Double chance betting is a football market that allows one wager to cover two of the three possible Match Result outcomes.
In a standard football 1X2 market:
1 = Home win
X = Draw
2 = Away win
Double Chance combines them into three possible selections:
1X = Home win or Draw
X2 = Draw or Away win
12 = Home win or Away win
So, instead of predicting one exact Match Result outcome, you exclude one result and cover the other two.
For example, if Arsenal play Chelsea and you select 1X, your bet wins if Arsenal win or the match finishes level. It loses only if Chelsea win.
That extra coverage normally means Double Chance odds are shorter than the corresponding straight Match Result price, because more possible results can satisfy the bet. This is the central trade-off of the market.
For the underlying three-way market, first read our 1X2 betting guide.
What Is Double Chance Betting?
A standard football match can produce three Match Result outcomes:
home team wins;
the game finishes level;
or the away team wins.
A Double Chance bet combines any two of those outcomes into a single selection.
The structure is:
|
Double Chance |
Covers |
Loses if |
|
1X |
Home win or Draw |
Away team wins |
|
X2 |
Draw or Away win |
Home team wins |
|
12 |
Home win or Away win |
Match is drawn |
This is why the term is called Double Chance: two result categories can satisfy your selection rather than one. bet365 News
However, Double Chance should not be described as a guaranteed or automatically profitable market.
You still exclude one result.
If that excluded result occurs, the bet loses.
What Do 1X, X2 and 12 Mean?
The easiest way to understand double chance betting meaning is to examine the three selections individually.
1X: Home Win or Draw
1X covers:
1 = Home win
and
X = Draw
Suppose:
Arsenal vs Chelsea
You select:
1X – Arsenal or Draw
Possible results:
Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea → Win
Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea → Win
Arsenal 0-2 Chelsea → Lose
You are effectively saying:
“I do not expect the away team to win.”
This is why 1X is often considered when a bettor believes the home side is likely to avoid defeat but is not confident enough to back a straight home victory.
X2: Draw or Away Win
X2 combines:
X = Draw
and
2 = Away win
Suppose:
Manchester United vs Liverpool
You select:
X2 – Draw or Liverpool
Possible results:
Manchester United 2-0 Liverpool → Lose
Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool → Win
Manchester United 1-3 Liverpool → Win
The only losing Match Result outcome is a home win.
In practical terms, you are backing the away team not to lose.
12: Home Win or Away Win
12 covers:
1 = Home win
and
2 = Away win
The excluded result is:
X = Draw
Suppose:
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
You select:
12 – Either Team to Win
Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid → Win
Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid → Win
Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid → Lose
This selection is appropriate only if you want to oppose the draw.
It does not matter which team wins. Either decisive result satisfies the selection.
How Does Double Chance Betting Work?
Start with the standard 1X2 structure.
Imagine a hypothetical match:
Enyimba vs Rangers
The sportsbook shows:
Home – 2.05
Draw – 3.10
Away – 3.70
The Double Chance market might then provide three different prices:
1X – Home or Draw
X2 – Draw or Away
12 – Home or Away
Each Double Chance selection combines the probability of two results.
Because a 1X wager can succeed through either a home win or a draw, its price will generally be shorter than backing the home team alone.
Likewise, X2 will normally be shorter than the away-win price because a draw also satisfies the bet.
The exact odds depend on the sportsbook’s pricing.
Double Chance Betting Examples
Consider:
Nigeria vs Ghana
Hypothetical Double Chance odds:
1X – 1.35
X2 – 1.80
12 – 1.28
Suppose you stake ₦5,000 on Nigeria or Draw at 1.35.
If Nigeria win, your selection succeeds.
If the match ends level, it also succeeds.
If Ghana win, it loses.
Potential total return:
₦5,000 × 1.35 = ₦6,750
Potential profit:
₦6,750 − ₦5,000 = ₦1,750
Now compare that with backing Nigeria outright at, hypothetically, 1.90.
The straight win provides a larger potential return, but the draw is no longer covered.
That is the fundamental Double Chance trade-off:
more outcome coverage, normally lower odds.
How Double Chance Odds Work?
Double Chance odds are linked mathematically to the probabilities of the underlying Match Result outcomes.
