What does Double Chance mean in Betting?

A double chance bet is one of the simplest and most useful football betting markets, especially for punters who want more cover than a standard 1X2 bet. In a normal football match, there are three possible outcomes after 90 minutes: the home team wins, the match finishes level, or the away team wins. A double chance bet combines two of those three outcomes into one selection, which increases your chance of winning the bet but lowers the odds compared with backing a single result outright.

There are three standard double chance options:

• 1X – Home team to win or draw
• X2 – Draw or away team to win
• 12 – Home team to win or away team to win

This market is particularly useful when you have a strong opinion on a match but do not fully trust one team to win outright. For example, you may think the home side is the better team, but still believe the draw is a realistic danger. In that case, 1X can be a more sensible option than taking a straight home win at longer odds but with more risk.

The 12 double chance option is slightly different. Instead of covering one team plus the draw, it covers both teams to win and excludes the draw entirely. That makes it a good fit for matches where you believe one side will push hard for victory and the game is less likely to finish level. This can happen in knockout ties, high-pressure league matches, or fixtures where both teams need the points.

If you are still learning the basics of football betting markets, this page works well alongside our guides to BTTS betting, over 2.5 goals betting, Asian handicap betting, and -1 handicap explained.

What Does Double Chance Mean in Betting?

In simple terms, double chance means you are buying extra protection by covering two results instead of one. That is why the odds are always shorter than the equivalent single outcome in the standard 1X2 market.

For example:

• If you back the home team to win, only one result works for you
• If you back 1X, both the home win and the draw work for you
• If you back X2, both the draw and the away win work for you
• If you back 12, any winner works for you as long as the match does not end in a draw

Because you are covering more than one outcome, bookmakers lower the return compared with a straight win bet. That trade-off is the whole point of the market. You sacrifice some price in exchange for a better chance of landing the bet.

Double chance is most commonly used in football, but the same idea can appear in other sports where bookmakers structure markets around multiple outcomes. In football, though, it remains one of the most popular alternatives to standard match-result betting because it is easy to understand and fits naturally into both singles and accumulators.

How to Bet on a Double Chance Bet

Placing a double chance bet is straightforward. You only need an account with a bookmaker that offers football betting, and most major bookmakers include double chance in the main match markets as standard. You will usually find it near the 1X2 market, draw no bet, both teams to score, and total goals markets.

Let’s use a simple example.

Imagine Southampton are playing Chelsea. The standard match-result odds look like this:

• Southampton win: 5.25
• Draw: 4.00
• Chelsea win: 1.61

After checking team news, injuries, recent form, and matchup context, you think Southampton have a decent chance of avoiding defeat at home. You are not fully convinced they will win, but you do think the draw is live. In that case, a straight Southampton win may feel too risky, but Southampton or Draw (1X) could make more sense.

If the bookmaker prices the 1X double chance at 2.20, that means your bet wins if Southampton win or if the match ends in a draw. The only result that beats you is a Chelsea win.

On the other hand, if you think the match is very unlikely to finish level and that one of the two sides will go on to win it, then the 12 double chance option could be more suitable. In our example, Southampton or Chelsea to win might be available around 1.22. The lower odds reflect the fact that you are only losing if the game ends in a draw.

That is the core of double chance betting: choosing the two most likely outcomes rather than committing to only one.

When Is a Double Chance Bet Worth Using?

Double chance is most useful when the standard 1X2 market feels slightly too aggressive but you still want to keep the bet tied to the match result. It tends to work best in situations like these:

• Underdog at home: when a weaker home side may not win, but has a realistic chance of avoiding defeat
• Strong away side with draw risk: when the better team is still favoured, but the away trip looks awkward
• Tight or tactical games: when you expect a cagey match and want protection against the draw
• Accumulator building: when you want to lower risk slightly instead of relying on several outright wins
• Knockout or must-win fixtures: especially for 12 selections when both teams are likely to push for a result

It is also a useful option when the price on a favourite looks too short in the standard market but you still want involvement in the match. Rather than forcing an even shorter favourite, many punters use double chance on the underdog side if they think the market is underrating the draw.

Can You Place Double Chance Bets in an Accumulator?

This is one of the main reasons double chance markets are so popular. In a daily acca, there are often one or two matches where you like the stronger side but do not fully trust them to win. In that situation, using 1X or X2 can be a more disciplined decision than forcing the standard match result.

That does not mean you should blindly add double chance selections to every accumulator. The odds will shorten, and too many overly defensive legs can make an acca less efficient. But when used well, double chance is a useful middle ground between chasing riskier outright winners and avoiding the match completely.

If multiples are your main focus, you may also want to read our pages on accumulator tips, football treble tips, and best betting sites for accumulators.

Do Extra Time Count in Double Chance Bets?

No. In almost all cases, double chance bets are settled on 90 minutes only, including stoppage time, unless the bookmaker clearly states otherwise.

That means extra time and penalties do not count for standard football double chance bets. This is especially important in cup matches, Champions League knockout ties, Europa League fixtures, and other tournaments where the game can continue beyond normal time.

For example, if you back a double chance bet on a Champions League match and the score is level after 90 minutes, your bet is settled based on that 90-minute result. Anything that happens in extra time or a penalty shootout is irrelevant unless the bookmaker has specifically offered a market covering “to qualify” or “lift the trophy” instead.

