Once you are comfortable with backing and laying on 99exch (the brand is also written as 99exchange), the next thing that catches most cricket fans' eye is a whole column of markets that have nothing to do with who wins the match. These are the session and fancy markets — bets on how many runs are scored in a slice of the innings rather than on the final result.
They are hugely popular for Indian cricket, especially during T20 and IPL games, because they keep every over interesting even when the match result already looks settled. But they also move faster than almost any other market, so it pays to understand the mechanics before you place a single bet. Nothing here is a prediction of profit — cricket is unpredictable and every bet carries risk — but a clear head about how the numbers work will help you make calmer decisions.
What is a session bet?
A session bet is a market on the number of runs scored in a defined block of the innings. Common examples include the runs in the first six overs (the powerplay), the runs at the fall of a certain wicket, or the total a team reaches by a set over. Instead of picking a winner, you are judging whether the actual runs will finish higher or lower than the figure the market is quoting.
The market shows you a number — say the quote for "runs in the first 6 overs" is sitting around a certain figure. You do not bet that the figure is exactly right; you bet on which side of it the real total will land. That is the whole idea in one sentence: higher or lower than the quote.
Fancy markets: the wider family
You will often see the words session and fancy used together, and there is a lot of overlap. In everyday use, fancy is the broader label for run-line and event markets, while session usually refers specifically to runs across a block of overs. Fancy markets can include things like:
- A single batter's total runs in the innings.
- A partnership total between two batters.
- Runs in the powerplay or a nominated set of overs.
- The total number of boundaries or other in-game events, where offered.
What ties them together is the format: each one is quoted as a number you either buy above or sell below. Get familiar with that pattern and every fancy market on the screen suddenly reads the same way.
Buy vs sell: the core decision
Session and fancy markets do not usually use the back/blue and lay/pink colours you met in our back vs lay guide. Instead they use two words:
| Action | You believe… | You win when… |
|---|---|---|
| Buy (higher) | the final figure will be above the quote | the actual runs finish higher than the quote |
| Sell (lower) | the final figure will be below the quote | the actual runs finish lower than the quote |
The important twist is that your result is not a simple win-or-lose flip. In most fancy markets your profit or loss scales with the run difference — the further the actual figure lands from the quote, the more the bet is worth to you, in whichever direction you chose. That is very different from a match-odds bet, where you simply collect at the odds you took.
Why the numbers keep moving
Session and fancy quotes are live, so they change ball by ball. A couple of boundaries in an over pushes the quoted figure up because a bigger total now looks realistic; a wicket or a run of dot balls drags it back down. During the powerplay, when field restrictions encourage big hitting, these markets can swing quickly.
This constant motion is exactly why fancy markets feel exciting — and exactly why they can be a trap for anyone chasing a loss. The number you see is the market's best live guess, not a fixed target, and it will keep re-pricing right up until the session settles.
A worked example (illustrative only)
Imagine the "first 6 overs" market is quoting a figure, and you decide to buy because the pitch is flat and both openers are set. If the team then scores well above that figure, your buy bet settles in profit, and the size of that profit grows with how far above the quote they finished. If wickets fall early and they end below the quote, your buy bet loses, again scaled by the gap.
Flip it around and the logic is the mirror image: a sell wins if the runs come in below the quote and loses if they sail above it. The numbers in this paragraph are illustrations of the mechanics only — real quotes are set live by the market and are never a promise of any particular result.
Reading these markets responsibly
Session and fancy markets reward attention and punish autopilot. A few habits keep them enjoyable:
- Understand the scaling first. Know what a single run of difference does to your stake before you bet, not after.
- Start small. Because losses can grow with the run gap, modest stakes are the sensible way to learn the rhythm of these markets.
- Watch a few settle. Follow two or three sessions without betting to see how the quote drifts through an over.
- Practise on a demo. You can request a free demo ID and explore fancy markets before committing real funds.
- Set a budget and honour it. Decide your limit before the toss and stop when you reach it — the fast pace makes this discipline more important, not less.
How session bets differ from match odds
It helps to hold the two side by side. Match odds ask a single yes/no question — will this team win? — and settle once, at the odds you took. Session and fancy markets ask "how many?", re-price on every ball, and settle with a result that scales with the run difference. Neither is better or worse; they simply suit different moods. Many users enjoy a calm match-odds position alongside the occasional small fancy bet when a session looks interesting.
A note on responsible play
Fast markets can make time and money slip away, so treat session and fancy betting with respect. Bet only with money you can afford to lose, never chase a losing session by staking more, and take a break if it stops being fun. Our responsible gaming page has tools and links if you ever need them. This platform is strictly for users aged 18 and above.
Want someone to walk you through a live session market on 99exch? Message our team on WhatsApp and we will explain the buy and sell columns over a real over, or set you up with a 99exch ID when you are ready.