Tiercé, quarté, quinté: differences and which to play

Tiercé (a bet requiring the top 3 finishers, in exact order or any order), quarté (top 4 finishers), and quinté (top 5 finishers) are the best-known PMU bets, but many beginners mix up their rules. In reality it's simple, and the right choice mostly comes down to your budget and what you're after. Here's the essential, without the jargon.

The basic difference

These three bets all involve picking the first horses in a race, in finishing order. The only difference is how many horses you need to find:

• Tiercé: the first 3.
• Quarté: the first 4.
• Quinté: the first 5.

The more horses you need to find, the harder it is, but the higher the potential payout. Finding the top 5 in a big race is far rarer than finding just 3.

In order or any order

For each of these bets, there are two ways to win:

• In exact order: you found the horses in exactly their finishing order. This is rarer, so it pays better.
• In any order: you have the right horses, but not in the right order. This is easier, so it pays less.

The same ticket can win in the "any order" version even if it misses the exact order. That's what makes these bets accessible: you don't have to guess the exact order to win something.

Which one to choose

The choice depends on your profile.

• Just starting out or working with a small budget? Tiercé is the simplest: finding 3 horses is already a nice challenge, and the payouts remain attractive.
• Chasing a big win and willing to lose more often? Quinté offers the highest payouts, but it's noticeably harder to land. It's the "dream" bet, to play with a reasonable stake.
• Quarté sits in between: harder than tiercé, more accessible than quinté.

One simple piece of advice: don't play quinté every day hoping for the jackpot. Over time, that's the best way to drain your budget. It's better to be selective about your races.

The role of the field and the base

To improve your odds, you can play several combinations built from a handful of horses: that's the principle of the "champ" (field). Be careful, though: each extra combination costs an extra stake. A wide-open ticket quickly multiplies the cost. Set your budget before building your bet, not after.

The essentials

Tiercé, quarté, quinté are the same idea with 3, 4, or 5 horses to find. The more horses involved, the harder it is, and the more it pays. The "any order" option makes these bets accessible. Choose based on your budget, play selectively, and keep your stake reasonable: the fun should come before the dream of the jackpot.

Gambling should stay a source of enjoyment. Betting is reserved for adults and carries a risk of addiction. If you need help, call Joueurs Info Service at 09 74 75 13 13 (call not surcharged, France only).