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What is a Double Chance Bet? Tips & Guide

Discover the advantages of double chance betting in sports. Learn how to place double chance bets, explore different types, and get tips for maximizing your winning potential.

Jon Young
Jon Young

Last Updated: 2024-06-21

A. Tzamantanis

5 minutes read

football – what is double chance in betting?

Image Credits: AP / Ariel Schalit

What is the double chance in betting? It’s a wager on two of three possible outcomes of a match or game. You can hedge your bets at the best sports betting sites and cover more outcomes: it’s even perfect for including in your match parlays.  

Double Chance Bet Types

 

Image Credits: 888Sport

Image Credits: 888Sport


What is a double chance bet, and how can you use it? Let’s start by looking at what traditional fixed-odds betting looks like.

In a soccer game, you generally have a choice of three types of bets: home team to win (1), draw (X), or away team to win (2). The bookmaker posts odds on each outcome.

In a double chance bet, you cover two outcomes simultaneously (1X, 2X, or 12) on the moneyline (match winner) markets. The odds are lower on double chance bets than if you backed individual results.

Example: Croatia v Albania (Euro 2024 football)

Croatia to win: 4/9
Draw: 10/3
Albania to win: 7/1

Croatia are considered odds-on favourites at 4/9, which aren’t great odds. However, Albania must secure a draw to progress in the tournament and looked good in their previous game. Rather than place two separate bets on Croatia and the draw, you can place a single wager on the 1X double chance.

The double chance odds for this game are listed as follows:

•    Croatia or Albania (12) Double Chance: 2/11
•    Croatia or Draw (1X) Double Chance: 1/12
•    Draw or Albania (X2) Double Chance: 8/5

The odds for either a Croatian win or draw have dropped to 1/12 but the bet covers more options. If you fancy Albania to cause an upset, you can bet X2 at a reduced 8/5 instead of two bets on the draw and Albania win. 

Benefits of Double Chance Bets

We know the answer to what is the double chance in football betting. But is it a reliable wager to make? 
You cover 2/3 outcomes on one betting slip in its most basic form. That means you increase your chances of winning by one-third. Plus, you can hunt out value in markets where you believe the bookmaker has mispriced its 1X2 odds. 

•    Increase your chance of winning by one-third
•    Make double-chance parlays to increase payouts
•    Bet in-play and lay off your double chance wagers early

Drawbacks of Double Chance Bets

What is double chance in soccer betting? It’s certainly not the best wager for finding favourable odds from the bookmaker, especially if you’re backing the odds-on favourite plus the draw. Plus, you must factor in the betting site’s natural vig that it adds to odds to make it harder for gamblers to profit. 
•    Cash Out isn’t always available on double chance bets
•    Double chance only active for regulation time
•    Odds lower than if covering bets separately

Image Credits: 888Sport

Image Credits: 888Sport

Like soccer, American Football games can end in a draw, making them ideal for double chance betting. Bookies offer odds on what they call the “double result”: Draw/Home Team, Home Team/Away Team, or Draw/Away Team. Because of overtime, double chance wagers in NFL games count towards regulation time only. 

Ice Hockey

Image Credits: 888Sport

Image Credits: 888Sport

Like soccer, American Football games can end in a draw, making them ideal for double chance betting. Bookies offer odds on what they call the “double result”: Draw/Home Team, Home Team/Away Team, or Draw/Away Team. Because of overtime, double chance wagers in NFL games count towards regulation time only. 

Ice Hockey
 

Image Credits: 888Sport

Image Credits: 888Sport

You can still bet the double chance on US sports like hockey where there is no draw. Online bookmakers offer a double chance on the result after 60 minutes (either team leading, or a combination of the draw and either team taking a lead). 

Basketball

What is the double chance bet in basketball? Like hockey, you can bet the double chance at the end of each quarter on who is leading (or whether the game is currently a draw). 

Double Chance Betting System - Tips and Tricks to Win

Hopefully, we’ve answered the question: what is the double chance in sports betting? Now, you can use your knowledge further with a few easy tips. 

#1: Use the Cash Out to Settle Bets Early

The Cash Out function lets you settle your double chance bets early to secure an early payout. Though double chance odds are smaller than standard fixed-odds prices, using the Cash Out means you can guarantee money back to use on other wagers. 

#2: Bet 12 on High-Scoring Games

Goal-hungry teams create high-scoring games, meaning the odds are skewed away from a draw. This is where you can bet the 12 on the double chance. 

#3: Bet 1X or 2X on Tournament Group Games

Final group games can be cagey in major football tournaments. Teams who have already qualified tend to create low-scoring draws. Pick a 1X or 2X double chance, and perhaps pair it with an Under-2.5 total goals bet. 

#4: Check Form & Stats Between Teams

Finally, always conduct research before a soccer match and check the form and head-to-head stats. The best online betting sites provide full stats and form for every game. You can check previous results and even check win probabilities for each team. 

Jon Young
Jon Young Sports Betting Writer

Jon is an experienced journalist and editor working in the gambling industry for over 17 years. He started life as a football betting blogger before being bitten by the online poker bug, eventually becoming editor of some of the largest gambling and poker publications around, including Gambling Magazine and WPT (World Poker Tour) Poker Magazine.