Round Robin Calculator: Cover All Your Parlay Combinations

Round robin bets turn your picks into multiple smaller parlays, giving you more ways to win—and more protection against one bad pick ruining everything. Our free calculator shows every combination, cost, and potential payout.

What Is a Round Robin Bet?

A round robin creates all possible parlay combinations of a certain size from your selections. Instead of one all-or-nothing parlay, you get multiple smaller parlays that can win independently.

Quick Answer: A round robin of 3 picks "by 2s" creates three 2-team parlays. If you bet $10 on each, your total cost is $30. Two of your three picks can win, and you still profit—unlike a straight 3-team parlay where one loss loses everything.

How to Use Our Free Round Robin Calculator

Use the Round Robin Calculator →

Enter your picks and see all parlay combinations with exact payouts.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter Your Picks: Add odds for each selection

2. Select Parlay Size: 2-way, 3-way, or multiple sizes

3. Enter Bet Amount: Per-parlay wager

4. View Combinations: See all parlays and total cost

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Number of Picks	Your selections	4
Parlay Size	Legs per parlay	2-way
Bet per Parlay	Each parlay stake	$10
Total Parlays	Number of combinations	6
Total Cost	All parlays combined	$60

Round Robin Combinations

How Many Parlays?

The number of parlays depends on picks and parlay size:

Picks	2-Way Parlays	3-Way Parlays	4-Way Parlays
3	3	1	—
4	6	4	1
5	10	10	5
6	15	20	15
7	21	35	35
8	28	56	70

Formula: C(n,k) = n! / (k!(n-k)!)

Round Robin "By 2s" Example

4 picks: A, B, C, D

Creates 6 two-team parlays:

1. A + B
2. A + C
3. A + D
4. B + C
5. B + D
6. C + D

If 3 picks win (A, B, C lose, D wins only 3 parlays):

• A + B: Win ✓
• A + C: Win ✓
• B + C: Win ✓
• A + D, B + D, C + D: Lose ✗

Result: 3 winning parlays out of 6—still profitable!

Round Robin vs. Straight Parlay

Risk Comparison

4-Team Straight Parlay:

• One loss = Lose entire bet
• Must go 4-0 to profit
• Higher potential payout

4-Pick Round Robin by 2s:

• Can go 3-1 and profit
• Can go 2-2 and break even (roughly)
• Lower maximum payout but more consistent

Example Comparison

Picks: 4 games at -110 each Straight parlay bet: $60

Result	Straight Parlay	Round Robin (6×$10)
4-0	+$680	+$98
3-1	-$60	+$18
2-2	-$60	-$7
1-3	-$60	-$44
0-4	-$60	-$60

Round robin smooths variance significantly.

Real-World Round Robin Examples

Example 1: NFL Sunday (4 Picks by 2s)

Picks:

• Chiefs -3 (-110)
• Packers ML (-150)
• Ravens -6.5 (-110)
• Bills/Dolphins Over 48 (-110)

Round robin by 2s: 6 parlays × $10 = $60 total

If Chiefs, Packers, and Over hit (3-1):

• Chiefs + Packers: Win (~$24.50)
• Chiefs + Over: Win (~$26.45)
• Packers + Over: Win (~$24.50)
• Chiefs + Ravens: Lose
• Packers + Ravens: Lose
• Ravens + Over: Lose

Payout: ~$75.45 on $60 bet = +$15.45 profit

Example 2: MLB (5 Picks by 3s)

Picks: 5 games at average +100 odds

Round robin by 3s: 10 parlays × $5 = $50 total

Each 3-way parlay pays: ~$40 (8:1 at +100 each)

If 4 picks hit (4-1):

• 4 winning parlays (combinations without the loser)
• Payout: 4 × $40 = $160
• Profit: $110

Example 3: Full Round Robin (3 Picks, All Combinations)

Picks: 3 games at -110

Full round robin:

• 3 two-way parlays × $10 = $30
• 1 three-way parlay × $10 = $10
• Total: $40

If all 3 hit:

