Betting literacy guide
Double chance betting, explained
Double chance covers two of the three results. Here is what that buys, what it costs, and when it is the more sensible market.
Published by the BetGenius Editorial Desk · Editorial policy
Published 11 October 2026 · Reviewed 11 October 2026 · 6 min read
The three options
- 1X: the home team wins or the match is drawn.
- X2: the away team wins or the match is drawn.
- 12: either team wins; only a draw loses.
Why the prices are short
Covering two outcomes makes a win more likely, so it pays less. With home at 2.10 and draw at 3.40, their implied chances are 47.6% and 29.4%, together 77%. That puts 1X near 1.30 before the bookmaker's margin, and the quoted price will usually be a little lower.
A ₦1,000 stake at 1.30 returns ₦1,300 if it wins: ₦300 profit.
Double chance or draw no bet?
Draw no bet backs one team and returns the stake if the match is drawn. Double chance 1X wins on a draw instead of refunding. Double chance is the safer of the two and pays less; draw no bet pays more and only refunds the draw.
When it makes sense
Double chance suits a side the evidence rates clearly, but in a match where a draw is a real possibility: an away team in good form against a stubborn host, for example. It does not turn a weak case into a strong one; a short price still loses sometimes, and the small profit leaves little room for those losses.
Key points
- 1X and X2 each cover a team and the draw; 12 covers both teams.
- More cover means shorter prices and smaller returns.
- A 1.30 price must win about 77% of the time just to break even.