Plunder 101: Gambling School

Shiver me timbers buccaneers ... class is in session!

I've been fielding several questions about betting strategies, odds, markets, etc. so I thought I would put together a handy little cheat sheet for those who need it.

This teacher has a peg leg

• Understanding Key MLB Betting Markets

Total Bases

This market measures how many bases a player accumulates from hits (singles = 1 base, doubles = 2, triples = 3, home runs = 4). Walks and stolen bases don’t count, making it a bet focused on pure hitting. Betting on total bases requires analyzing matchups, pitcher tendencies, and ballpark factors.

Hits + Runs + RBIs (H+R+RBI)

This is a combined stat that rewards players for their overall offensive contribution. A batter who gets a hit, scores a run, or drives in a run will add to their total. This bet is great for targeting players in high-scoring games or those batting in key lineup positions where they’ll have plenty of opportunities. NOTE: I love this market, but it's often very juicy for the top players. This means we need to look for value and/or utilize available promotions and boosts (see more details below).

Hit Parlays

A hit parlay combines multiple players to each record at least one hit. While single hit bets can have low odds, combining multiple players can offer a decent payout.

Home Runs

Betting on a player to hit a home run can be risky but offers big rewards. The danger here is always pissing away your profits on too many HR bets. This is why ideally we want our bet size on HR plays to be 25-33% max for a player vs. other bets in markets like HRR and TB.

• Smart Betting Strategies

Proper Unit Sizing & Bankroll Management

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is betting too much on a single wager. A good rule of thumb is to bet 1-3% of your bankroll per wager. For example, if your bankroll is $1,000, a single betting unit should be between $10-$30 (probably closer to $10). This approach helps you manage losses and avoid going bust.

Chasing Plus-Money Wagers

Plus-money bets (+100 or higher) offer better value since you win more than you risk. Instead of betting on heavy favorites (-135 or worse), targeting underdog or plus-money props can maximize long-term profitability. MLB is an unpredictable sport, and betting on value plays rather than favorites can lead to more sustainable success. NOTE: I realize that some days I list "target markets" that end up being too juicy (aka "crappy odds), but I'm just calling your attention to the options out there. Sometimes we get lucky and find a diamond in the rough as well.

Capitalizing on Boosts and Promos

It is vital to take advantage of EVERY boost, promotion and favorable line we can. With that in mind, I highly recommend having accounts at EVERY sportsbook offered to you. If you're only using 1-2 books, you are screwing yourself out of an advantage. If you needed to buy a car and that car was $30,000 at the two most popular dealerships in town, but the exact same car was $25,000 at a third dealership, why would you deprive yourself of that savings?

Same goes for sportsbooks ... Join 'em all and use all of their daily bonuses, promo boosts and free bet plays as possible. These are some of the ways we can take a juiced up market we like and bring it to a more manageable number.

• QUESTION: I don't have the time to do all of this work. Can you just give me all the plays you do?

ANSWER: Yes I can! All my plays are posted in the Break the Odds Discord. Reality is ... doing these plays takes TIME, so it's a premium service you gotta pay for. You can save 25% with the code PLUNDER though ... so it's a start! JOIN NOW

• QUESTION: Do you play every single play you post and every unit?

ANSWER: Not always, but mostly yes. If I'm putting a guy on the list it means I intend to have some kind of exposure to him. Some might be heavier than others, but usually everyone is in the mix. Beyond that, I can also say that if I list something like "H+R+R/TB (1u)" that doesn't mean I'm putting a full unit on each market. Ultimately I want to decide my comfort level of exposure on a player and work backwards.

For example ... I may be willing to invest 1.5u total on a player on a given day. So that in turn could mean 1u on H+R+R, 0.25 on a HR, and 0.25 in a parlay. Or maybe it's 0.6 on H+R+R, 0.4 on TB, 0.2 on a HR and 0.3 on parlays. You get the idea ... but mainly I'll to gauge risk first and go from there.

Have more questions? Let me know!