What is Steam (steam move)?
A rapid, synchronized line move across multiple sportsbooks, usually triggered by sharp groups betting the same side simultaneously.
Steam is the market's loudest signal that sharps see value. When the Lakers spread moves from -3 to -5 across every book in 30 seconds, that is steam. Chasing steam after the move is rarely profitable — by the time you see it, the value is gone. Catching it before is the sharp's edge.
Related terms
A professional or professional-quality bettor — or the action that comes from one — typically defined by long-term profit and consistent closing line value.
The difference between the line you bet and the closing line at the same book — the most predictive single metric of long-run edge.
Comparing prices at multiple sportsbooks to bet the best available number on every play.
See steam (steam move) applied to a real slate
NotaSportsGuru runs the math behind every published leg — Parlay of the Day, player props, match lines — with the model’s expected value and edge on every line.