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What Are Blackjack Side Bets?Side bets are bonus bets placed on a round of Blackjack on outcomes beyond whether the player or dealer will win. The majority are staked at the start of the round before the cards have been dealt alongside regular bets and many have fixed odds that usually offer greater payouts than the simple 2:1 rewarded for beating the dealer.Play Blackjack at Pinnacle Casino

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Finding a niche market in betting can often lead to value. This can be anything from specialist knowledge of handball betting to extensive experience in betting on Japanese baseball. Providing you know more than the bookmaker, there is money to be made.  &lt;Bet on soccer at Pinnacle&gt; They also make for interesting and potentially profitable bets, as they can be a little more reliable

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A corner is one of the most inexplicably exciting events in soccer. Only around three per cent of them lead to a goal, but you can guarantee that the attacking team’s fans will roar their approval and encouragement if their team are awarded one. Read on to find out how you can benefit from betting on corners.

Corners betting in soccer: Value in a lesser-known market

Poisson Distribution is a mathematical concept for translating mean averages into a probability for variable outcomes across a distribution. For example, if we know Manchester City average 1.7 goals per game, so by putting the Poisson Distribution formula tells us that this average equates to Manchester City&nbsp;scoring 0 goals 18.3% of the time, 1 goal 31% of the time, 2 goals 26.4% of the time and 3 goals 15% of the time.

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Poisson Distribution: Predict the score in soccer betting

What is Expected Value?The amount a player can expect to win or lose if they were to place a bet on the same odds many times over, calculated through a simple equation multiplying your probability of winning with the amount you could win per bet, and subtracting the probability of losing multiplied by the amount lost per bet.A simple example of Expected Value (EV) put into practice -&nbsp;if you were

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The Expected Value of a bet shows us how much we can expect to win (on average) per bet, and as such is the most valuable calculation a bettor can make when comparing bookmakers' odds. How can you calculate Expected Value in sports betting in order to predict your winnings? Read on to find out.

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Luke studied Economics at The University of Exeter before embarking on a career that combines two of his greatest interests, writing and sports betting. Despite a keen interest in soccer, he is open to exploring any sport where value might be present. He particularly enjoys analysing markets from different perspectives to try and find a profitable edge.

