Key Takeaways

- A Canadian (Super Yankee) combines 5 selections into 26 bets: 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-folds and 1 five-fold. - At least two winners are required for any return, since the bet contains no singles. - A Canadian calculator settles all 26 combinations instantly, including each-way terms and bonuses. - It costs more than a Yankee (26 vs 11 stakes) but gives an extra layer of coverage for a fifth selection.

What Is a Canadian Bet (Super Yankee)?

A Canadian — also known as a Super Yankee — is a full-cover multiple bet made from 5 selections. It places 26 bets in total: 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-folds and a single five-fold accumulator. Your total stake is 26 times the unit stake, so a £1 Canadian costs £26. Because there are no singles in the bet, you need at least two winners to see any return. The Canadian is a natural step up from the Yankee (which covers 4 selections with 11 bets) and is a staple of horse racing punters who fancy five horses on a card. Bookmakers often attach a bonus — typically 10-20% — when all five selections win, which can turn a strong day into a very profitable one. Like all full-cover bets, the Canadian's appeal is insurance: you can afford a couple of losers and still collect from the winning combinations, unlike a straight 5-fold accumulator that dies with one loser.

How Does a Canadian Bet Calculator Work?

The calculator needs three things from you: the odds of each of the 5 selections, your unit stake, and the outcome of each selection (won, placed or lost). It then works through all 26 combinations. Each winning double multiplies the two selections' decimal odds by the unit stake; each winning treble multiplies three; each winning four-fold multiplies four; and the five-fold multiplies all five. For example, with a £1 unit stake and two winners at 4/1 (5.0) and 3/1 (4.0), that double returns £20. If you're betting each-way, the calculator splits every combination into win and place halves, applying the each-way fraction (usually 1/4 or 1/5 of the odds) to placed selections. It then sums every paying combination, applies any all-winners bonus, and shows your total return, total stake and profit. Doing this by hand means 26 separate calculations — the calculator removes the error risk entirely.

Worked Example: Canadian Bet Returns

Imagine a £1 Canadian (£26 total) on five selections at 5/1, 4/1, 3/1, 2/1 and 6/1. Let's say three of them win: the 5/1, 4/1 and 3/1 shots. The 3 winning doubles (5/1+4/1, 5/1+3/1, 4/1+3/1) return £30, £24 and £20 respectively — £74 in total. The one winning treble (5/1+4/1+3/1) returns £120 (6.0 x 5.0 x 4.0 x £1). No four-fold or five-fold can win with only three winners, so the gross return is £194 from a £26 stake — a £168 profit. Now consider the dream scenario where all five win: the five-fold alone returns £1,680 (6.0 x 5.0 x 4.0 x 3.0 x 7.0), plus all 10 doubles, 10 trebles and 5 four-folds pay out, pushing the total well past £5,000 before any bonus. This shows why Canadians attract optimistic punters — the upside is enormous — but remember you need at least two winners just to get anything back, so two losers in the wrong places leaves you empty-handed.

Canadian vs Yankee vs Lucky 31: Choosing Your Cover Bet

With 5 selections, you have three main full-cover options. The Yankee only covers 4 selections (11 bets), so it's irrelevant if you fancy five — you'd have to drop one. The Canadian (26 bets) is the standard choice: moderate cost, no singles, needs two winners. The Lucky 31 adds the 5 singles to the Canadian's 26 bets for 31 total, costing more but paying out with a single winner. Choose the Canadian when you're reasonably confident at least two of your five selections will win and you want to keep the stake down. Choose the Lucky 31 when you want the single-winner safety net and don't mind paying for 5 extra bets. A useful staking tip: because the Canadian costs 26 stakes, many punters bet it at 25p or 50p a line (£6.50 or £13 total) rather than £1 a line. And always check bonus terms — a generous all-winners bonus can be worth more than the difference between two bookmakers' odds. Bet responsibly and treat cover bets as entertainment, not income.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bets are in a Canadian? 26 bets: 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 four-folds and 1 five-fold accumulator. There are no singles. What is the difference between a Canadian and a Super Yankee? Nothing — they are two names for the same bet. "Super Yankee" is the more common name in the UK, "Canadian" in some other markets. How many winners do I need in a Canadian? At least two. With only one winner you get nothing back, because the smallest combination in the bet is a double. How much does a £1 Canadian cost? £26 total (26 bets at £1 each). Each-way doubles it to £52. Can a Canadian calculator handle each-way bets? Yes — enter the each-way terms and mark placed selections. The calculator settles the win and place portions of every combination separately.