Does anyone on these boards like playing action points?

[airbag]

As you can tell by my post count, I'm new here. But I have been a non-participating reader for a couple of weeks. I've not seen anyone recommend taking an action point bet. These are my favorite types of bets because there is very little heartbreak if your team misses covering by just a point or two.

Anyway, I took 2 APs yesterday on GT and the over. I had 10-point caps on both and maxed out the wins. I should've put 20 point caps on them, but I'll take it.

Does anyone else here play action points?

 

[Deb12]

Hello airbag...

I've heard about action points and have also seen they are available at a few of the outs that I use but I am TOTALLY in the dark about how they work, could you possibly explain to me how action points work and what is the best way to use them?

thanks in advance

Deb

 

[airbag]

No problem, Deb. I've used them sparingly over the past 5-6 years, but am nowusing them more frequently. Basically, the size your win or loss depends on how much you cover by. For example, I took a $25 AP, with a 10-point cap on Georgia Tech -6 (it was really 5.5, but this makes the math a little simpler). I won $25 for each point that GT covered by, up to 10. Since GT won by more than 16 points, I maxed out and won $250. If GT had won the game by 7 points, I would only cover by 1, and therefore my win would be $25. On the contrary, if GT only won the game by 5 points, I would only lose $27.5. With a 10-point cap, the most I could lose was $275.

I'm not sure if there's any specific situation that AP's are suited for. I generally like to take them for large bets that I feel confident on. This way, even if I have bad luck and lose by the slimmest of margins, my loss reflects that. Don't you hate it when a last-second field goal or garbage-time free throw causes you to lose your entire bet? The types of bets that I've had the most success on with AP's is overs in the NBA. When the Lakers played the Wizards last week, I was very confident on the over. I also knew that if it somehow didn't cover, it would still get close to that total. So I took the AP and won easily (and maxed out with the help of overtime).

 

[airbag]

I should add that you can specify whatever you want the cap to be. If I think that an over can go WAY over, I'll put a 20-point cap on it. Of course, the risk is that it goes WAY under.

I used to have a contact who allowed unlimited AP's (with no cap). Man, could you win or lose big when you take one of those. I got totally demolished on a Knick game once, so I always cap my AP's now.

 

[Deb12]

Hey airbag..

Thanks for the reply and for explaining what action points were and how to use them, however, I am still a little confused on a couple of points with regard to your statement that the most you could lose on a 10 point cap ( using GT -6 as the example ) was $275.

I was under the impression that if GT lost the game outright you would simply lose your original $25 wager, or does it work in reverse that if they happen to lose outright then you stand to lose $25 for each point that they lose the game by?

thanks for your help

Deb

 

[airbag]

Deb,

Winning or losing outright is inconsequential for this type of wager. It's all in relation to the spread. Your winnings are determined by the number of points that you cover by. Your losses are determined by the number of points that you miss your cover by. In the case of the Georgia Tech (-6) example, If GT won the game by exactly 6 points, it would be a push. If they won by 7, I'd win $25, by 8: $50, by 9: $75, etc. Since I chose a 10-point cap, I could max out my winnings if GT won by 16 or more points (which is what happened). OTOH, If GT only won the game by 5 points, I missed the cover by 1, and would lose $27.50. If GT only won by 4, I'd lose $55. If Syracuse won by 4 points or more, I'd max out my loss and lose $275. I apologize if I wasn't clear enough.

-airbag.

 

[jaffers]

airbag...
what books offer action points i've never heard of them but am very interested...

 

[Deb12]

Hey airbag...

Gotcha, its crystal clear now....thanks so much for taking the time to explain it to me!!

One more question for you, is $25 the base wager or can you wager any amount you choose?

Thanks again

Deb

 

[airbag]

Jaffers: I use beteagle, which is an off-shore service for a local "business". I have to phone AP's in; they're not an option on beteagle's internet site. But ask around, because many of my friends here in the Northeast have various accounts and they put AP's in regularly.

Deb: You can wager any amount you choose. It's just that the wager per point is consistent. A friend of mine is much more big-time than me. He puts in $100 AP's with 20-point caps. He has the potential to win 2 dimes on each wager (or lose 2.2 dimes).

 

[Deb12]

airbag..

Thanks again...I really appreciate it...good luck to you sir!!

Deb

 

[airbag]

airbag..

Thanks again...I really appreciate it...good luck to you sir!!

Deb

Same to you. I'm out of town for the next few days, and I won't have internet access. I hope you and all of the others have a profitable holiday.