When you’re not confident enough to pick a straight winner - but still want action on the match - Double Chance is one of the safest ways to stay involved.
At Goals Guru, we often see bettors use this market incorrectly - either overpaying for protection or using it where the edge just isn’t there.
Here’s how Double Chance really works and when it makes sense to use it.
🎯 What Is Double Chance?
Double Chance is a bet on two outcomes of a football match instead of one.
You can choose:
- 1X → Home team win or draw.
- X2 → Away team win or draw.
- 12 → Either team to win (draw = lose).
It covers 90 minutes + injury time and is available in nearly every league and market.
Note: Backing a team in the Double Chance market is exactly the same bet as backing a team in the +0.5 Asian Handicap market, so we suggest checking both market prices and using the one with the highest odds.
🧠 Why Use Double Chance?
✅ Safer Than 1X2
You're increasing your chances of winning - at the cost of reduced odds.
✅ Useful in Tight Fixtures
Perfect when you fancy an underdog not to lose but don’t quite trust them to win.
✅ Ideal for Defensive Matchups
When two teams are likely to cancel each other out, 1X or X2 gives you breathing room.
Common Mistakes with Double Chance
❌ Overpaying for Protection
If a team is already 1.30 to win, taking 1X at 1.05 adds almost no value - it just kills the upside.
❌ Using It Emotionally
Backing your favourite team to nick at least a draw isn’t strategy - it’s bias.
❌ Confusing It With Draw No Bet
They sound similar but they’re very different (we’ll explain below 👇).
🆚 Double Chance vs Draw No Bet (DNB)
Example:
If you like Brentford at home vs Spurs, but don’t trust them to win outright:
- Brentford DNB = Win or refund.
- Brentford 1X = Win or Draw = win bet.
🧠 When To Use Double Chance
- You see value on a draw and want coverage.
- One team is undervalued but might not win.
- You’re building low-risk multiples or bet builders.
- A favourite has key absentees and could underperform.
💡 Betting Tips
- Look for short-priced home favourites with poor home records → X2 can often be the smarter play.
- Look for short-priced away favourites with poor away records → 1X can often be the smarter play.
- Track Draw % trends - leagues like Ligue 1 and Serie B often throw up tight results.
- Consider it for 1st-leg cup matches, where teams may play cagey.
Final Thoughts
Double Chance is a flexible tool - but it’s only useful when the price makes sense. Use it strategically, not just to feel more comfortable.
👉 Want to see where we use Double Chance in our weekly picks?
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