A football match result has three outcomes: home win, draw and away win. Double chance lets you take two of them in one bet. There are three ways to do it:
- 1X: home win or draw. Loses only if the away team wins.
- X2: away win or draw. Loses only if the home team wins.
- 12: home win or away win. Loses only on a draw.
It is settled on 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count.
How double chance is priced
You are covering more outcomes, so the price is shorter. The fair price comes from adding the implied chances of the two results you have covered.
Say the home team is 2.50 (40%) and the draw is 3.40 (29.4%). Home or draw covers 69.4% of outcomes, which is about 1.44 in decimal. Bookmakers have already built their margin into each of those prices, so the posted double chance price includes margin from two outcomes, not one. Compare a few books before taking it.
Double chance against draw no bet
These two get mixed up. Take the home team in both:
| Result | Double chance 1X | Draw no bet |
|---|---|---|
| Home win | Wins | Wins |
| Draw | Wins | Stake returned |
| Away win | Loses | Loses |
Double chance pays on the draw, so it pays out more often and the price is shorter. Draw no bet only refunds the draw, so the price is longer. Neither one is "safer" in a way that changes the maths. Each one is priced to match the outcomes it covers.
When it is worth using
1X and X2 are a way of backing an underdog not to lose. That is useful in leagues where draws are common, and in matches where you think a strong favourite is overrated. 12 is the opposite: it is a bet against the draw, which suits two open sides or a match where both teams need the win.
The question is the same as any other bet. Add up the chance you give the two outcomes, convert it to fair odds, and see if the price is longer. The AI predictions page shows the model's home, draw and away chances for upcoming matches, so you can add up the two you want to cover.
FAQ
What does 1X mean in betting?
Home win or draw. The 1 is the home team, the X is the draw. The bet loses only if the away team wins.
Can you lose a double chance bet?
Yes. A double chance bet still leaves one result uncovered. 1X loses to an away win, X2 loses to a home win and 12 loses to a draw.
Is double chance the same as draw no bet?
No. Double chance wins on a draw if you have covered it. Draw no bet only returns your stake on a draw.
Related Terms
Draw no bet refunds the draw instead of covering it. An Asian handicap of +0.5 settles the same way as 1X or X2 for the side getting the half goal. Implied probability is how you add two outcomes together to get a fair price.