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All Site ContentHamletAct 5Scene 2
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The Wager
Discussion
Act 5,
Scene 2
Lines 123-126

An explanation of the inconsistency in the wager in Act 5, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Osric

The king, sir, has laid that in a dozen passes
between you and him, he shall not exceed you three hits —
he has laid on twelve for nine; and that would come to    
immediate trial if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer.

Osric’s two differing descriptions of the wager is a minor inconsistency by Shakespeare: In a match of 12 bouts, Laertes must score at least 3 more hits than Hamlet to win the bet. If he scores 7 hits to Hamlet’s 5, he loses the bet. He needs at least 8 hits to Hamlet’s 4. The King has received favorable odds of “12 to 9”; that is, Laertes must score 12 hits before Hamlet scores 9 in order to win the bet.