This is one of the most common mistakes newer punters make, so always check whether you are betting on:

• Match Result / Double Chance: usually 90 minutes only
• To Qualify: includes extra time and penalties where relevant
• Outright Tournament Markets: based on progression or final winner rather than the 90-minute result

Most Popular Double Chance Bet Variations

Bookmakers now offer more than the standard three double chance options. The core market is still 1X, X2, or 12, but many sites also combine double chance with goals markets or both teams to score. These versions are more complex, but they can offer better value when your match read goes beyond the basic result.

Common examples include:

• Double Chance and Over 2.5 Goals
• Double Chance and Under 2.5 Goals
• Double Chance and BTTS
• Double Chance and BTTS – No
• Double Chance and Team to Score

For example, a bookmaker may offer:

• 1X and Over 2.5 Goals – the home side must avoid defeat, and the match must have at least 3 goals
• X2 and BTTS – the away side must avoid defeat, and both teams must score
• 12 and Over 1.5 Goals – either side must win, and the game must have at least 2 goals

These hybrid markets can be useful when your analysis points to both a result pattern and a game-state pattern. For example, if you expect a strong home performance but still see the away side scoring, then 1X and BTTS may fit better than a simple 1X selection.

If you want to understand the related goal-based markets better, our guides to 1.5 goals betting, 2.5 goals betting, and BTTS betting cover the basics in more detail.

Double Chance vs Draw No Bet

Double chance and draw no bet are often compared because both are lower-risk alternatives to straight match-result betting, but they work differently.

Double chance: covers two outcomes and wins if either of them lands.
Draw no bet: only covers one team to win, but refunds your stake if the match ends in a draw.

For example:

• 1X double chance wins if the home team win or the match ends level
• Home draw no bet only wins if the home team win, and refunds if the match ends level

Double chance usually gives you more protection but at lower odds. Draw no bet usually gives you a slightly bigger price, but less coverage. Neither is automatically better. It depends on whether you prefer a higher strike rate or a stronger return when your main outcome lands.

Where to Bet on Double Chance

According to our betting experts, one of the best sites for double chance betting is bet365. It remains one of the strongest all-round bookmakers for football, with broad league coverage, fast market updates, and a platform that makes it easy to find pre-match and in-play double chance lines.

bet365 covers football from all over the world, from the Premier League and Champions League to lower-profile leagues and midweek fixtures. That matters because double chance tends to be most useful when you are comparing lots of different styles of match, not just televised games. The site also performs well for live betting, which means you can back double chance before kick-off or switch to an in-play angle once the match has started.

Its platform is quick, reliable, and especially strong on football. Many matches also come with access to live streaming, which can be useful if you like following the match while managing bets. For readers who regularly bet during games, our guides to live betting sites and best in-play betting sites are also relevant.

bet365 also has a straightforward registration process, relatively quick verification, and strong customer support in English. On the safer gambling side, it supports deposit limits, time-outs, and other account tools that help users manage betting responsibly. If banking options matter to you as well, you can compare pages like Apple Pay betting sites, debit card betting sites, and PayPal betting sites.

Play at bet365

Do You Provide Double Chance Tips and Predictions?

Yes. Our football predictions often include double chance selections when the matchup suggests that the draw is a genuine danger or when the underdog looks more competitive than the market implies.

We also use double chance in other football content when it fits the match profile. That can include:

• bet builder tips when the selection works well with goals or player markets
• football accumulator tips when one leg looks too risky as a straight win
• today’s football predictions where value matters more than simply backing favourites
• daily football tips across broader market coverage

Sometimes the best football bet is not the outright winner. In tighter fixtures, double chance can be the smarter market because it reflects the actual balance of the game better than a forced 1X2 pick.

Advantages of Double Chance Betting

Double chance has stayed popular for a reason. It gives punters a simple way to lower risk without moving into more complicated markets.

• More protection than 1X2: you cover two outcomes instead of one
• Useful for close matches: especially when the draw is a live possibility
• Good for accumulators: helps reduce risk on tricky legs
• Simple to understand: no need to learn specialist rules
• Available almost everywhere: offered by nearly all major football bookmakers

Disadvantages of Double Chance Betting

It is not perfect, and it should not be treated as a shortcut to easy wins.

• Lower odds: the extra protection means lower returns
• Can be overused in accumulators: too many defensive legs can weaken value
• Not always the best market: sometimes draw no bet, BTTS, or Asian handicap is the sharper angle
• 90-minute settlement only: this can catch out newer bettors in knockout matches

Like any football market, double chance works best when it matches the game rather than when it is used automatically.

More Betting Guides

Double Chance Betting FAQ

What does double chance mean in betting?
It means backing two out of the three possible match outcomes in one bet: 1X, X2, or 12.

Is double chance a good bet?
It can be, especially when you want more protection than a standard match-result bet and the draw looks like a realistic outcome.

Can you use double chance in an accumulator?
Yes. It is one of the most common markets used in football accumulators to reduce risk on tougher fixtures.

Does extra time count in double chance betting?
No. Standard double chance bets are usually settled on 90 minutes only, including stoppage time.

What is the difference between 1X and X2?
1X means the home team win or draw. X2 means the away team win or draw.

What does 12 mean in double chance?
It means either team to win, so the only losing result is the draw.

Can I combine double chance with BTTS or over 2.5 goals?
Yes. Many bookmakers offer combined markets such as Double Chance and BTTS or Double Chance and Over 2.5 Goals.

Which bookmaker is best for double chance bets?
bet365 is one of the strongest options because of its football coverage, in-play markets, live streaming, and overall usability.

Bet Responsibly

Betting should be entertainment, not income. Set a budget, stick to it, and never chase losses. Use safer gambling tools such as deposit limits, reality checks, and time-outs where needed. For support, visit GambleAware.