Double Chance 1X Meaning: How 1X, X2 and 12 Settle
Double chance 1X means home win or draw. Learn what X2 and 12 mean, which result loses, and how these soccer markets differ from draw no bet.
Quick answer: In double chance betting, 1X means home win or draw, X2 means draw or away win, and 12 means either team wins. Each selection covers two of the three possible match results and loses on the one excluded outcome.
Quick take
- 1X loses only if the away team wins.
- X2 loses only if the home team wins.
- 12 loses if the match ends in a draw.
A 1X example shows how double chance settles
Suppose a soccer match finishes with one of these scores:
| Final score | 1X result | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Home team wins 2-1 | Win | The home win is covered |
| Match draws 1-1 | Win | The draw is covered |
| Away team wins 1-0 | Loss | The away win is excluded |
The same logic applies to the other combinations. X2 excludes the home win, while 12 excludes the draw.
Double chance combines two outcomes from the 1X2 market
Double chance starts with a three-way match-result market, often called a 1X2 market or three-way moneyline.
| 1X2 symbol | Match result |
|---|---|
| 1 | Home team wins |
| X | Match draws |
| 2 | Away team wins |
A double chance selection combines two of those results:
| Selection | Plain-English meaning | Losing result |
|---|---|---|
| 1X | Home win or draw | Away win |
| X2 | Draw or away win | Home win |
| 12 | Home win or away win | Draw |
This is one selection covering two outcomes, not two separate bets. If 1X wins because the match draws, the selection settles once as a win.
Double chance is most commonly associated with soccer because a draw is one of the standard match-result outcomes. It may also appear for other sports or periods when the listed market allows a tie.
1X means the home team does not lose
A 1X double chance selection wins when the home team wins or the match finishes level. It loses when the away team wins during the listed market period.
Reading 1X as “home team does not lose” can make the notation easier to remember. It does not mean the outcome is guaranteed: an away win still causes the selection to lose.
X2 means the away team does not lose
An X2 double chance selection covers a draw and an away win. The only losing outcome is a home win during the listed period.
In plain language, X2 can be read as “away team does not lose.”
12 means the match does not end in a draw
A 12 double chance selection covers either team winning. It loses if the match ends level, including scores such as 0-0 or 1-1.
The 12 label concerns the match result, not the number of goals. It is unrelated to whether a match goes over or under a listed total.
Double chance usually pays less than a single match result
A moneyline bet in a three-way soccer market covers one result: home win, draw, or away win. Double chance covers two, giving the selection more ways to win but usually a lower payout.
Here is an illustrative market from the source article:
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Home win | +140 |
| Draw | +230 |
| Away win | +190 |
| Home or draw, 1X | -220 |
| Draw or away, X2 | -165 |
| Home or away, 12 | -310 |
The exact price varies by match, team strength, league, and sportsbook margin. The settlement rule remains the same: either covered outcome wins, while the excluded outcome loses.
A simplified probability example shows why the double chance price is usually shorter:
| Outcome | Simple implied probability |
|---|---|
| Home win | 40% |
| Draw | 28% |
| Away win | 32% |
Before adjusting for margin, the covered probabilities would be:
| Selection | Covered outcomes | Combined simple probability |
|---|---|---|
| 1X | Home win + draw | 68% |
| X2 | Draw + away win | 60% |
| 12 | Home win + away win | 72% |
Covering more outcomes does not automatically create good value. The price still includes vig, and a selection can be overpriced even when it has fewer ways to lose.
Double chance and draw no bet treat a draw differently
Draw no bet and double chance both address the possibility of a draw, but they settle it differently.
| Market | Team wins | Match draws | Team loses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home draw no bet | Win | Usually void or refund | Loss |
| Home or draw, 1X | Win | Win | Loss |
With draw no bet, a draw usually returns the stake. With 1X or X2, the draw is a winning outcome because it is included in the selection.
Neither market is automatically better. The distinction depends on the listed price, settlement rules, and how the draw is treated.
