Sometimes you can be so blinkered when using Betfair that you lose touch with what's happening amongst the competition.

This week I have spent a bit of time playing with Extrabet and their new service that allows you to take a position throughout the in-play matches. To me its a cross between head-to-head betting and Deal or No Deal, but to novice Betfair trader it maybe a good place to tinker with.

I know when I first started trading it was hard to get a grip of my position within a live market, it took time for understand if I was in a position of strength or weakness.

On Extrabet you can take a price either before the event or when it goes in-running, then Extrabet will offer to buy that bet back off you as the event progresses.

If the event is going your way then they will offer you more money and its entirely your decision whether to take the offer. As the game ebbs and flows, so do the offers. Although it works in a similar way to an in-running market on the exchanges, the trading options are more limited.

My recommendation is that you consider using the website with some pin money, its good fun and it can give you some useful pointers to improve your trading especially when you are looking to lay a position during the live event.

Also this week Betfair have increased the number of in-play markets during live soccer matches by three. I am very interested in the Asian Handicap markets and I will be testing a system I have in mind until the end of the current season.

If all goes well I hope to introduce it to members of Pro X Trading during Euro 2008, the other new in-play markets are Odd or Even & Half-Time Correct Score.