What is a double chance bet?
A match has three outcomes: a home win (1), a draw (X) and an away win (2). A double chance puts two of them into a single bet.
| Option | Wins if… | Loses if… |
|---|---|---|
| 1X | The home side wins or draws | The away side wins |
| X2 | Draw or away win | The home side wins |
| 12 | Either side wins | The match is a draw |
In French-speaking countries it is written 1N, N2 and 12. The principle is the same. The 12 is the only option that does not cover the draw.
How do you work out the chance of a double chance?
You add the chances of the two outcomes. Invented example: home win 45%, draw 28%, away win 27%.
Even the best option, 1X at 73%, loses in 27% of cases. That is a little more than one time in four. A double chance is not a safe bet.
Why are double chance odds lower?
More outcomes covered means a higher chance, so lower odds. The sum is the usual one: a 73% chance matches margin-free odds of about 1.37 (1 ÷ 0.73). A bookmaker will show slightly less because of its margin. The detail of the sum is in our guide to reading odds.
The higher the chance of a double chance, the closer its odds get to 1.00. Odds of 1.10 say the market sees about a 91% chance, margin included. The price of "safety" is therefore already inside the odds. It is not a gift.
What does the profile of the match change?
Three example matches, with chances invented for the occasion.
| Profile | Chances 1 / X / 2 | 1X | X2 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home favourite | 60 / 22 / 18 | 82% | 40% | 78% |
| Even match | 35 / 30 / 35 | 65% | 65% | 70% |
| Away favourite | 18 / 22 / 60 | 40% | 82% | 78% |
When one side is a clear favourite, the double chance that covers it climbs towards 80% and its margin-free odds fall towards 1.22. There is little to gain for a chance that stays below 100%. In an even match, no double chance goes above 70%.
When does a double chance make sense?
- When one scenario worries you. You believe a side will not lose, but a draw is possible. 1X or X2 removes that single scenario.
- When two sides cancel each other out. If the match is likely to be tight, the draw weighs heavily. The 12 is then more fragile than it looks.
- When the odds stay fair. Compare the chance you estimate with the chance the odds contain. If the odds are too low for the real chance, the cover costs too much.
Double chance or draw no bet: what is the difference?
They are two separate markets. With draw no bet, the bet is void if the match is drawn: it is neither won nor lost. With a double chance, the draw is one of the winning results (for 1X and X2).
Always read the exact name of the market and its rule. Two bets that look alike can be settled very differently.
A double chance covers two outcomes out of three. Its chance is the sum of the two chances. Its odds are lower, and it can still lose. It is judged like any other bet: the calculated chance against the odds on offer.
Frequently asked questions
What does 1X mean in a double chance?
It means the home side wins or draws. The bet only loses if the away side wins.
Is a double chance safer than a single bet?
It covers more outcomes, so its chance is higher. But its odds are lower, and it can still lose.
Can you put double chances in an accumulator?
Yes, but the chances multiply: two double chances at 73% give about 53% (0.73 × 0.73). See our accumulator and parlay guide.
What is the difference between 12 and 1X2?
The 12 is a double chance: it rules out the draw. 1X2 is the name of the full three-outcome market.
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