- Maths reviewed by Josh Miller
- Tested by Diana Westfield
This double chance calculator starts from the three match odds. Home 2.10, draw 3.40, away 3.60. Remove the 4.8% margin and the home side wins or draws 73.5% of the time, so a fair 1X price is 1.36. A bookmaker will probably offer 1.28 to 1.30. The free CasinoCalcs calculator shows both, plus what happens if you skip the double chance market and back the two results yourself.
How double chance works
A double chance bet covers two of the three outcomes in one go. 1X wins if the home side wins or draws, X2 if the away side wins or draws, and 12 if anybody wins. You lose only on the result you left out.
So it’s safer, and it pays less. The price is just the two results’ implied chances added together, turned back into odds.
Double chance odds from the 1X2
1X odds = 1 ÷ (1/home + 1/draw) X2 odds = 1 ÷ (1/draw + 1/away) 12 odds = 1 ÷ (1/home + 1/away)
With 2.10 and 3.40, 1X comes out at 1.30. That’s what you’d get by splitting the stake yourself: £14.12 on the home win and £5.88 on the draw from £20 returns £29.65 either way. If the bookmaker’s own double chance price is higher than 1.30, take theirs. If it’s lower, the split is better. It happens both ways, and it’s worth ten seconds to check.
Fair odds versus the price you get
The “fair” line strips the margin out of the match odds first. That’s 1.36 for 1X here, 1.83 for X2 and 1.39 for 12. Nobody will offer you those. They’re the yardstick: the further a price is below them, the more you’re paying for the convenience. If you think the market has a team wrong, put your own chances in the expected value calculator instead.
Double chance or draw no bet?
They solve the same worry, a draw, in different ways. Double chance 1X wins on a draw. Draw no bet refunds you on a draw. So DNB pays more when your team wins (about 1.48 here against 1.30) and nothing extra on the draw. If you think a draw is likely, double chance. If you just want insurance, DNB. The Asian handicap calculator covers the in-between lines like +0.25.
A safer-looking bet is still a bet. BeGambleAware.org has free support if you need it.