Double Chance

A double chance bet allows you to cover two of the three possible outcomes in a soccer match with a single wager. In standard three-way soccer betting, you can bet on the home team to win, the away team to win, or the draw. A double chance bet combines two of those three options into one selection: home or draw (1X), away or draw (X2), or home or away (12). By covering two outcomes instead of one, you increase your probability of winning but accept lower odds in return.

Double chance betting is popular among bettors who lean toward one side but want protection against the draw, which occurs in roughly 25 to 30 percent of soccer matches. Rather than risking the entire stake on a single outcome, the double chance format provides a safety net for conservative bettors or uncertain matches.

The trade-off is clear: because you are more likely to win, the payout is significantly lower than a standard three-way bet. The odds reflect the combined probability of the two covered outcomes. In heavily lopsided matches, the home or draw option may have very short odds, offering minimal profit.

Example

Manchester United is playing at home against a mid-table opponent. The three-way odds are: Manchester United to win at -130, the draw at +240, and the away team to win at +400. You are fairly confident United will win but want protection against a draw. You place a $100 double chance bet on “Home or Draw” (1X) at -300 odds. If United wins or the game ends in a draw, you win. Your $100 bet returns $33.33 in profit. Only if the away team wins outright do you lose your $100 stake. You traded higher profit potential for a much higher chance of winning.

Key Points

• Covers two of three outcomes: Double chance bets combine two results into one wager, such as home/draw, away/draw, or home/away.
• Lower odds, higher win probability: Because two outcomes are covered, the odds are significantly reduced compared to a standard three-way bet.
• Protection against the draw: The most common use of double chance is to back a team while also protecting against the frequent possibility of a draw in soccer.
• Primarily a soccer market: Double chance betting is almost exclusively offered for soccer due to the three-way nature of match results in that sport.
• Useful for cautious bettors: Double chance is well-suited for bettors who want to reduce risk and are willing to accept smaller returns for greater consistency.