A shared cause changes the question
Imagine a fictional football match between North and South. “North scores several goals” and “North wins” depend partly on the same match events. Learning that North has scored several goals changes how you would assess its chance of winning. That is the connection a simple multiplication of standalone prices misses. This example explains a relationship; it says nothing about any real fixture.
A builder asks for the joint outcome: all the listed conditions together. It is different from asking how often each statement is true in isolation. A pair can also pull in opposite directions. Do not assume that adding a leg always changes the price by the same proportion.
Three patterns to mark on a worksheet
Overlap: one event helps satisfy two conditions. A player goal contributes both to that player’s scorer condition and to the team’s goal count. Contradiction: two statements cannot both hold under the same definitions. “Exactly two match goals” conflicts with “at least three match goals.” Different scope: the statements refer to different periods or counting rules, so their relationship cannot be decided from the short label.
The worksheet on this site labels these patterns and produces reading questions. It does not estimate a probability. The absence of a contradiction is not proof that selections are independent or that an operator will accept them.
Why a displayed price still needs context
bet365’s product help says its builder calculation considers how markets affect one another. Paddy Power’s help illustrates a combination that cannot happen and therefore cannot be computed. These are product explanations, not a published pricing model you can reproduce from a pair of singles.
Record the exact market definitions, sport, product and applicable rule version before comparing anything. A calculated number without those inputs would look precise while answering the wrong question. Leave the price blank in a learning worksheet; understanding the dependency is the useful result.
Operator observations are limited to the linked source editions. Check the current terms for your exact product and jurisdiction. Gambling can cause harm and financial loss.
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