Lay Ladder Staking Plan
Overview
A structured progression system for lay betting. After each loss, move up the ladder (increase stake). After each win, move down or reset. The ladder is predefined with escalating stake levels.
How It Works
Define a ladder of stake levels (or liability levels). Start at the bottom:
- Lose (selection wins): Move up one rung (higher stake)
- Win (selection loses): Move down one or more rungs (lower stake) or reset to bottom
Example ladder (stakes): £10 → £15 → £25 → £40 → £65 → £105…
The exact ladder can be fixed amounts, percentages, or follow a sequence (Fibonacci-like).
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
ladder |
number[] | [10,15,25,40,65,105] | The stake ladder sequence |
steps_down |
number | 1 | How many rungs to drop after a win |
Risk Assessment
- Risk Level: Medium (depends on ladder design)
- Max Drawdown: Controlled by ladder length and step sizes
- Recommended Bankroll: Must cover the sum of all ladder rungs
- Ruin Risk: Medium — predefined ladder limits runaway escalation
When to Use
- You want more structure than ad-hoc progression
- Your lay strike rate is reasonable
- You prefer mechanical rules to discretionary staking
When to Avoid
- The ladder is poorly calibrated to your strike rate and odds
- Your lay selections have very high odds (liability escalates fast)
Betfair Exchange Notes
- Recommendation: Build your ladder based on liability, not stake. A stake-based ladder at high odds creates dangerous liability jumps.
- Example liability ladder: £50 → £75 → £125 → £200 → £325…
Related Plans
- Fibonacci — A natural ladder (1,1,2,3,5,8…)
- Lay Labouchere — Sequence-based lay progression
- Lay Maria — More aggressive lay recovery
Sources
- Plan catalog reference: The Staking Machine — staking plan software with 50+ plans
- Plan mechanics: Mathematical formulas and plan concepts are in the public domain