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Last updated: August 2026
In online betting, many players choose strategies for playing Squares. You might be familiar with the game, since it is often played as an office pool, where contenders put their initials on a 10×10 grid.
Editorial Note
This guide explains how Squares betting works, how payouts are determined, and which scoring combinations have historically appeared most often in NFL games. It is intended for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as a way to predict game results or guarantee winning outcomes.
Quick Answer
Squares betting is a football pool where players are randomly assigned score-ending digits instead of picking a winning team. Your chances of winning depend on the final score combinations, with numbers like 0, 3, and 7 historically appearing more often in NFL scoring.
How to Play Squares with MyBookie
Online betting Squares is generally played with the same square grid, with the name of one of the teams playing on the horizontal column, while the opposing team’s name is assigned to the vertical column.
There’s no real betting strategies to apply, since each player gets a pair of numbers from 0 to 9 assigned randomly. The cost of purchasing squares varies according to the online betting website’s policies. Squares games are particularly popular to bet on the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl.
Each player’s numbers represent the last digit in the final score. So, if you have the numbers 3 and 9 and the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing the Baltimore Ravens that day, then you win if the score is 9-3, 33-19, and so on. It doesn’t matter who wins, you are only betting on the score of the game.
Strategies for Playing Squares with MyBookie
Squares payouts can vary depending on how the game is structured. Some games pay only on the final score, while others award prizes at the end of each quarter.
Common Squares Payout Structures
| Payout Schedule | 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equal Payouts | 25% | 25% | 25% | 25% |
| Increasing Payouts | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% |
| Alternating Payouts | 20% | 30% | 20% | 30% |
How Much Can You Win?
Your potential winnings depend on the cost of each square and the payout structure. For example, a 100-square game with $5 squares creates a $500 prize pool.
- 💰 1st quarter: 20% payout = $100
- 💰 2nd quarter: 20% payout = $100
- 💰 3rd quarter: 20% payout = $100
- 🏆 Final score: 40% payout = $200
If the game pays only on the final score, the winning square would receive the entire $500 prize pool.
Understanding Your Wager
Since the winner of the game doesn’t matter in Squares, you don’t need football knowledge or special skills to play. Your assigned numbers decide whether your square wins.
You also don’t have to pick a winner or beat the spread. Still, it helps to understand how much you’re wagering. Learning what a unit is in sports betting can give you another way to think about the amount you risk on a wager.
Knowing how football scoring works can also explain why some number combinations come up more often than others, though past scoring patterns don’t guarantee future results.
Analyzing Strategies for Playing Squares
Some numbers come up in final scores far more often than others, and knowing which ones can shape how you approach a Squares board.
Common NFL Final Scores
Historical NFL scoring data can explain why certain numbers are more desirable in Squares. The Harvard Sports Analysis Collective found these five scores among the most common NFL final scores based on games played since 1970:
| Rank | Final Score | Score Digits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17-14 | 7 and 4 |
| 2 | 13-10 | 3 and 0 |
| 3 | 20-17 | 0 and 7 |
| 4 | 27-24 | 7 and 4 |
| 5 | 24-17 | 4 and 7 |
That makes numbers such as 7, 4, 3, and 0 particularly interesting when selecting Squares, although historical frequency does not guarantee a winning result.
How Scoring Trends Affect Squares
Historical scoring trends can help identify which number combinations have appeared more often. However, scheduling can also influence how teams perform from week to week.
Factors such as short weeks, bye weeks, travel, and recovery time can affect offensive production and scoring patterns. Understanding the broader impact of downtime in sports wagering can therefore provide useful context when evaluating NFL matchups.
Less Favorable Square Combinations
Some score-ending combinations have historically appeared less often than others. Analysts have identified several combinations that tend to be among the least favorable:
- 🚫 2-2 — the same number for both teams
- 🚫 5-2 — 5 for the underdog and 2 for the favorite
- 🚫 6-5 — 6 for the underdog and 5 for the favorite
- 🚫 1-9 — 1 for the underdog and 9 for the favorite
- 🚫 2-9 — 2 for the underdog and 9 for the favorite
These historical patterns can help explain why some Squares are considered more valuable than others, but every individual game remains unpredictable.
What are the Valuable Squares?
Valuable squares are the 0 and 7 and the 0 and 3, no matter what payout system your Squares online betting game is using. You might also have the advantage if you have two zeroes in a quarter-by-quarter payout scheme, since 0-0 is a common score at the end of the first quarter. Since football is usually scored in 3- and 7-point increments, with the occasional 2-point conversion or safety, you could see some winnings if you get multiples of those numbers–for example, if the final score is 21-17, and you have the 1 and 7, or the half ends at 7-6. If you’re unfortunate enough to own two 5s, you might go home on game day with a little less cash.
FAQ
How does Squares betting work?
Players are assigned two numbers from 0 to 9 that correspond to the final digits of each team’s score. A square wins when those numbers match the score at the designated payout point.
Do I need football knowledge to play Squares?
No. Squares is primarily a game of chance because the numbers are typically assigned randomly. Knowing how football scoring works can help you understand why some number combinations appear more often.
How are Squares payouts determined?
Payouts depend on the rules of the individual game. Some Squares games pay only on the final score, while others award portions of the prize pool after each quarter.
What are the best numbers to have in Squares?
Numbers such as 0, 3, 4, and 7 have historically appeared frequently in NFL scoring. However, past scoring patterns do not guarantee that a particular square will win.
Can a Squares game pay out after each quarter?
Yes. Some games award prizes at the end of each quarter, while others pay only on the final score. The payout percentages depend on the specific game rules.
Does the winning team matter in Squares?
No. Your square is determined by the final score digits assigned to you, so it does not matter which team wins the game.
What are some less favorable Squares combinations?
Historical scoring data suggests combinations such as 2-2, 5-2, 6-5, 1-9, and 2-9 have appeared less often. These trends are historical only and cannot predict the outcome of an individual game.
Conclusion
You can search for an online sports betting site that offers the chance to play Squares. Squares is a fun game that can pay big for online bettors who are football experts or just someone who enjoys the thrill of betting and winning online.
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About the Author
Since 2008, D.S. Williamson has written about sports and sports handicapping. His philosophy is value-based, meaning statistics and other handicapping factors are only useful when compared with the available wagering odds. He believes bankroll management and consistently making value-based wagers are the most important factors separating successful sports bettors from unsuccessful bettors.
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