Double chance is different from a pick’em market
A pick’em in betting usually means the spread is zero or neither side is clearly favored. Depending on the sport and market, a level result may produce a push.
| Term | Main idea |
|---|---|
| Pick’em or PK | No point spread between the teams |
| Draw no bet | Select a team; a draw usually refunds |
| Double chance | Cover two of the three match results |
In soccer, pick’em, a 0.0 handicap, and draw no bet can look similar because a draw may refund. A double chance selection that includes the draw normally wins instead.
Asking “What happens if the match draws?” is a quick way to separate these markets.
Standard double chance usually excludes extra time
A standard full-match soccer double chance market is usually settled on regular time plus stoppage time, not extra time or penalty shootouts. Under standard soccer rules, the match consists of two 45-minute halves plus allowance for time lost.
This distinction matters in knockout matches:
| Match situation | Common settlement |
|---|---|
| Score is 1-1 after 90 minutes plus stoppage time | 1X and X2 win because the draw is included |
| A team later wins in extra time | The regular-time double chance market is usually already settled |
| Market is labeled “to qualify” | Settlement follows the separate qualification market |
The market label controls settlement. Sportsbooks may list first-half, regular-time, live, or other period-specific versions of double chance.
The main limitations are price and period rules
Double chance has fewer losing outcomes than a single three-way moneyline selection, but it is not guaranteed.
Common misunderstandings include:
- Treating it as two separate bets: It is one selection covering two results.
- Confusing 12 with a goals market: The 12 selection concerns the winner, not the total number of goals.
- Ignoring the listed period: First-half, regular-time, live, and qualification markets can settle differently.
- Assuming short odds cannot lose: Negative or otherwise short odds still carry risk, and the return may not compensate for that risk.
- Increasing stakes after losses: A lower payout can make loss-chasing particularly damaging.
A three-step check clarifies any double chance market
Use this interpretation checklist when reading the market:
- Identify the covered results. Is the label 1X, X2, or 12?
- Name the excluded result. For 1X it is an away win; for X2 it is a home win; for 12 it is a draw.
- Check the listed period. Confirm whether the market refers to a half, regular time, a live period, or qualification.
If the one losing outcome is not clear, the market terms need another look. This is especially important for live markets, parlays, knockout matches, and events with extra time or shootouts.
For more definitions, see the sports betting terms for beginners glossary.
FAQ
Is double chance the same as draw no bet?
No. Draw no bet usually refunds the stake when the match draws. A 1X or X2 double chance selection treats the draw as a win because it is one of the two covered outcomes.
Does 12 mean both teams must score?
No. The 12 selection wins when either team wins and loses when the match draws. It does not depend on whether both teams score or how many goals are scored.
Does double chance include extra time and penalties?
Usually not in a standard soccer match-result market. Regular time plus stoppage time commonly determines settlement. A market labeled “to qualify” or otherwise referring to extra time follows its own listed rules.
Can a double chance selection still lose?
Yes. Every double chance selection excludes one result: an away win defeats 1X, a home win defeats X2, and a draw defeats 12.
Responsible betting
This guide defines betting terminology; it is not a prediction or recommendation. Double chance reduces exposure to one match outcome, but every wager can still lose, and shorter odds can obscure poor value.
Risk only money you can afford to lose, and do not increase stakes to recover losses. If betting stops feeling controlled, consider taking a break and using the help and treatment resources provided by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Sources
- What Is a Double Chance in Soccer Betting? — Action Network. Accessed June 12, 2026.
- Double Chance Meaning — What Is Double Chance Betting in Soccer — WagerTalk. Accessed June 12, 2026.
- Double Chance Bets at Sportsbooks — BettingUSA. Accessed June 12, 2026.
- Double Chance & Draw No Bet Soccer Markets — Sportsbet Help Centre. Accessed June 12, 2026.
- Law 7 — The Duration of the Match — The IFAB. Accessed June 12, 2026.
- Help & Treatment — National Council on Problem Gambling. Accessed June 12, 2026.