Double Chance is a football betting market that covers two of the three possible match-result outcomes: home win, draw or away win.
Instead of choosing only one result, a Double Chance selection covers two outcomes. The three standard options are 1X, X2 and 12.
For example, 1X means the home team must either win or draw for the selection to be successful. X2 means the match must end in a draw or an away win, while 12 means either team must win and the match cannot finish as a draw.
Double Chance can therefore be easier to understand once you know what the symbols 1, X and 2 represent.
What Does Double Chance Mean?
Double Chance means selecting two possible outcomes from the three standard football match-result outcomes.
In a normal 1X2 market:
- 1 = home team wins
- X = match ends in a draw
- 2 = away team wins
Double Chance combines two of these outcomes into one selection.
| Double Chance | Outcomes covered |
|---|---|
| 1X | Home win or draw |
| X2 | Draw or away win |
| 12 | Home win or away win |
The outcome that is not included must occur for the Double Chance selection to lose.
For example, if you select 1X, you are covering a home win and a draw. An away win would make the selection unsuccessful.
How Does Double Chance Work?
Double Chance works by allowing two possible match results to count as successful outcomes.
Suppose a match is:
Team A vs Team B
You select 1X.
Your selection covers:
- Team A wins
- Match ends in a draw
It does not cover:
- Team B wins
So the result determines whether your Double Chance selection is successful.
Example
Imagine Team A plays Team B and you select 1X.
If the final result is:
Team A 2–1 Team B
The home team won, so the 1X selection is successful.
If the result is:
Team A 1–1 Team B
The match was a draw, so the 1X selection is also successful.
If the result is:
Team A 0–2 Team B
The away team won, so the 1X selection is unsuccessful.
This is the basic idea behind all three Double Chance combinations.
What Does 1X Mean?
1X means home win or draw.
The first symbol, 1, represents a home win.
The second symbol, X, represents a draw.
Therefore, a 1X selection covers two possible results:
- Home team wins
- Match ends in a draw
An away win is not covered.
1X example
For a match between Arsenal and Chelsea, if the market offers 1X, the selection covers:
- Arsenal win
- Draw
If Chelsea wins, the 1X selection does not succeed.
The teams in this example are only being used to explain the market; actual betting settlement depends on the specific market and operator terms.
What Does X2 Mean?
X2 means draw or away win.
The X represents a draw.
The 2 represents an away win.
Therefore, X2 covers:
- Draw
- Away team wins
A home win is not covered.
X2 example
Suppose Team A is playing Team B at Team A’s home stadium.
If you select X2, the selection covers:
- Team A and Team B draw
- Team B wins
If Team A wins, the X2 selection is unsuccessful.
What Does 12 Mean?
12 means either team wins.
This Double Chance option covers:
- Home team wins
- Away team wins
It does not cover a draw.
12 example
Suppose Team A plays Team B.
You select 12.
The following results are covered:
- Team A wins 1–0
- Team A wins 3–2
- Team B wins 0–1
- Team B wins 1–3
But if the match finishes:
1–1
the 12 selection is unsuccessful because the match ended in a draw.
Double Chance vs 1X2 Betting
Double Chance and 1X2 are related markets, but they give you different numbers of possible outcomes.
A standard 1X2 selection requires you to choose one of three results:
- 1 — home win
- X — draw
- 2 — away win
Double Chance lets you cover two of those three outcomes.
For example:
| Market | What is covered? |
|---|---|
| 1 | Home win only |
| X | Draw only |
| 2 | Away win only |
| 1X | Home win or draw |
| X2 | Draw or away win |
| 12 | Home win or away win |
Because Double Chance covers two outcomes instead of one, its odds are generally different from the corresponding single-outcome 1X2 selections.
Double Chance vs Draw No Bet
Double Chance is also commonly confused with Draw No Bet (DNB).
They are not the same market.
With a typical Draw No Bet selection, you choose one team:
- Team wins → bet wins
- Draw → stake normally returned
- Team loses → bet loses
With Double Chance, two match outcomes are covered.
For example:
Home Team Double Chance 1X
- Home win → selection successful
- Draw → selection successful
- Away win → selection unsuccessful
The important difference is what happens when the match is drawn.
With 1X Double Chance, a draw is one of the covered winning outcomes.
With home-team Draw No Bet, a qualifying draw normally results in the stake being returned rather than producing a standard winning settlement.
The exact settlement rules can vary by operator and market, so check the terms attached to the specific selection.
Double Chance Example With a ₦1,000 Stake
Suppose you select 1X Double Chance with a hypothetical ₦1,000 stake.
The example odds are 1.40.
