Sports betting is an interesting and comprehensive world. There are so many betting types that have evolved over the years, especially since the genesis of online sports betting. There are so many fascinating types of bets you can make, and one of the more interesting types is double chance.

We’re going to be talking about the double chance meaning in the context of betting. We’ll break down exactly what the betting type is, where you can place these types of bets and what the advantages and disadvantages of placing these bets are. Let’s get started!

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What is The Double Chance Meaning in Betting?

The double chance meaning is when you bet on two possible outcomes out of a potential three. This sounds like a straightforward type of bet, and before we get into the more complicated variants, here is the most basic type of a double chance bet you can make.

You want to bet on a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans. You have a feeling it will be a close game, so you decide to place a double chance bet. So, while you’re a Cowboys fan and you are ready to bet on them to win, you also bet on a draw happening between the two.

Now, you are betting on two of the possible three outcomes that could happen in this match: the Cowboys winning, and the match ending in a tie.

The double chance meaning in betting can be different from person to person, because there are many different types of double chance bets. Here are three of the most common types of double chance bets; these will be offered at even new betting sites.

1X Bet

A 1X bet is essentially the example given above. If we take that example, and let’s say the Cowboys are hosting the game in Dallas, than that is essentially a 1X Bet. A 1X Bet is when you bet on the host team to win, and a tie. You’re covering all the most likely results to happen, apart from a potential away win.

BC Game screenshot 1x2 markets

X2 Bet

The X2 bet is the other side of the coin. If we’re confident that the Texans can pull off the win in foreign territory, then we decide to wager on them, and hedge our bets on a tie just in case. A X2 bet is just that: you are betting on the visiting team to win, and also on a tie.

This is also the double chance bet that will have the highest odds, and net the highest potential winnings if it goes through.

The 12 Bet

The 12 Bet is the third option, and the option that leaves a tie completely out of the equation. In this bet, you are betting on both the Cowboys and the Texans to pull out a win. The only way you’ll lose this bet is if a tie does occur.

Keep in mind not all sportsbooks will allow you to make a 12 bet. Betting on both teams on some sportsbooks is outright invalid, and you won’t be able to place the wager at all. Keep that in mind.

But, if you find a sportsbook willing to place a 12 bet, you should absolutely take advantage of that. 12 Bets can be very useful bets to make in close call matches or games. You may also want to read up on what is a 3 way moneyline.

The Advantages of A Double Chance Bet

Now that you know the double chance meaning, let’s cover some of the benefits of placing these bets regularly. Of course, the first obvious benefit would be:

  • Hedge your losses – By placing two bets, out of three potential outcomes, you are backing up both of your bets, and hedging yourself from any potential losses. The only issue with this is if the third option goes through, you are losing the initial stakes of both wagers.
  • Likelihood of winning increases – The other upside is the likelihood that you win the bet will be higher, because you are covering two options. That way, you are almost doubling your odds of having a potential win, rather than only betting on one likely option.
  • Potential for higher odds – If you’re betting on two options, it’s likely one of the options has higher odds than the other. If you’re brave enough, you could even place one of the wagers on odds that are extremely high, in order to potentially get a bigger profit. That way, you can focus the majority of your stake on the more likely, and even result, while throwing a little bit of money towards the high money, and higher risk result if it happens.

The Drawbacks of a Double Chance Bet

Unfortunately, as you can expect, placing two bets in the one wager can cause some issues. The primary issues you have to watch out for are:

  • Higher stake – When you’re betting on two different outcomes, you’ll likely have to increase your bet in order to compensate for placing the two bets. Chances are, your stake will have to be rise significantly in order to generate a profit if either result goes through.
  • Complex to strategize for – While placing two bets on two likely outcomes seems simple, in practice, it is anything but. If you’re a smart bettor who does his research and strategies for competitive games, you’ll realise how difficult it can be to pin down two exact results that will happen out of three.
  • Lack of opportunity – We mentioned before how 12 bets aren’t available on some sportsbooks. In some cases, double chance bets as a whole aren’t available on certain sportsbooks, which means the opportunity to place these bets is reduced.

The Differences Between Double Chance and 0 Handicap

While we’re discussing the double chance meaning, we want to clarify that it is a completely different betting type from zero handicap. We understand the confusion, they are quite similar betting types. But, there are some key differences between the two.

  • A double chance is when you place bets on two outcomes out of a potential three results. Both bets will result in winnings if either go through.
  • A zero handicap is when you bet on a selected outcome, and hedge your stake on another outcome. So, if you placed a zero handicap on a draw, you would get refunded your original stake, rather than winning a bet

A zero handicap is essentially a double chance bet with an extra safety net. You’re not entirely confident in the double chance bet odds, so instead of splitting your bet down the middle across two options, you simply hedge your bet.

You back your original bet, and zero handicap the other result. So, that way, if the other result does go through, you’re no worse off then you were before. You’ll simply get refunded, rather than rewarded with a winning bet.

A Clear Guide To The Double Chance Meaning in Betting

We hope you have a clearly defined idea of how a double chance bet works now. It’s essentially a way to bet on multiple possible outcomes, across multiple different odds, in order to double your chances of winning.

Of course, it comes with its drawbacks, but every type of bet inevitably does. Just remember there’s a clear difference between a double chance bet and a zero handicap bet. You’re welcome to use our guide as much as you like. There are many ways you can use double chance betting to your advantage, so why not head to one of our recommended esports betting sites and use some of these tips?