Suppose your estimated probabilities for a match are:
Home win: 50%
Draw: 28%
Away win: 22%
Then your estimated probabilities for Double Chance would be:
1X = Home + Draw
50% + 28% = 78%
X2 = Draw + Away
28% + 22% = 50%
12 = Home + Away
50% + 22% = 72%
Using fair odds before bookmaker margin:
Fair decimal odds = 1 ÷ probability
Therefore:
1X:
1 ÷ 0.78 = 1.28
X2:
1 ÷ 0.50 = 2.00
12:
1 ÷ 0.72 = 1.39
This explains why Double Chance prices can differ considerably within the same fixture.
How to Calculate a Double Chance Return?
The return calculation is the same as with ordinary decimal odds:
Stake × Accepted Decimal Odds = Potential Total Return
Suppose:
Stake: ₦10,000
X2 odds: 1.65
Potential total return:
₦10,000 × 1.65 = ₦16,500
Potential profit:
₦16,500 − ₦10,000 = ₦6,500
Another example:
Stake: ₦3,000
1X odds: 1.30
Potential return:
₦3,000 × 1.30 = ₦3,900
Potential profit:
₦900
The word return includes your original stake in a normal winning decimal-odds calculation.
For a deeper explanation, read our betting odds guide.
Does Double Chance Mean a 66.67% Chance of Winning?
No.
This is an important misconception.
Double Chance covers two of the three possible Match Result categories, but those three outcomes are not necessarily equally likely.
Consider a match where a dominant home favourite has hypothetical probabilities of:
Home win: 75%
Draw: 17%
Away win: 8%
The X2 selection covers two result categories:
draw + away win.
But its estimated probability under those assumptions is only:
17% + 8% = 25%
It is therefore incorrect to say that every Double Chance bet has a 66.67% chance of winning merely because it covers two of three possible outcomes.
The actual probability depends on how likely each individual outcome is.
This is also why different Double Chance selections carry different odds.
Does Double Chance Include Extra Time?
For a standard football Full-Time Double Chance market, settlement ordinarily follows the Full-Time Match Result period specified by the sportsbook, typically regulation time plus stoppage time.
Extra time and penalty shootouts should not be assumed to count unless the market explicitly says they do.
Consider a knockout match:
Nigeria 1-1 Senegal after regulation time.
Senegal then win 2-1 after extra time.
For a conventional regulation-time Double Chance market:
1X on Nigeria or Draw would ordinarily have covered the regulation-time draw.
X2 on Draw or Senegal would also have covered that draw.
12 would not, because regulation time finished level.
Always read the market label and applicable settlement rules rather than assuming the eventual team that qualifies determines a Double Chance wager.
Half-Time Double Chance Explained
Some sportsbooks also offer Half-Time Double Chance.
The structure is the same, but the settlement point is half-time rather than full-time.
For example:
HT 1X = home team leading or level at half-time.
HT X2 = scores level or away team leading at half-time.
HT 12 = either team leading at half-time.
If the first half ends 0-0:
HT 1X wins.
HT X2 wins.
HT 12 loses.
The important lesson is to identify whether the market says Half-Time or Full-Time before placing your wager.
Double Chance vs 1X2 Betting
The difference between Double Chance and 1X2 is outcome coverage.
Suppose:
Arsenal vs Liverpool
You believe Arsenal are unlikely to lose.
With 1X2:
1 – Arsenal win
only a home victory wins.
With Double Chance:
1X – Arsenal or Draw
both a home victory and a draw win.
That additional result protection normally means the 1X price is lower.
|
Market |
Outcomes covered |
Example |
|
1X2 – 1 |
One |
Home win |
|
1X2 – X |
One |
Draw |
|
1X2 – 2 |
One |
Away win |
|
Double Chance 1X |
Two |
Home or Draw |
|
Double Chance X2 |
Two |
Draw or Away |
|
Double Chance 12 |
Two |
Home or Away |
If you need the full explanation of the base market, read 1X2 betting.
Double Chance vs Draw No Bet
These markets are related but not identical.
Suppose you support Arsenal against Liverpool.
With 1X Double Chance:
Arsenal win → win
Draw → win
Liverpool win → lose
With Arsenal Draw No Bet:
Arsenal win → win
Draw → stake ordinarily returned
Liverpool win → lose
The key difference is the draw.
Under 1X, the draw is a winning outcome.
Under Draw No Bet, the draw ordinarily leads to a refund of the relevant stake.
Because 1X actually counts the draw as a winner, its price is generally lower than the corresponding Draw No Bet price.