• Three 2-ways: ~$79.35
• One 3-way: ~$59.58
• Total: $138.93 profit

If 2 hit:

• One 2-way wins: ~$26.45
• Three 2-ways lose: -$30
• 3-way loses: -$10
• Net: -$13.55 (much better than losing $40 straight parlay)

When Round Robins Make Sense

Good Situations

1. Multiple strong picks: You like 4+ games but don't want all-or-nothing risk

2. Hedging confidence: Very confident in 2-3 picks, less sure about others

3. Bankroll protection: Can't afford straight parlay's variance

4. Close odds games: -110 type bets where any game could go either way

Less Ideal Situations

1. Few picks: 3 picks barely benefit from round robin structure

2. Heavy favorites: Parlay juice hurts more on low-odds selections

3. Correlated outcomes: Same-game selections may violate terms

4. Maximum payout seeking: Round robins cap your upside

Round Robin Strategy

Optimal Parlay Size

Your Confidence	Recommended Size
Very high (80%+)	Higher (3-way, 4-way)
High (70%)	2-way or 3-way
Moderate (60%)	2-way only
Mixed	Multiple sizes

Sizing Your Bets

Conservative: Same amount per parlay as you'd bet straight Aggressive: Total round robin cost = what you'd bet on straight parlay

Managing Multiple Sizes

You can round robin "by 2s and 3s":

• 4 picks by 2s = 6 parlays
• 4 picks by 3s = 4 parlays
• Total: 10 parlays

More combinations = more cost but more coverage.

Common Round Robin Mistakes

1. Underestimating Cost: 8 picks by 2s = 28 parlays. At $10 each, that's $280!

2. Forgetting House Edge: More parlays = more juice paid. Round robins don't eliminate vig.

3. Over-Complicating: Sometimes a straight parlay or straight bets are better.

4. Ignoring Break-Even: Know how many picks must hit to profit.

5. Mixing Heavy Favorites: -300 favorites in round robins offer poor value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are round robins better than parlays?

They have lower variance and protect against single losses, but they also cap upside and cost more in juice. Better for risk management, not for maximum profit potential.

How many picks do I need for a round robin?

Minimum 3 picks. Round robins become more valuable with 4+ picks where straight parlay risk is highest.

Can I do round robins with same-game parlays?

Check your sportsbook. Some allow SGP round robins, others don't.

What's the minimum round robin bet?

Depends on the book. Usually $1-$5 per parlay, multiplied by number of combinations.

Should I include different parlay sizes?

Optional. "By 2s" is most common, but you can add 3s, 4s, etc. for more coverage at higher cost.

Do round robins have better odds than straight parlays?

No. Each individual parlay has the same odds. Round robins just create multiple parlays.

Round Robin Expected Value

The Math Reality

Round robins don't change expected value—they change variance:

4 picks at -110, each 52.4% to win:

• Straight parlay EV: Negative (multiplied juice)
• Round robin EV: Same negative (just distributed)

You're not beating the house edge with round robins—you're smoothing outcomes.

When EV Improves

If your picks have positive expected value:

• Straight parlay multiplies the edge
• Round robin captures that edge more consistently

For +EV bettors, round robins can be smart bankroll management.

Pro Tips for Round Robins

• Stick to 2-way for beginners: Easiest to understand and manage

• Calculate total cost first: Don't be surprised by the bill

• Use for 4-6 picks: Sweet spot for round robin value

• Track break-even: Know how many winners you need

• Don't overuse: Sometimes straight bets are simpler and better

Related Betting Calculators

• Parlay Calculator - Single parlay payouts
• Teaser Calculator - Point-adjusted parlays
• Hedge Calculator - Lock in profits
• Expected Value Calculator - EV analysis
• Odds Converter - Compare odds formats

Conclusion

Round robins offer smart risk management by creating multiple parlays from your picks. Our calculator shows every combination, total cost, and potential payouts—helping you decide when round robins make sense versus straight parlays or individual bets.

Calculate Your Round Robin Now →

Use round robins when you have multiple strong picks but can't stomach all-or-nothing risk. Just remember: they don't beat the house edge—they just make the ride smoother.