# Mainline, Baseline & Line

#### Mainline: <a href="#mainline" id="mainline"></a>

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 <a href="#baseline-and-line" id="baseline-and-line"></a>

EUROPEAN HANDICAP 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

\*\*Post Match result was 3-2

```json
{
  "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"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

As presented on the Bookies site:

<figure><img src="https://2846470291-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Ftv77Uhe1UsyYNAhnfDk8%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6a5212b12b20631197412849f347890e48e04f6f%2Fmainline-ext-01.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>