Potential return if the selection wins:
₦1,000 × 1.40 = ₦1,400
Potential profit:
₦1,400 − ₦1,000 = ₦400
The 1X selection would normally be successful if the home team wins or the match ends in a draw.
If the away team wins, the selection loses.
These figures are only an example of how decimal odds and a stake can be calculated. They are not a prediction or recommendation to place a bet.
Why Are Double Chance Odds Usually Different From 1X2 Odds?
A Double Chance market covers two possible outcomes instead of one.
For example, a standard home-win 1X2 selection covers only:
Home win
A 1X Double Chance selection covers:
Home win + draw
Because the market covers more possible results, the price or odds are generally different.
However, odds are determined by the bookmaker or betting operator and can vary between operators, matches and market conditions.
You should therefore check the actual odds and settlement rules shown for the specific market rather than assuming that every Double Chance market will have the same price.
Does Double Chance Include Extra Time?
This depends on the specific market.
Many standard football match-result markets are settled using normal time, including the referee’s added stoppage time. Extra time and penalties may not count unless the market specifically states otherwise.
For example, a market referring to the match result may have different settlement rules from a market concerning qualification or which team progresses.
Always check the market’s rules before placing a wager, particularly for knockout matches that can go to extra time.
Does Double Chance Include Penalties?
Usually, you should not assume that penalty shootouts are included in a standard match-result Double Chance market.
The applicable settlement period depends on the market rules.
A knockout match can have:
- Normal time
- Extra time
- Penalty shootout
A betting market may specify which part of the match determines settlement.
Therefore, check the operator’s rules for the exact Double Chance market instead of assuming that penalties count.
Is Double Chance the Same as Betting on Two Teams?
No.
Double Chance is one market selection covering two possible match outcomes.
For example, selecting 1X does not mean placing separate bets on:
- Home win
- Draw
It means selecting a Double Chance market that covers those two outcomes under the market’s rules.
This distinction matters when calculating odds, potential returns and settlement.
Common Double Chance Mistakes
1. Thinking 1X means either team can win
It does not.
1X = home win or draw.
An away win is not covered.
2. Confusing X2 with 12
These selections are different.
X2 = draw or away win.
12 = home win or away win.
A draw is covered by X2 but not by 12.
3. Thinking Double Chance guarantees a winning result
Double Chance covers two outcomes, but one outcome remains outside the selection.
For example, 1X does not cover an away win.
4. Assuming every bookmaker uses identical settlement rules
Market names can look similar while settlement conditions differ.
Check the operator’s current terms, especially for extra time, abandoned matches, postponed matches and other unusual situations.
5. Confusing Double Chance with Draw No Bet
The two markets treat a draw differently.
Double Chance can make the draw one of the covered winning outcomes, while Draw No Bet normally treats a qualifying draw as a void/refund outcome.
Double Chance Quick Reference
| Selection | Covered outcomes | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1X | Home win + draw | Away win |
| X2 | Draw + away win | Home win |
| 12 | Home win + away win | Draw |
Remember:
1 = Home
X = Draw
2 = Away
Once you understand those three symbols, the three Double Chance combinations become much easier to read.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Double Chance mean in football betting?
Double Chance is a football betting market that covers two of the three possible match-result outcomes: home win, draw or away win.
What does 1X mean in betting?
1X means the selection covers a home win or a draw. An away win is not covered.
What does X2 mean in football betting?
X2 means the selection covers a draw or an away win. A home win is not covered.
What does 12 mean in Double Chance?
12 means either the home team or the away team must win. A draw is not covered.
Is Double Chance better than 1X2?
Double Chance and 1X2 are different markets with different outcome coverage. Double Chance covers two results, while 1X2 requires one specific result. Which market someone chooses depends on the market rules, odds and their own decision; neither market guarantees a successful result.
Is Double Chance the same as Draw No Bet?
No. With Double Chance, two outcomes are covered. With a typical Draw No Bet market, one team is selected and a qualifying draw normally results in the stake being returned.
Does Double Chance include extra time?
Do not assume that it does. Many standard football match-result markets are settled after normal time plus stoppage time, but the exact settlement period depends on the market rules.
Final Takeaway
Double Chance is a football betting market that covers two possible match results instead of one.
The three main combinations are:
- 1X = home win or draw
- X2 = draw or away win
- 12 = home win or away win
The key is to understand what each symbol represents before looking at the odds.
For a broader explanation of football betting markets, see our Football Betting Guide for Nigerian Beginners. You can also learn how Double Chance differs from Draw No Bet and understand the basics of 1X2 football betting.
Football betting involves financial risk. Market rules, settlement conditions and odds can vary between operators, so check the current terms for the specific market before placing any wager.
One response