Which is preferable depends on the odds and what risk structure you want.
Double Chance vs Asian Handicap +0.5
For ordinary football settlement, Home +0.5 Asian Handicap has the same basic win/loss outcome pattern as 1X:
Home win → win
Draw → win
Away win → lose
Likewise:
Away +0.5 broadly corresponds to X2.
That does not mean the displayed odds must always be identical. Pricing, market rules and availability can vary.
The comparison is useful because bettors may encounter the same underlying outcome exposure presented through different market types.
When Can 1X Make Sense?
A 1X selection may be relevant when your analysis suggests the home side is unlikely to lose, but you are not sufficiently confident that it will win outright.
Factors worth examining include:
home record;
strength of the opponent;
injuries;
recent performances;
and whether a draw suits either side.
For example, a home team that regularly avoids defeat but draws frequently can be poorly suited to an aggressive straight-home-win approach.
1X gives the draw coverage.
However, whether it represents good value still depends on the price.
An extremely short 1X price is not automatically attractive simply because the selection looks likely.
When Can X2 Make Sense?
X2 may be considered when you believe the away side has a realistic chance of winning but want protection if the match finishes level.
This can be relevant when a strong away team faces a competitive home side.
Analyse:
away performance;
home-team strength;
recent form;
team availability;
and tactical context.
Do not select X2 purely because the away club has the bigger name.
A strong club with a poor away record can still be priced too aggressively.
When Can 12 Make Sense?
12 removes the draw.
You are effectively betting:
“There will be a winner.”
This can be considered where your analysis gives the draw a relatively low probability.
Potential context can include matches where both sides need victory rather than a point.
But be careful with narratives.
Two attacking teams do not automatically guarantee a decisive result.
A 3-3 match still makes a 12 selection loss.
Evaluate the actual likelihood of a draw rather than simply assuming an entertaining fixture must produce a winner.
What to Analyse Before Choosing Double Chance
The biggest mistake is treating Double Chance as a shortcut that removes the need for match analysis.
It does not.
Home and Away Records
If you are considering 1X, look specifically at the home team’s performance at home.
For X2, inspect the away side’s away record.
Overall league position alone can hide large venue-specific differences.
Draw Frequency
Draw frequency is particularly relevant.
A team that draws often can make 1X or X2 more attractive relative to a straight win, depending on the price.
Conversely, if both teams rarely draw, 12 may deserve investigation.
Historical frequency should still be interpreted alongside current circumstances.
Recent Performance
Do more than count W-D-L results.
Consider:
quality of opposition;
expected level of performance;
scoring;
conceding;
and whether the result accurately reflected the match.
Five unbeaten games against weak opponents are not automatically stronger evidence than competitive performances against leading teams.
Team News
Missing goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders or attackers can change the expected result.
Use credible team news where possible.
Do not react equally to every absence.
A squad player and a key starter can have very different effects.
Match Context
League position does not tell you what each team currently needs.
A draw might be acceptable in one situation and damaging in another.
Late-season matches, tournament group games, derbies and relegation battles can create different incentives.
The Price
Finally, consider whether the Double Chance odds justify the risk.
A selection being likely to win is not the same as its odds being attractive.
This distinction matters especially with Double Chance because the prices can be short.
Double Chance in Accumulator Bets
Double Chance selections can often be added to accumulators where the sportsbook permits them.
Suppose you choose:
Arsenal 1X at 1.25
Inter X2 at 1.40
Barcelona 1X at 1.20
Combined odds:
1.25 × 1.40 × 1.20 = 2.10
A ₦5,000 stake would have a potential total return of:
₦5,000 × 2.10 = ₦10,500
At first glance, using Double Chance may make each individual leg look conservative.
But combining multiple legs changes the risk.
All required selections still generally need to succeed in a conventional accumulator.
If two win and one loses, the overall ticket loses.
This is why “several safe Double Chances” should never be described as a guaranteed accumulator.
Does Adding Double Chance Make an Accumulator Safe?
No.
This deserves separate emphasis because Nigerian bettors frequently use Double Chance in multiples.
Suppose each of five hypothetical selections had an independently estimated 80% probability of succeeding.
The probability that all five succeed would be:
0.8 × 0.8 × 0.8 × 0.8 × 0.8 ≈ 32.8%
That example is simplified because real football selections may not be independent, but it demonstrates the principle.
