Double Chance Betting EXPLAINED (with clear examples)

As the name suggests, the double chance betting market is where you can back two outcomes in a single bet from a three-way market. This gives you have a greater chance of winning, but of course, the betting odds are reduced accordingly.

This guide explains all you need to know about double chance betting, and we answer the most important question, is there any value in this wager?

How a Double Chance Bet Works

A double chance bet simply combines two of the three outcomes from a three-way market. If you think of a match result bet in football: the home team could win, the match could end in a draw, or the away side might win. Therefore, the double chance bet possibilities are:

  • Home team or Draw
  • Home team or Away team
  • Draw or Away team

Double Chance Betting Margins

When you bet on one possible outcome, the true odds of the market are 100%. However, the bookmaker adds its margin, so the percentage is always going to be higher than that.

Now, with double chance betting, you have two chances to win. Therefore, the true market odds are 200%. Let’s go through an example, starting with the full-time result market:

  • Arsenal @ 2.10 [47.61%]
  • Draw @ 3.60 [27.77%]
  • Man Utd @ 3.40 [29.41%]

The percentages in brackets are the implied probabilities based on the betting odds [1 / betting odds x 100]. For this market, the combined probabilities equal 104.79%. This means that the bookmaker’s market is 4.79%.

The double chance odds for this match were:

  • Arsenal or Draw @ 1.30 [76.92%]
  • Arsenal or Man Utd @ 1.286 [77.76%]
  • Draw or Man Utd @ 1.727 [59.90%]

Adding the implied probabilities gives a total of 212.58%, which has to be divided by 2. Therefore, the margin is 212.58% / 2 = 106.29% – 100% = 6.29%. Effectively, the bookie is making an extra 1.5%. Not too much, but it all adds up over a season.

Double Chance Odds vs 1X2 Odds

Where is the value? That’s the question. The straightforward way to break it down is to think of a double as two single bets.

Option 1:
Double chance – Arsenal or Draw: bet €20 @ 1.30 = €26 return
Single bet – Arsenal win: bet €10 @ 2.10 = €21 return
Single bet – Draw: bet €10 @ 3.60 = €36 return

Option 2:
Double chance – Arsenal or Man Utd: bet €20 @ 1.286 = €25.72 return
Single bet – Arsenal win: bet €10 @ 2.10 = €21 return
Single bet – Man Utd: bet €10 @ 3.40 = €34 return

Option 3:
Double chance – Draw or Man Utd: bet €20 @ 1.727 = €34.54 return
Single bet – Draw: bet €10 @ 3.60 = €36 return
Single bet – Man Utd: bet €10 @ 3.40 = €34 return

For each of the options, the payout for the double chance bet is better than what you’d get for backing the favourite, but it’s less than the payout for the underdog. This, of course, is based on splitting the single bet stake 50/50 (€10/€10).

Here are the returns with adjusted the single bet stakes

Option 1 (adjusted):
Double chance – Arsenal or Draw: bet €20 @ 1.30 = €26 return
Single bet – Arsenal win: bet €12.50 @ 2.10 = €26.25 return
Single bet – Draw: bet €7.50 @ 3.60 = €27 return

This highlights what we said about the bookmaker’s margin nibbling away at the value. For this market, the smart bet is to place two singles with adjusted stakes, with either outcome returning more than the double chance punt.

Pros and Cons of Double Chance Bets

Like all betting markets, double chance has its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s down to you as the bettor to weigh up these pros and cons to decide if this is the right market for you.

Convenience (+)
Rather than fiddling around placing multiple single bets, a double chance wager is more convenient. The price you pay for this is that you get slightly less value.

Also, you want to check whether the bookie allows punters to back two single selections – some may not, which means that the DC bet is the way to go.

Insurance (+)
Double chance betting gives you a layer of insurance. For instance, you may fancy Arsenal to win, but you’re not 100% confident. Therefore, going double chance is a good market to consider. Alternatively, if you spot a high-priced underdog that you like, double chance is a safer option, but the odds will be sufficient to make the bet worthwhile.

Margin (-)
For us, the negative is the bookmaker’s margins tend to be higher on this market. The purpose of sports betting is to get the highest payouts from the lowest stakes, which double chance doesn’t always offer.

Expert Double Chance Bet Tips

Getting the most from your DC bets boils down to research, which is the cornerstone of sports betting. These are our expert double chance betting tips that will help to set you on the right path.

Form

Look at the form for the two teams. Typically, a good double chance bet involves teams that have patchy form. There’s rarely any value in going DC on red-hot favourites. You want matches where all three outcomes are above evens (2.0).

Strong away teams

We like to look for teams that are strong away from home. Bookmakers usually give a bit more value to the away sides, which increases the DC odds.

Staking Strategy

It’s important to manage your bankroll when betting on sports. You need to think about how much cash you have, then consider the odds of your double chance bet.

Using the examples (ARS vs MANU) above, your stake would likely be slightly higher on Arsenal or Draw (1.3) than Man Utd or Draw (1.727). This is simply because the odds are lower, so the win probability is better.

Similar Markets to Double Chance

The closest market to double chance is draw no bet. With this market, your stake is returned if the match ends in a draw.

You win the bet if the team you backed wins the match. Draw no bet is a two-way market; here’s an example of the odds and margins for comparison:

Chelsea vs West Ham United – Draw No Bet

  • Chelsea @ 1.176 [85.03%]
  • West Ham @ 4.50 [22.22%]

Total of implied probabilities = 107.25%, so the margin is 7.25%.

Chelsea vs West Ham United – Double Chance

  • Chelsea or Draw @ 1.111 [90.09%]
  • Chelsea or West Ham @ 1.20 [83.33%]
  • Draw or West Ham @ 2.50 [40.00%]

Total of implied probabilities = 213.42%, so the margin is 13.42% / 2 = 6.71%.

With a touch more value for double chance, this would be the more favourable long term bet (out of these two). However, it depends on your match prediction. For instance, if you fancy Chelsea to win, but want a little insurance, draw no bet offers better value on this outcome.