Double Chance is a football market that lets you cover two of the three possible 1X2 outcomes in a single bet. By combining two outcomes, you significantly increase your probability of winning — at the cost of shorter odds compared to the individual selections.
Three options:
- 1X (Home or Draw): wins if the home team wins or if the match draws. Loses only if the away team wins.
- X2 (Draw or Away): wins if the match draws or the away team wins. Loses only if the home team wins.
- 12 (Home or Away): wins if either team wins (no draw). Loses only if the match ends in a draw.
Practical use: Double Chance is particularly useful when you strongly fancy one side but cannot rule out a draw. Backing a strong away team with X2 covers both their win and the draw — only a home win defeats the bet. The odds are lower than a straight away win, but the risk reduction is significant.
12 (No Draw) is popular in matches expected to produce a decisive result — heavyweight home favourites or two attack-minded teams. It is also used in accumulator legs where a draw would be particularly costly, adding security at reduced odds.
Example
Barcelona away at Athletic Bilbao. Barcelona to win is 2.00, draw is 3.80. Double Chance X2 (Barcelona or Draw) is priced at 1.30. You expect Barcelona to win but acknowledge they struggle at Bilbao's San Mames. A £50 X2 bet returns £65 whether Barcelona win or the match draws — only an Athletic Bilbao home win loses.