Luke Petty

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<h3>A close look at the France vs. Belgium odds</h3>
The Money Line odds imply this will be a close game with France afforded around a 40%* chance of winning the game in 90 minutes.
France <g class="gr_ gr_104 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="104" data-gr-id="104">are</g> also slight favourites to reach the final at <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/odds/match/soccer/fifa/fifa-world-cup" target="_blank">1.800</a>*.
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<h2>Get the best odds on <g class="gr_ gr_102 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="102" data-gr-id="102">france</g> vs <g class="gr_ gr_103 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="103" data-gr-id="103">belgium</g></h2>
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<h3>France vs. Belgium predicted lineups</h3>
Belgium:
Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen; Chadli, Witsel, Fellaini, Carrasco; De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku
Thomas Meunier’s suspension means Yannick Carrasco is likely to return to the side after being dropped against Brazil.
France:
Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba; Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi; Giroud
Matuidi returns from suspension and could replace Tolisso in the left-midfield position.
<h3>France vs. Belgium stats</h3>
Time: 19:00 UTC
Venue: Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg
<ul>
<li>Belgium have scored the most goals of any team in the competition (14 goals)</li>
<li>France have kept clean sheets in three of their five matches</li>
<li>Belgium <g class="gr_ gr_134 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="134" data-gr-id="134">are</g> the only team to have won all of their matches so far</li>
<li>Both teams have scored in three of Belgium’s five matches</li>
</ul>
<ul></ul>
<h3>Inform your France vs. Belgium prediction</h3>
The first World Cup semi-final sees France play Belgium at the Saint Petersburg stadium.
The game should provide an interesting clash of styles as Roberto Martinez’s attacking 3-4-3 formation meets Didier Deschamps’ more pragmatic 4-2-3-1.
Belgium <g class="gr_ gr_119 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="119" data-gr-id="119">have</g> reached the last four by relying on their firepower in attack. Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne have all appeared on the scoresheet in this tournament and are likely to line up in a rotating front three here.
They will be up against a strong defensive line. Despite the attacking talent at his disposal, Deschamps has chosen to field four centre-backs in his backline as well as selecting a central midfield player at on the left ahead of more attacking options.
This has seen the French progress in generally untroubled fashion, aside from a late scare against Argentina. They have been difficult to break down throughout and are unlikely to be overly expansive against Belgium.
2018 World Cup&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-articles/Soccer/expected-goals-explained/B8Q2HGJ7XMJRZ58C">expected goals</a> (per match)
France:
<ul>
<li>Expected goals <g class="gr_ gr_170 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="170" data-gr-id="170">for:</g>&nbsp;1.6</li>
<li>Expected goals <g class="gr_ gr_263 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="263" data-gr-id="263">against:</g> 0.7</li>
</ul>
Belgium:
<ul>
<li>Expected goals <g class="gr_ gr_264 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="264" data-gr-id="264">for:</g> 2.3</li>
<li>Expected goals <g class="gr_ gr_265 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="265" data-gr-id="265">against:</g> 1.3</li>
</ul>
<ul></ul>
This is for good reason since the Belgians will be the most cohesive attacking unit this French side has faced. They made the most of their chances to defeat tournament favourites Brazil and scored three or more goals in two of their group matches as well as their Round of 16 <g class="gr_ gr_140 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="140" data-gr-id="140">victory</g> over Japan.
France <g class="gr_ gr_121 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="121" data-gr-id="121">are</g> well equipped to deal with Belgium’s counterattacking threat but, with the talent available to the Belgians in <g class="gr_ gr_120 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="120" data-gr-id="120">attack</g>, they will be <g class="gr_ gr_99 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="99" data-gr-id="99">hard pressed</g> to keep them out for the duration of the match. The onus will be on the French forwards to score the goals required to take them to the World Cup final.
<h3>Key area: Can Belgium’s wing-backs cope with the French threat?</h3>
Nacer Chadli replaced Carrasco at left wing back in Belgium’s last fixture but Thomas Meunier’s suspension means both players are likely to be called upon for the semi-final.&nbsp;
Chadli’s role could be very different in this match compared to the quarter-final match against Brazil. In that <g class="gr_ gr_116 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="116" data-gr-id="116">game</g> 43% of Brazil’s attacks came from their left side with Neymar and Marcelo up against Meunier.
In <g class="gr_ gr_117 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="117" data-gr-id="117">contrast</g> 43% of Belgium’s attacks took place on their own left side. Chadli played a much more attacking role than Meunier and relied upon the awareness of Jan Vertonghen to cover for his attacking exertions.
Meunier made a team-high four tackles in that win whilst Chadli made just one. It is likely he will be tested more frequently in defence in this fixture since he will be up against the exciting Kylian Mbappe.
The Frenchman has three goals in the tournament so far and will fancy his chances of adding to that total. He is available at <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/odds/match/soccer/fifa/fifa-world-cup" target="_blank">3.020</a>* to score anytime and will be favoured to win the battle with Chadli.
On the opposite <g class="gr_ gr_112 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="112" data-gr-id="112">side</g> Blaise Matuidi or Corentin Tolisso could be up against the returning Carrasco, who was replaced by Chadli for the match against Brazil.
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Carrasco is better known as an attacking winger and has been defensively naïve at times in this tournament, particularly during the Round of 16 <g class="gr_ gr_127 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="127" data-gr-id="127">victory</g> over Japan which saw him dropped for the next round.
However, neither Matuidi nor Tolisso <g class="gr_ gr_108 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="108" data-gr-id="108">are</g> natural wingers so it will be interesting to see how this battle unfolds.
An appearance at some stage from Ousmane Dembele, who is one of Europe’s most prolific assisters from the wide positions, would add to France’s considerable attacking threat but Deschamps may be reluctant to leave space for Belgium to break.
If, as seems likely, Mbappe can get the best of Chadli then the Belgian centre-backs will be in for a tough evening. Vertonghen will have to cover for his wingback allowing gaps to appear for Giroud and Griezmann to exploit. Both strikers are more than capable of winning one on one matchups should they isolate their opposite numbers.
<h3>France vs. Belgium: Where is the value?</h3>
Meunier’s absence is a big blow for Belgium. He is the only natural fullback in the squad and his experience in the role was pivotal against Neymar in the last round. As a result, France should be well set to threaten from wide positions, particularly through Mbappe.
France <g class="gr_ gr_111 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar multiReplace" id="111" data-gr-id="111">are</g> available at <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/odds/match/soccer/fifa/fifa-world-cup" target="_blank">1.645</a>* to score <g class="gr_ gr_110 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_disable_anim_appear Grammar replaceWithoutSep" id="110" data-gr-id="110">over</g> one goal which could offer value considering the obvious weaknesses in the Belgian back five.
Equally, whilst Belgium could be suspect defensively they have the talent to threaten any defence in World football.
De Bruyne, Hazard and Lukaku have been on good form so far and it will be a tough task for even the French defence to keep them out for 90 minutes. Fellaini, Witsel and the Belgian central defenders also offer a potent threat on set pieces, especially with De Bruyne over the ball.
Both teams to score in normal time is available at <a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/odds/match/soccer/fifa/fifa-world-cup" target="_blank">1.787</a>* and could be a sensible selection considering the attacking firepower on display.
To make the most of our best value odds make sure to read more of Pinnacle’s expert&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinnacle.com/en/betting-resources">betting advice</a>.

World Cup Odds

World Cup semi-final preview: France vs. Belgium

France take on Belgium in the first semi-final of the 2018 World Cup. Looking for expert insight into the France vs. Belgium odds? Read on to inform your France vs. Belgium prediction.

France take on Belgium in the first semi-final of the 2018 World Cup. Looking for value in the France vs. Belgium odds? Read on to inform your France vs. Belgium prediction.
