What 2/9 means
With fractional odds, the first number is what you win and the second is what you stake. At 2/9, you stake £9 to win £2, so your profit is smaller than your stake. That's what makes it odds-on: the bookmaker rates this outcome as more likely to happen than not.
It's read as "two to nine", but bookmakers often turn odds-on prices round, so you'll also hear 2/9 called "nine to two on" or "9/2 on". Both mean the same thing.
2/9 in decimal and American odds
| Format | 2/9 as | How it's worked out |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 1.22 | 2 ÷ 9 + 1 |
| American | -450 | 100 ÷ (1.22 − 1) |
| Implied probability | 81.8% | 1 ÷ 1.22 |
What 2/9 pays
| Stake | Profit | Total return |
|---|---|---|
| £1.00 | £0.22 | £1.22 |
| £2.00 | £0.44 | £2.44 |
| £5.00 | £1.11 | £6.11 |
| £10.00 | £2.22 | £12.22 |
| £20.00 | £4.44 | £24.44 |
| £50.00 | £11.11 | £61.11 |
| £100.00 | £22.22 | £122.22 |
How likely is 2/9 to win?
2/9 implies a 81.8% chance, or about 9 in 11. The bookmaker expects this outcome more often than not. The true chance is usually a little lower than this, because bookmakers build a margin into every price.
2/9 each way
An each way bet splits your stake between a win bet and a place bet, with the place part paid at a fraction of 2/9. For a £5 each way bet (£10 in total):
| Place terms | Place odds | Returns if it wins | Returns if it places |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 odds | 1/18 | £11.39 | £5.28 |
| 1/5 odds | 2/45 | £11.33 | £5.22 |
At 1/5 terms, a placed finish returns £5.22 from the £10 total stake, so it still loses £4.78 overall. Each way needs bigger prices than 2/9 for the place part to cover the bet. Work out any each way bet.
If a horse at 2/9 is withdrawn
When a horse priced at 2/9 is withdrawn after you've bet on another runner in the same race, Rule 4 takes 80p from every £1 of your winnings. It applies to bets struck at a fixed price before the withdrawal. Work out a Rule 4 deduction.
Prices either side of 2/9
See every common price explained, or convert any price with the odds converter.