Still not sure about the ins and out

Someone is asking to back @20 so you have the option to lay @20

If you ask to back @19, then 19 will appear in the lay column (in front of the 20) for anyone else to lay if they want.

Cheers Lori... so in effect I just put a price I wish, if someone wishes to take it they will if not bet just stays unmatched, just thought it would be stretching it to jump from the general 10 to say 15 and expect any takers. lastly when a market is in play sometimes you see no lay odds, why is this? also can I put a figure in if nothing is in the lay box?

if someone wishes to take it they will if not bet just stays unmatched

Correct

just thought it would be stretching it to jump from the general 10 to say 15 and expect any takers

You might be stretching it, or you might not. That's part of the skill I guess. You also might be of the opinion that if there's no takers, well you had no use for that two quid today anyway cancel your bet tomorrow and try somewhere else.
By putting up 15, you might find someone offers you 13, so you get better than the 10 on offer. Lots of reasons to at least try!

lastly when a market is in play sometimes you see no lay odds, why is this?

Nobody is asking for a bet, so there's no bet to lay.

also can I put a figure in if nothing is in the lay box?

Sure.

If you want to bet at evens, click the BACK box, type in 2.0 for "your odds" and 2 in "Your stake" and 2 pounts at 2.0 will appear in the lay box.

If anyone wants to lay this bet, then they now have the opportunity.

Take your time, a lot of people find it feels backwards to them at first, and you'll likely make a mistake at least once if you hurry it too much. Remember that if YOU want a bet, then someone ELSE has to lay that bet for you.

It may help to think of an "empty" market like an auction. The first prices anyone puts in will probably be a long way from the selling prices, but they get the ball rolling.

Always ask for a price...if you don't ask you never get

Thanks for replies will take my time till I get into it more confidently

Last question when looking at the youth cup just at the start of the match San Paolo was trading about 1.36....... in the lay box their was 440 for £2, this is the bit that throws me is this someone asking for 440 for £2

Yes, it's basically someone trying to con you

440 is 439/1 odds

So you'd have to put up £878

Cheers Lori this was the main reason for the original post, sometimes I was seeing insane odds and trying to work out why this was happening. Cheers again thats made things simple know, now to loss some money ha ha.

Need to type with less alcohol spelling could improve