Quick answer
A double chance bet covers two of the three possible results in one bet: 1X (home win or draw), X2 (draw or away win) or 12 (either team wins, no draw). It wins more often than a 1X2 bet but pays less, because the odds are lower.
On this page
The three double chance options
| Option | You win if… | You lose if… |
|---|---|---|
| 1X | The home team wins or it is a draw | The away team wins |
| X2 | It is a draw or the away team wins | The home team wins |
| 12 | Either team wins | It is a draw |
Like 1X2, double chance is settled on the result after normal time (90 minutes plus stoppage time).
Worked example
A bookmaker offers these example prices for Highlanders vs Dynamos:
| 1X | 12 | X2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1.35 | 1.33 | 1.55 |
You think Highlanders will not lose at Barbourfields, so you stake $4 on 1X at 1.35.
- Highlanders win 1–0: you receive $4 × 1.35 = $5.40 ($1.40 profit).
- The match ends 2–2: you also receive $5.40.
- Dynamos win: you lose the $4.
Why the odds are low
Because one bet covers two outcomes, it is much more likely to win, so the price is lower. A rough way to see this: if the 1X2 prices were 2.20 (home), 3.10 (draw) and 3.40 (away), the implied probabilities are about 45.5%, 32.3% and 29.4%. Home-or-draw together is about 77.7%, which corresponds to odds of about 1.29 (100 ÷ 77.7). The bookmaker's actual double chance price will be close to that, with its margin built in.
That is why double chance is often used inside accumulators: it makes each leg safer, but each leg adds very little to the combined odds.
Double chance vs draw no bet
These two markets are easily confused:
- Double chance 1X: a draw is a win for you, at lower odds.
- Draw no bet on the home team: a draw returns your stake; only a home win pays out, at slightly higher odds.
When people use double chance
- When they believe a team will not lose but are unsure whether it will win.
- In matches between closely matched teams, where a draw is quite likely.
- To make accumulator legs more likely to win (but remember every leg must still win).
Common mistakes
- Expecting big returns. At 1.35, a $4 stake earns $1.40 profit.
- Choosing 12 in tight matches. "12" loses on a draw, and draws are common in low-scoring leagues.
- Stacking many double chance legs. Ten legs at 1.30 each give combined odds of about 13.79, but the chance that all ten win is much smaller than it feels.
Summary
- 1X = home or draw; X2 = draw or away; 12 = no draw.
- Wins more often than 1X2, pays less.
- Settled on normal time.
- Compare it with draw no bet before you choose.