Several individually likely outcomes can still produce a substantially less likely combined ticket.
Low odds are not the same thing as certainty.
Live Double Chance Betting
Where offered, live Double Chance betting applies the same 1X, X2 and 12 logic during an event.
The odds respond to developments such as:
goals;
red cards;
time elapsed;
and changes in match state.
Suppose the away team leads 1-0 after 70 minutes.
X2 may become extremely short because it covers both the current away lead and a possible draw.
Meanwhile, 1X could become much longer because the home team needs to recover enough to avoid defeat.
Live markets can also temporarily suspend.
Review the final accepted price rather than assuming the odd first displayed was accepted.
For a fuller explanation, see live betting.
Is Double Chance a Safe Bet?
It is more accurate to say Double Chance covers more possible Match Result outcomes than a straight 1X2 selection.
Calling it “safe” can be misleading.
Every Double Chance selection excludes one result.
1X loses if the away team wins.
X2 loses if the home team wins.
12 loses if the match finishes level.
And an apparently strong selection can still be badly priced.
The appropriate question is therefore not:
“Is Double Chance safe?”
It is:
“Which result am I excluding, how likely is that result, and are the odds worth the remaining risk?”
Common Double Chance Betting Mistakes
Several mistakes repeatedly appear with this market.
Assuming two outcomes means a 66.67% probability. It does not. The three Match Result outcomes are not equally likely.
Thinking 1X means the home team will win. It means a home win or draw.
Thinking X2 means the away team must win. A draw also satisfies X2.
Thinking 12 means the home team cannot lose. It means either team can win; only a draw loses.
Ignoring settlement periods. Full-Time Double Chance and Half-Time Double Chance are different markets.
Counting extra time automatically. Do not assume extra time is included in a standard Full-Time market.
Confusing Double Chance with Draw No Bet. Under DNB, a draw is ordinarily a refund rather than a winning result.
Using very short Double Chance odds only to inflate an accumulator. Every additional leg adds another possible point of failure.
How to Place a Double Chance Bet?
When the current sportsbook offers the market, open the football fixture you want and find Double Chance.
You should normally see:
1X
X2
12
Choose the outcome combination you want.
Then check the bet slip carefully before submitting.
Confirm the fixture, market, selection, accepted odds, stake and potential return.
If using 8XBET, rely on the Double Chance market actually displayed in the current sportsbook rather than assuming every fixture has identical market availability.
After submitting, check that the wager appears as an accepted ticket.
For the complete account-to-bet process, see online betting Nigeria.
Know Which Result You Are Removing
The simplest way to understand double chance betting is not to ask which two results you are backing.
Ask:
Which one result am I removing?
With 1X, you remove the away win.
With X2, you remove the home win.
With 12, you remove the draw.
From there, evaluate whether the excluded outcome is genuinely unlikely enough to justify the odds being offered.
Double Chance can provide more result coverage than ordinary 1X2 betting, but that coverage has a price: lower potential returns and one remaining losing outcome.
Use it because the probability and odds make sense, not because the market is labelled safer.
Continue with the parent Betting Guides, learn the underlying 1X2 betting market, explore football betting and understand pricing through our betting odds guide.
Double Chance Betting FAQs
What is Double Chance betting?
Double Chance betting covers two of the three standard Match Result outcomes in one selection: 1X, X2 or 12.
What does 1X mean in betting?
1X means home win or draw. The bet loses only if the away team wins according to the relevant settlement period.
What does X2 mean in betting?
X2 means draw or away win. It loses only if the home team wins.
Is Double Chance better than a straight win?
Neither is automatically better. Double Chance provides broader result coverage but normally at lower odds. The better choice depends on the probabilities, price and risk you want.
Is Double Chance the same as Draw No Bet?
No. A draw is a winning result in 1X or X2. In a conventional Draw No Bet wager, the draw normally returns the relevant stake.
Does Double Chance include extra time?
A standard Full-Time football Double Chance market should ordinarily be interpreted according to its stated Full-Time settlement period and should not automatically be assumed to include extra time or penalties. Check the specific market rules.
Can Double Chance be used in live betting?
Yes, where an in-play Double Chance market is currently offered. Odds can change rapidly during the event.
Can I use Double Chance in an accumulator?
Yes, where supported. But every required leg generally still needs to succeed, so adding several Double Chance selections does not guarantee the accumulator.
