What Does Double Chance Mean in Betting?
Double chance is a football betting market that covers two of the three possible match results. Learn what 1X, X2 and 12 mean, how bets are settled, and how this market differs from draw no bet.
Double chance is a betting market that covers two possible outcomes in a football match instead of only one. A selection wins if either of its two results occurs, which generally makes the odds lower than a standard match-winner bet.
For example, betting on 1X means the home team must win or draw. The bet loses only if the away team wins. Double chance is also known as a two-way result market or double outcome bet.
What do 1X, X2 and 12 mean?
Football betting uses three symbols for the basic match result:
- 1 means the home team wins.
- X means the match ends in a draw.
- 2 means the away team wins.
These symbols create three double chance combinations:
| Selection | Bet covers | Bet loses if |
|---|---|---|
| 1X | Home win or draw | Away win |
| X2 | Draw or away win | Home win |
| 12 | Home win or away win | The match is drawn |
Suppose a match finishes 1–1. A 1X bet wins because the result is a draw, and an X2 bet also wins. A 12 bet loses because it excludes the draw.
How double chance bets are settled
Most bookmakers settle a football double chance bet using the result at the end of the scheduled 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties usually do not count unless the bookmaker’s market rules specifically say otherwise.
For instance, if a cup match is drawn after 90 minutes but one team wins in extra time, a 1X selection normally still wins because the match was level at the end of regulation time. The exact settlement rules can vary by bookmaker, competition and market, so checking the terms before placing a bet is necessary.
Postponed, abandoned or interrupted matches may have separate rules. Some operators void the market, while others wait for the fixture to be completed. These conditions are normally listed in the betting rules.
Why are double chance odds usually lower?
A double chance bet covers two of three possible results, so it has a higher chance of winning than selecting one exact result. Bookmakers generally reflect that additional coverage with lower odds.
For example, the odds for a home win may be higher than the odds for 1X because 1X also wins if the game ends in a draw. The lower price is the trade-off for accepting two possible winning results rather than predicting one precise outcome.
Double chance odds are not the same as a guarantee. The selection can still lose if the one excluded result occurs, and the bookmaker’s margin is included in the price.
Double chance compared with draw no bet
Draw no bet and double chance are related but they do not settle in the same way.
- With home team draw no bet, the bet wins if the home team wins, but the stake is usually returned if the match is drawn. It loses if the away team wins.
- With 1X, the bet wins if the home team wins or the match is drawn. It loses only if the away team wins.
The main difference is the treatment of a draw. A 1X bet includes the draw as a winning result, while a home draw-no-bet selection normally returns the stake for a draw. The odds can therefore differ.
What to check before placing a double chance bet
Check which match result the market uses, especially for fixtures that may go to extra time. Confirm whether the selection applies to the full match, the first half or another period. Also review the bookmaker’s rules for postponed matches, abandoned games and void markets.
It is also useful to compare the double chance price with related markets such as the match winner, draw no bet and team totals. A lower risk of losing does not automatically make a bet good value; the odds must still reflect the probability of the outcomes covered.
Betting involves the risk of losing money. Set a fixed budget, avoid chasing losses and follow the regulations and safer-gambling tools available in your location.
