings in the first round.
Most clubs have their own mega-stars, capable of pulling the game off even when there are undesirable developments on the pitch. In other words, equal teams go into skill games. The statistics also speak for Zigzag betting on this type of match. In the NHL, the home team win 55% of the time. Almost half of the games are won by the visitors.
Important warning for players
Sports betting enthusiasts need to understand another simple point. There are no perfect gambling strategies. No tactic has ever been guaranteed to win over the long haul. “Forks” seem to be the best betting scheme, but there are a lot of nuances:
- bookmakers blocking the account;
- returns with single odds;
- the need to split the pot between different bookmakers;
- problems with withdrawals from offshore betting companies.
“Zigzag” is no exception. The scheme works, but it will not provide a 100% guarantee of bypassing the operator. Bookmaker clients should use this tactic only in conjunction with others. And the preliminary analysis of the match has not been cancelled.
How to analyse matches to improve performance?
The only way to improve the overall performance is to analyse the matches in detail. Blindly betting on the losing side and believing in the team’s inordinate motivation is not an option. Sometimes objective factors literally cry out for abandoning a bet. Attention should be paid to different points:
- It is important to consider team line-ups. Every club has leaders. Sometimes these athletes are sidelined or don’t show the best form. This tactic is not applicable if the losing team’s main defenders or forwards are not at their best. In such cases, the user runs the risk of losing the pot.
- Do not rely on Zigzag if your team is in a systemic crisis. It is possible to make the playoffs thanks to past victories. Clubs that have fallen to a losing streak often quit in the first round of a knockout phase, failing to take a single game from their opponents.
- It is also important to consider the statistics of the head-to-head encounters. One club can “successfully” lose to another almost every meeting. Naturally, in such situations betting with these tactics is meaningless. The risk of losing the pot remains as high as possible.
We do not recommend betting on the outsider to win against the clear favourite. In the regular season such “excesses” happen often, but at Play Off the teams try to show maximum concentration. It’s a good idea to play a matchup of approximately equal strengths.
How do I allocate my bankroll to the ZigZag strategy in sports betting?
The lion’s share of success depends on a bettor’s ability to correctly allocate his betting account balance. We suggest opting for a flat tactic. In this case, the player needs to bet a percentage of the bank. After winning the absolute bet increases, after losing the bet decreases. Percentages remain unchanged. Let’s say a player bets 5% of his bankroll. The starting balance of the account is 1000 roubles. The first bet would have to be 50 roubles. After losing the second bet will be 47.5 roubles. Flat does not allow to quickly increase the bankroll. However, a complete “plum” in a series of losses does not come. The scheme is conservative. That is why it is often recommended by leading professional bettors.