The Main Line represents the bookmaker’s most balanced or pivot point—the line where both outcomes are closest to having equal (50/50) probability.
TRADE identifies this line automatically by calculating the mathematical distance between each line’s odds and the theoretical “perfect” odds of 2.00 / 2.00 (representing an even 50% chance each way).
Core Concept – Distance from the Perfect Line
In theory, a perfectly fair market with no bookmaker margin would offer 2.00 / 2.00 odds for both outcomes.
However, real bookmakers include a margin, so the most balanced lines appear closer to 1.91 / 1.91 (or -110 / -110).
To find the main line, TRADE measures how far each available line’s odds are from the perfect 2.00 / 2.00 line.
The line with the smallest distance from that ideal is selected as the Main Line.
Note: In cases where there are more than two bets available for the same line, TRADE will calculate the average distance of all bets for that line before determining which line is closest to the perfect 2.00 / 2.00 benchmark.
Baseline and Line
EUROPEAN HANDICAPP Example
European handicap is a 3-way bet, similar to a 1X2 match result bet. That is why it is also found as “Single handicap” or “3-way handicap”. In any match with a significant difference in strength between the two teams, a handicap is placed on the outsider, to make it harder for the favorite to win the bet.
Here is a simple example for explanation:
* Handicap (-2) - You will win if your team wins the match with a goal difference of three or more.
* Tie (-2) - You will win if the team with (-2) Handicap wins the match by exactly 2 goals.
* Handicap (+2) - You will win if your team loses / draws / wins by 1 goal.
The Line in the code will tell you what the goal advantage is
The Baseline is used to indicate which team is getting the goal advantage (Home or Away)
Example:
Tottenham [HOME] (favorite) Vs. Eintracht[AWAY] (underdog)
The code below is a view before the match has kicked off and the selected provider is 1xBet
{
"ProviderOdds": [
{
"Id": 145,
"Name": "1XBet",
"LastUpdate": "2022-10-12T10:48:15.943Z",
"Bets": [
{
"Name": "X",
"Line": "2:0",
"BaseLine": "0:2",
// The baseline is 0:2 is used to indicate which team is getting the +2 advantage (away team).
// If the score line was, 2:0, 3:1, etc, then the settlement would be a win
// because you are betting on a draw with the away team to have +2 Goals.
// Because the scoreline was 3:2, with the handicap, it will be 3:4 in favour of Frankfurt and therefore a loss.
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "4.838",
"Price": "4.4"
},
{
"Name": "X",
"Line": "3:0",
"BaseLine": "0:3",
// Same as above with +3 goal in favor of Frankfurt. RESULT: Loss
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "7.371",
"Price": "6.65"
},
{
"Name": "X",
"Line": "0:1",
"BaseLine": "1:0",
// The baseline is 1:0 is used to indicate home team with +1
// Advantage and for result to be a draw. If the score was 1-2,
// then the result would be a win. RESULT: Loss
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "9.01",
"Price": "8.0"
},
{
"Name": "1",
"Line": "2:0",
"BaseLine": "2:0",
// The baseline is 2:0 means +2 advantage (home team).
// With Handicap, result would be 5:2 and since Tottenham won the game,
// then result would be a win for bettor. RESULT: WIN
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "1.106",
"Price": "1.01"
},
{
"Name": "X",
"Line": "5:0",
"BaseLine": "0:5",
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "20.543",
"Price": "19.0"
},
{
"Name": "1",
"Line": "0:3",
"BaseLine": "0:3",
// The baseline is 0:3 means +3 advantage (away team) with result to be Home win.
// If the Home team would have won by 4 goals or more, then you would win the bet.
// Scoreline with Handicap is 3:5 - RESULT: Loss
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "8.424",
"Price": "7.6"
},
{
"Name": "X",
"Line": "4:0",
"BaseLine": "0:4",
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "12.327",
"Price": "11.0"
},
{
"Name": "1",
"Line": "1:0",
"BaseLine": "1:0",
// The baseline is 1:0 means +1 advantage (home team.
// With Handicap, result would be 4:2 and since Tottenham won the game,
// then result would be a win for bettor. RESULT: Win
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "1.205",
"Price": "1.07"
},
{
"Name": "2",
"Line": "0:2",
// The baseline is 2:0 means +2 advantage (home team).
// For the bettor to win, away team must win by 3 goals or more. RESULT: Loss
"BaseLine": "2:0",
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "28.476",
"Price": "26.0"
},
{
"Name": "2",
"Line": "0:1",
"BaseLine": "1:0",
// The baseline is 1:0 means +1 advantage (home team).
// For the bettor to win, away team must win by 2 goals or more. RESULT: Loss.
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "16.894",
"Price": "15.0"
},
{
"Name": "2",
"Line": "5:0",
"BaseLine": "0:5",
// The baseline is 0:5 means +5 advantage (Away team).
// For the bettor to win, home team must win by 4 goals or less. RESULT: WIN.
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "1.092",
"Price": "1.01"
},
{
"Name": "2",
"Line": "4:0",
"BaseLine": "0:4",
// The baseline is 0:4 means +4 advantage (Away team).
// For the bettor to win, home team must win by 3 goals or less. RESULT: Win
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "1.154",
"Price": "1.03"
},
{
"Name": "1",
"Line": "0:2",
"BaseLine": "0:2",
// The baseline is 0:2 means +2 advantage (Away team).
// For the bettorto win, home team must win by 3 goals or more. RESULT: Win
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "4.311",
"Price": "3.92"
},
{
"Name": "2",
"Line": "3:0",
"BaseLine": "0:3",
// The baseline is 0:3 means +3 advantage (Away team).
// For the Bettor to win, home team must win by 2 goals or less. RESULT: Win
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "1.341",
"Price": "1.21"
},
{
"Name": "1",
"Line": "0:4",
"BaseLine": "0:4",
// The baseline is 0:4 means +4advantage (Away team).
// For the Bettor to win, home team must win by 5 goals or more. RESULT: Loss
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "19.05",
"Price": "17.0"
},
{
"Name": "2",
"Line": "2:0",
"BaseLine": "0:2",
// The baseline is 0:2 means +2advantage (Away team).
// For the Bettor to win, home team must win by 1 goals or less or draw. RESULT: Win
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "1.781",
"Price": "1.62"
},
{
"Name": "X",
"Line": "0:2",
"BaseLine": "2:0",
// The baseline is 2:0 means +2 advantage (Home team).
// For the Bettor to win, away team must win by 2 goals only. RESULT: Loss
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "16.428",
"Price": "15.0"
},
{
"Name": "1",
"Line": "0:5",
"BaseLine": "0:5",
"Status": 1,
"StartPrice": "28.111",
"Price": "26.0"
}
]
}
]
}
