What is Double Chance in betting?

Double Chance is a betting market that lets you cover two of three possible match outcomes in a single bet. You can bet on Home or Draw (1X), Away or Draw (X2), or Home or Away (12). It reduces risk compared to a standard 1X2 bet because you win if either of your two selected outcomes occurs.

How does Double Chance work on Bet9ja?

On Bet9ja, Double Chance is listed under the match markets as '1X', 'X2', or '12'. Navigate to any football match, expand the markets, and look for 'Double Chance'. Click on the odds for your preferred combination. 1X means you win if the home team wins OR draws. X2 means away win or draw. 12 means either team wins (no draw).

What does 1X mean on Bet9ja?

1X means Home Win or Draw. If you place a 1X Double Chance bet, you win if the home team wins the match OR if the match ends in a draw. You only lose if the away team wins. It's a safer alternative to backing just the home win.

Is Double Chance worth it?

Double Chance is worth it when you want to reduce risk, especially in accumulators where one loss eliminates the entire bet. The trade-off is lower odds (typically 1.10-1.50 per selection). It's ideal for matches where you're fairly confident in the outcome but want insurance against an upset.

Can Double Chance be used in accumulators?

Yes. Double Chance selections can be added to accumulators on Bet9ja. They're popular as 'banker' legs because of their high win probability. A 5-fold accumulator using Double Chance selections at 1.30 average odds gives combined odds of 3.71, which is modest but more likely to win than a standard 1X2 acca.

Double Chance Betting Explained: 1X, X2, 12 (2026)

Double Chance is the safety net of football betting. It lets you cover two of three possible outcomes in a single bet. And it's one of the most underused markets on Bet9ja.

Why? Because Nigerian punters love high odds. Double Chance offers low odds (typically 1.10-1.50 per selection), which feels underwhelming on its own.

But here's the thing. When used strategically in accumulators and combined with other markets, Double Chance becomes one of the most reliable profit generators in your betting toolkit. This guide shows you exactly how.

What Is Double Chance Betting?

In standard 1X2 betting, you pick one outcome: Home Win (1), Draw (X), or Away Win (2). Double Chance lets you pick two of those three outcomes in a single selection.

There are three Double Chance options:

1X (Home or Draw): You win if the home team wins OR the match draws. You only lose if the away team wins.
X2 (Draw or Away): You win if the away team wins OR the match draws. You only lose if the home team wins.
12 (Home or Away): You win if either team wins. You only lose if the match ends in a draw.

Think of it as a built-in insurance policy. You sacrifice some odds for significantly higher win probability.

Across Europe's top 5 leagues, approximately 75% of matches end in either a home win or draw (1X), making this the most popular Double Chance selection. Only about 8-9% of matches end 0-0, meaning the "12" option (either team wins) hits roughly 91% of the time.

How to Place a Double Chance Bet on Bet9ja

Go to bet9ja.com or the Bet9ja mobile app.
Select any football match.
Expand the market list and find "Double Chance" (sometimes listed near the top alongside 1X2).
Choose 1X, X2, or 12.
Add to your betslip, set your stake, and place the bet.

On the old mobile site, Double Chance may be listed under "More Markets" for each match. For a full list of market codes, check our Bet9ja Codes and Meaning guide.

Double Chance vs Draw No Bet vs Asian Handicap

These three markets all reduce risk, but they work differently. Here's how they compare:

Feature	Double Chance	Draw No Bet	Asian Handicap
Outcomes covered	2 of 3	Win or refund	Win/refund (depending on line)
Typical odds	1.10-1.50	1.30-1.70	1.80-2.00
If it draws	1X/X2 wins; 12 loses	Stake refunded	Depends on handicap line
Complexity	Very simple	Simple	Medium
Best for	Acca bankers	Singles on favourites	Value seekers

Double Chance Betting Strategies

Strategy 1: The "Banker Acca"

Use Double Chance as the foundation of safe accumulators. Build a 6-8 fold accumulator using only 1X selections for strong home teams. At average odds of 1.25, an 8-fold acca returns combined odds of 5.96.

The win rate on 1X for top-half teams at home is approximately 80-85%. An 8-fold at 80% individual probability still gives you about a 17% chance of winning, but when it hits, you're profiting consistently.

Strategy 2: The "Away Dog Cover"

When you think an underdog will cause an upset but aren't confident enough to back the outright away win, use X2 (Draw or Away). You get paid if the underdog wins and you're covered if they manage a draw.

This is particularly effective in cup matches and derbies where underdogs raise their game. The X2 odds in these scenarios often sit around 1.40-1.60, which provides decent value.

Strategy 3: The "No Draw" Play (12)

The 12 option (either team wins) is perfect for matches between attacking teams where a draw seems unlikely. Only about 25% of EPL matches end in draws, meaning 12 wins roughly 75% of the time.

At typical odds of 1.15-1.25, it's not exciting alone. But stack 6-8 of these in an accumulator for reliable returns. Combine with matches where both teams need to win (end-of-season, relegation battles).

When to Use Double Chance (and When to Skip It)

Use 1X when a strong home team faces a mid-table opponent but you're worried about a surprise draw.

Use X2 when backing an away underdog in a cup match or derby where they're likely to at least draw.

Use 12 in matches between two attacking teams where a goalless or 1-1 draw is unlikely (check BTTS rates for both teams).

Use in accumulators as banker legs alongside higher-odds selections from other markets.

Skip it as a standalone single bet. The odds are too low to justify the stake on their own.

Skip it when the "safe" outcome is already priced into the market (e.g., 1X at 1.05 offers almost no value).

Double Chance Mistakes to Avoid

Using Double Chance on obvious mismatches

If Barcelona plays a third-division team, 1X odds might be 1.02. That's not betting. That's lending money to the bookmaker at 2% interest. Only use Double Chance where there's genuine uncertainty about the outcome.

Building massive Double Chance accumulators

Even at 85% win rate per leg, a 15-fold Double Chance accumulator has only a 8.7% chance of winning. The sweet spot is 5-8 selections. Beyond that, the probability drops faster than the odds suggest.

Confusing Double Chance with Draw No Bet

With Double Chance 1X, a draw is a win. With Draw No Bet, a draw is a refund. This difference matters in accumulators, where a refund voids the entire multi.

Double Chance Accumulator Example

Here's how a realistic Double Chance accumulator might look for a typical EPL weekend:

Match	Selection	Odds	Reasoning
Arsenal vs Wolves	1X	1.10	Arsenal dominant at home
Liverpool vs Newcastle	1X	1.20	Liverpool strong at Anfield
Man City vs Tottenham	12	1.18	Both attack-minded, draw unlikely
Aston Villa vs Brighton	1X	1.25	Villa strong at home this season
Chelsea vs Bournemouth	1X	1.15	Chelsea rarely lose at Stamford Bridge

Combined odds: 1.10 x 1.20 x 1.18 x 1.25 x 1.15 = 2.24. A ₦5,000 stake returns ₦11,192. Modest returns, but with a realistic ~45-50% win probability across 5 legs.

Sources

European football match outcome data aggregated from FBref, WhoScored, and Transfermarkt for the 2024/25 season. Home win, draw, and away win percentages across Europe's top 5 leagues.
Premier League official statistics: Home team win rates for top-half teams, 2022/23 through 2024/25 seasons. Available at: https://www.premierleague.com/stats

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Double Chance Betting Explained: 1X, X2, 12 Guide