Can I still place a bet if there isn't enough Betfair liquidity?

Betfair is a marketplace where you are trading bets with other Betfair users. As such, your bets will only be matched if there is someone willing to take the other side of them i.e. they back when you lay. The liquidity figure underneath Betfair odds shows how much money other users are willing to match at those odds.

But what if you want to lay (or back) more than is available?

In this situation, your bet would be matched up to the available amount. Any remaining amount would then stay in the market as an unmatched bet, waiting for other users to take. In a high-liquidity market, such as horse racing or soccer, this unmatched bet might be matched in a matter of seconds. If it is a low-liquidity market, however, it could take a while.

In both cases, there is a risk that the odds move against you and the bet is never matched. This could potentially lead to you losing money, so we only recommend placing bets when the Betfair liquidity is greater than your stake.

If you do find yourself in a situation where only part of your stake is matched, this thread may be useful.