What Is Double Chance Betting in Soccer?
Double chance is one of the most common ways to bet on soccer, the most popular sport on the planet. It is a favourite of bettors because it allows them to bet on two out of three possible outcomes. This reduces risk and provides a degree of insurance. The downside is that bookmakers offer lower odds in the double chance market since they are covering only one out of three potential outcomes for any given game.
If you want to learn more about the double chance market in sports betting, you have come to the right place. But one thing to remember is that soccer is one of the few sports that offer this sort of bet – you are unlikely to find it in the NFL or the NBA, although a version of it is used in combat events like UFC.
On this page, we will cover all the key information for this type of bet. To find out more about other types of soccer betting, take a look at our other content elsewhere on this site.
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⚽ Double Chance Betting Definition
In football betting, punters looking to predict the result can back a win for the home team, a win for the away team, or a draw. For example, a match between Arsenal and Real Madrid gives bettors a chance to put money on a victory for either team or a tie. That means there are three possible bets available on all football/soccer games taking place anywhere in the world.
‘Double chance’ does what it says on the tin – it doubles your chances of being a winner. So rather than simply backing Arsenal to win in the above scenario, the double chance market allows you to back ‘Arsenal or draw. If either of those outcomes proves correct, the bet will be successful. Bettors essentially have two chances to predict the correct outcome by taking up the double chance option in a particular sportsbook.
🎫 How to Place a Double Chance Bet
Before placing a double chance bet, you need to ensure you have an account with the bookmaker of your choice. There are a large number of options out there in 2023, and it can be overwhelming when it comes to selecting which bookie you wish to use. We recommend checking out our various sportsbook reviews before you sign up for any. It would be advisable to create an account with at least two or three since that will allow you to compare odds and take advantage of any available offers or promotions.
Once you have entered your details (do not forget to read the terms and conditions and make sure you review your rights!) on either the website or the app, deposit any amount of money into your account and then navigate your way to the soccer section. Select the event you want to bet on, and then find the double chance market. This may sometimes be illustrated with the figures ‘1X2’, which refer respectively to a home win, draw, and away win. You should then make your pick, such as away win or draw (X2) and place your wager. Hopefully, some winnings will be on their way!
Double Chance Betting Examples
When it comes to the double chance market, there are three possible options for all bettors:
- Home win or draw (1X)
- Draw or away win (X2)
- Home win or away win (12)
Let’s use a real-life example from the 2022/23 Premier League season, and let’s imagine we are using the FanDuel sportsbook and have completed our deposits for our stake. Liverpool is facing Manchester United, and those punters seeking profits are considering their choices from the three double chance bets available on FanDuel (or other betting sites). Many might decide to back a draw or a Manchester United win. This could be because, while they are quietly confident of an in-form United side coming out on top, they might want to hedge their bets by also covering themselves for a draw in case their inkling proves wide of the mark.
💡 Calculating the Odds of a Double Chance Bet
It stands to reason that double chance bets offer lower odds than simply backing one outcome. That is because the wager has two chances of being successful rather than one.
Before we explore the odds of a double chance bet, it is worth briefly touching upon the three different ways odds are displayed: fractional, American and decimal. Fractional odds are widely used in the United Kingdom and Ireland. American odds tend to be employed in the United States. Decimal odds, which we will focus on below, are preferred in Europe, Australia and Canada.
For the purposes of the example, we will assume we are backing a home win or draw (1X) – but you can tweak the following formula to suit your particular selection: odds of home team * odds of draw) / (odds of home team + odds of draw). So if the home team is priced at 2 and the draw is priced at 3.5, the double chance odds would be 1.27.
🆚 Should I Opt for a Double Chance Bet?
In summary, the advantage of double chance betting is that sports gambling players can hedge their bets. You might fancy the home team to triumph, but backing a home win and a draw provides additional security. The main disadvantage is the consequent lower odds that automatically follow the combination of two bets into one. That minimizes the amount of cash available for withdrawal, even if the wager is successful.
Advantages of Double Chance Betting
The best thing about the double chance betting method is that it increases your chances of winning. You are covered for 66.6% of the possible outcomes, compared to just 33.3% if you choose only a home win, an away win, or a draw in the moneyline market. Another plus is that the double chance market can be easily found by users of various bookmakers, almost all of which now offer this particular type of bet. One disclaimer, though: check your sportsbook of choice just to be sure!
Disadvantages of Double Chance Betting
However, the double chance market is not the best choice for every player. Because the bettor is given two opportunities to be successful, the odds on offer are often low to make up for the handicap taken on by the bookie. Indeed, while a double chance wager reduces the risk, it also minimizes reward. There is still a reasonably high chance of failure too, which is something for people to bear in mind. Tipping a draw or an away win means customers will end up with nothing if the match finishes with the home team triumphant.
🗒️ Double Chance Betting Strategies
There are occasions where it makes sense to back a home win or an away win (12), but punters usually opt for double chance when they want to combine a victory for either side with a draw. It is usually better to do this by opting for the underdog and a draw. However, in a country like Spain, where Real Madrid and Barcelona are dominant, there is very little value in putting money on a Barcelona win or a draw when they play lowly Elche. Instead, take up the double chance option (1X or X2) when you believe the underdog has a decent prospect of coming out on top but want to hedge your bets somewhat.
🚩 Double Chance Betting: Common Terms & Betting Tips
As mentioned earlier in this article, the main terms to be aware of when it comes to double chance betting are 1 (home win), X (draw) and 2 (away win). Bookmakers and casinos across the board now offer a huge range of services. If we look at a list for soccer betting alone, there is a variety of ways to place wagers on matches, with more depth on offer than ever before – and it is within easy access online or via gambling apps. Therefore, our main tip is to ensure you are only choosing the double chance market if it is the right situation. This should only be a part of your betting armoury rather than your go-to choice every time.
🚀 Expert’s Conclusion: Is Double Chance Betting a Good Bet Type in Soccer?
Double chance betting is one of the most common types of wagers when it comes to betting on soccer action across the globe. It can be an excellent choice for those happy to accept reduced odds in exchange for an increased chance of victory. There are times when the double chance will not be the best selection – for instance when there is a strong favourite who you believe will be victorious – but its popularity derives from the benefits it brings to sports bettors.
❓ FAQs Double Chance in Soccer Betting
Double chance refers to a bet on two out of three possible outcomes in a soccer match: home win, away win, or draw.
All reputable sportsbooks offer double chance bets, so simply sign up with your favourite bookmaker and start playing.
A double chance wager is successful if you correctly predict the outcome of a match. For instance, a bet on ‘home win or draw,’ sometimes stylized as 1X, will land if the home team is victorious or the game ends as a draw.
Double chance odds are calculated by multiplying the two sets of odds you have selected, then dividing this number by the sum of the two sets of odds.
Some bookmakers will allow you to combine a double chance bet with a “both teams to score” wager, but others do not permit this particular combination.
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Greg Lea is a soccer journalist specializing in Ontario's soccer betting scene. He has had work published by ESPN, Eurosport, Goal.com and more. Among his strengths as a sports journalist are live blogs, match reports, press conference papers, analytical sports articles and commentary. Since 2015, Greg has been a full-time freelancer and received Premier League accreditation the same year.
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