The core noun is sázka — “a bet / a wager.” From it grows a small, tidy family of verbs.

1. To bet on something: sázet / vsadit na

The aspect pair is sázet (imperfective — in general, repeatedly) and vsadit (perfective — place one bet). Both take na + accusative for what you bet on.

Vsadil jsem na koně.
I bet on a horse.
Vždycky sází na jistotu.
He always bets on a sure thing.

2. To bet (someone): sázet se / vsadit se

Add the reflexive se and it means making a wager with someone. Imperfective sázet se / vsázet se, perfective vsadit se.

Vsadím se o basu piv, že už nikdo nepřijde.
I bet a crate of beers that nobody else is coming.
Vsázím se s vámi, že to nedokáže.
I bet you (all) he won’t manage it.

Notice the little prepositions: o + accusative for the stake (o basu piv = for a crate of beer), and s + instrumental for the person (s vámi = with you).

Good to know: basa piv is a “crate of beer” — literally a case of (usually 20) bottles. A very Czech thing to bet.

3. Where you actually bet: sázková kancelář

A sázková kancelář is a betting shop / bookmaker’s. The big Czech names are Fortuna and Tipsport — you’ll see them on every high street.

So: vsadit na something, vsadit se s someone o a stake — and if you’re serious, off to the sázková kancelář you go.

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Little preposition combos like vsadit se s někým o něco are where natural Czech lives. I teach exactly these inside my online courses.

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