When engaging in sports wagering, the goal is always to maximize winning chances and minimize risk. The Double Chance (DC) bet is an excellent market designed to achieve exactly that, covering two out of the three possible outcomes in a single match.
This betting type is highly popular because it significantly increases the possibility of winning. While a conventional Win-Draw-Win (WDW) market offers approximately a 33.3% chance of success for a single selection, a Double Chance bet secures a possible 66.6% winning possibility.
This guide analyzes how DC betting works, explores the different combinations, provides strategy tips, and compares it to similar betting markets.
How Does Double Chance Betting Work?
Double Chance bets function based on the familiar 3-way bet (1X2) structure, but instead of choosing just one result, you select two possible outcomes.
DC bets only apply for the regular time of a game—90 minutes in football or 60 minutes in ice hockey. Importantly, extra time, overtime, or shootouts do not count towards the final result of a DC bet.
The Double Chance market offers three primary combinations, often expressed using a combination of letters and numbers: 1X, X2, and 12.
The Three Double Chance Combinations
Bookmakers offer these three betting options, which can also be labeled using Form A (1X – X2 – 12) or Form B (Team A or Team B – Team A or Draw – Team B or Draw).
1. Double Chance 1X: Home Team Win or Draw
The 1X option is a possible double-result bet where you win if the home team wins or the match ends in a draw. Some online bookmakers may refer to this as “Team 1 will not lose”. Example: If you bet on Newcastle (1X) against Chelsea, you win if Newcastle wins or the match ends drawn.
2. Double Chance X2: Away Team Win or Draw
When placing an X2 double chance bet, you are backing the visitor team’s win or a draw. You receive earnings if the visitor team wins or the match goes drawn. This can also be found as “Team 2 will not lose” at specific bookies. Example: If you bet on Chelsea (X2), you win if Chelsea wins or draws. If Chelsea is the slight underdog, the odds for X2 might be higher than the other two DC options.
3. Double Chance 12: Home Team Win or Away Team Win
This option is unique because it excludes the draw outcome. Your bet wins if the final result is not a draw (meaning either the home team or the visitor team wins). The draw loses the bet. This is often the outcome with the lowest prices because the draw is considered the rarest result in team sports like football and ice hockey. Example: Following the Newcastle vs. Chelsea example, the odds for 12 might range between 1.20 and 1.40.
Double Chance Betting Strategy and Tips
While the main advantage of DC betting is the higher winning chances (66.66%), the biggest drawback is the lower odds offered. For those looking to increase their winning percentage and not rush to make money, DC betting can be profitable if specific principles are followed.
When developing a strategy, you must decide whether to bet on favorites or hunt for dark horses (underdogs).
1. Low-Risk Bets on Favorites
This strategy is used to bet safer on a favorite team that you anticipate might win, but you want cover in case they only manage a draw.
- If you exclude the underdog win completely in your analysis, a double chance bet (e.g., 1X) is optimal.
- By placing this bet, you accept far lower odds (sometimes slightly less than 1.30), but you know you will receive all your winnings if the favorite avoids defeat. Example: In a World Cup match between England (favorite) and the USA (underdog), the 1X odds (England win or draw) were only 1.17.
2. Increase Risk with Underdogs
This approach is more lucrative and involves backing the underdog and the draw (X2 or 1X, depending on the underdog position).
- If you feel comfortable excluding the favorite’s win, the double chance odds on the draw/underdog are much higher, sometimes exceeding the odds offered for the favorite’s outright win. Example: Continuing the England vs. USA match (where England’s outright win was 1.65), the X2 option (USA win or draw) offered 2.30 odds.
DC Betting vs. Separate Bets and Other Markets
Double Chance vs. Two Separate Bets
While some bettors believe placing two separate wagers is more profitable, this is not a universal principle. Comparing the two options shows that the double chance bet can often be in your favor, especially when the favorite wins or when the match ends in a draw.
However, separate bets may be the optimal choice if you strongly believe the underdog will win and cause an upset, as this might generate higher returns on the individual underdog win portion.
Double Chance vs. Draw No Bet (DNB) and AH 0.0
A key difference between Double Chance and markets like Draw No Bet (DNB) or Asian Handicap 0.0 (AH 0.0) is how the draw is treated.
- Double Chance (DC): The draw outcome remains active for the game’s regulation time, meaning the bet can never be voided.
- Draw No Bet (DNB) and AH 0.0 (Level Ball): Bettors wager only on the game-winner. If the match ends in a draw, the bet is void, and the stake is returned. DNB and AH 0.0 generally provide higher prices than double chances.
Double Chance vs. Asian Handicap +0.5
When betting on the underdog, the double chance option is almost the same as a +0.5 Asian handicap. Both types offer winnings from two potential outcomes. However, the Asian Handicap odds are usually slightly higher due to a lower bookmaker margin (VIG) compared to 3-way betting.
Creating a Double Chance Accumulator (ACCA)
Due to the high winning possibility of DC bets, they are optimal for use in Accumulators (ACCAs). Placing a DC ACCA minimizes risk, even though it involves low odds.
How a DC ACCA Works
- Select Matches: Find a sport where draws are applied (like football or ice hockey).
- Choose Options: Pick your favorable option (1X, X2, or 12) for multiple different matches (e.g., five matches for a 5-fold ACCA).
- Build the Betslip: Add each selection to the betslip until your ACCA is built (e.g., adding four DC bets for a 4-fold).
- Successful Predictions: To receive returns, you must have successful predictions for all parts (legs) of the ACCA.
The benefit of using DCs in an ACCA is that since each leg has a higher winning chance than other bet types, you can build a stable accumulator.
FAQ
Q: What sports are available for Double Chance betting?
A: Double Chance bets are most commonly available for Football and Ice Hockey because they regularly include the draw as a possible outcome (resulting in three probable results: home win, draw, away win). You may rarely find DC odds for sports like American football, handball, rugby, and water polo where draws are uncommon.
Q: Can you lose a Double Chance bet?
A: Yes, you can lose a Double Chance bet. Although DC betting provides a theoretical 66.66% chance of winning, if the third possibility (the outcome you did not cover) happens, you lose your stake. Therefore, bettors should avoid high-stake bets, even with the better winning chances.
Q: Does extra time count in a Double Chance bet?
A: No, extra time, overtime, or shootouts do not count in the final double chance result. DC bets apply only to the regular regulation time (90 minutes for football, 60 minutes for ice hockey).
Q: Is Double Chance betting profitable?
A: DC betting can be profitable if you aim to create a better winning percentage over time and are not rushing to make quick money. For example, if your average odds are 1.33 for DC bets, you would need an approximate 67% winning percentage to keep your bankroll healthy.
