Hi there,
Tweaking my beautiful bot babies in practice mode and found a couple of times a race meeting the bets go unmatched.
Last night (I'm in NZ) I played with the communications speed but a couple of races where this occurs each night is not enough data to know if this is what the issue is, or perhaps bots really don't work with the method I am using due to the bets being placed at the back of the queue when they are made.
I have slightly altered the bots to make sure they fire off a lay bet at odds of less than 2.02 instead of the previous less than 2 rule, even though this doesn't seem like it will work if it is a liquidity issue.
I did check the Peter Webb video on this (link in the newbies section) but still unclear. Can anyone tell me which variable I can reduce to improve this?
Bot lay bets, but bets going unmatched
There is a delay imposed by Betfair on all in-play bets, this and the volitility of the odds means its common not to get matched at the odds you trigger them at especially in the closing stages.
Try triggering the bet a little earlier or have your lay placed several above the current best price (you will get matched at lower if avaliable but if the odds are rising fast you stand more chance of a match.
Another option is to use fill/kill and have the bet killed if not matched within the first few seconds and retrigger the bet. Just remember to include some unmatched and matched bet conditions to ensure only the amount you need are placed
Try triggering the bet a little earlier or have your lay placed several above the current best price (you will get matched at lower if avaliable but if the odds are rising fast you stand more chance of a match.
Another option is to use fill/kill and have the bet killed if not matched within the first few seconds and retrigger the bet. Just remember to include some unmatched and matched bet conditions to ensure only the amount you need are placed