Meaning of 1X2 in Betting

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1×2 betting is a market where you predict who will win the match or whether it will end in a draw. “1” represents “home team to win”, “2” is for “away team to win”, while “X” refers to a full time draw.

It is one of the most popular betting markets in the world because of its simplicity as you only need to predict the final match result. It allows you to choose between three possible outcomes and you don’t need to worry about the number of goals scored or any other thing.

Apart from its simplicity, the market is also available on all major bookmakers. Due to its popularity, you can compare different odds from the betting sites and choose the most competitive one to potentially increase your winnings.

1×2 offers three possibilities in a football match.

  • 1 (Home Win): For this, you’re betting that the home team will win the game in regular time (90 minutes plus injury time). If they win within the 90 minutes of normal game time, you’ll win the bet. However, if they don’t win during regular time but still end up winning during extra time, you’ll lose the bet.
  • X (Draw): Here, you’re predicting that the match will end in a draw after regular time. If none of the teams win, you’ll win the bet. However, if there’s a match winner, you’ll lose the bet.
  • 2 (Away Win): You’re betting on the away team to win the match within 90 minutes (plus injury time).

Keep in mind: Your prediction must be correct after the standard 90 minutes as extra time and penalties don’t count. Many bettors tend to assume that a home team might eventually win in extra time, only the score at full-time (90 minutes) matters.

1×2 betting is straightforward, however, you need a good plan to increase your chances of winning. Here are some tips for winning 1×2 bets:

  1. Research Form and Team Stats: Before picking “1,” “X,” or “2,” check how the teams have performed in their last few matches. Most bookmakers have a “Stats” button next to football matches that allow you to see detailed information about both players including their head-to-head records, recent form, available players, style of play, and top scorers. This can help you make the right choice.
  2. Check for Injuries and Suspensions: It is also important to see if top defenders and strikers are missing in a game as it can influence the final match result. For example, if Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. are injured, it might reduce the chances of Real Madrid scoring enough goals to win the match.
  3. Look for Value in Odds: A lot of the best betting sites in Nigeria offer competitive odds for 1×2 bets. So, you should compare odds across different bookmakers to increase your potential winnings. There are times a bookmaker might offer 0.08 odds more than others. Hence, you should carefully check for value odds.
  4. Bankroll Management: You should spread your wagers across different bets instead of staking everything on a match so that in case you lose, you’ll still have other options. This can help you cut down on losses.

It is very easy to place 1×2 bets (also known as three-way betting). Here’s what to do:

  • Login to your betting account.
  • Navigate to football and choose your preferred tournament.
  • Tap the odds below the event. All bookmakers automatically display the 1×2 bets by default. So, tap “1” if you believe that the home team will win the game or “2” if you’re betting on the away team to win. If you believe the game will end in a full-time draw, tap “X”.
  • Enter your stake amount and place your bet.

An Example of a 1X2 Bet

For example, if there’s a Champions League game between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu, and you see these odds:

  • 1 (Real Madrid to Win): 1.98
  • X (Draw): 2.40
  • 2 (Manchester City to Win): 3.30
betting odds display for a UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid and Manchester City on February 19, 2025, at 21:00. The betting market shown is the 1X2 market, which offers the following odds:
a. Real Madrid to win (1): 1.98
b. Draw (X): 4.20
c. Manchester City to win (2): 3.30

If you believe Real Madrid will win at home, you place your bet on “1” with odds at 1.98. If Real Madrid wins in the regular 90 minutes, you win almost double your stake. But if the match ends in a draw or if Manchester City wins, you lose your money.

Apart from 1×2 bets, there are other interesting football betting markets. Let’s take a closer look at some of them:

  • Double Chance: This is the most similar market to 1×2. However, unlike 1×2 bets which only allow you to choose one final outcome, double chance bets allow you to choose two out of the three possibilities in a match. 
  • Asian Handicap: This is a type of handicap betting market that adjusts the match score with “handicap goals” and gives an advantage to the weaker team, removing the possibility of a draw and increasing the odds for a bigger payout if you win the bet.
  • Draw No Bet: In this market, you only need to predict the winner, and if the game ends in a draw, you’ll get a full refund of your stake. This helps you avoid losing all your money when a match ends in a tie.

Is 1X2 Bet and Double Chance the Same?

No, they are different. 1X2 only allows you to choose one match outcome while double chance allows you to choose two out of three possibilities. For example, you can choose 1X, which means you’ll win your bet if the home team wins or if the game ends in a draw. You can learn more about this in our double chance betting guide.

You should only place 1×2 bets instead of others if you have strong confidence that one of the teams will win or if you want a straightforward way to bet on the final outcome of a match. However, if you want a “safer bet”, the Double Chance betting will be more ideal for you.

  • If you have strong confidence one team will win.
  • If you find decent odds for a draw.
  • If you want a straightforward way to bet on the final outcome.

When it comes to 1×2 bets in Nigeria, you have several options. However, I highly recommend these three sites:

1. BetKing

BetKing offers the most competitive odds for 1×2 bets. They tend to offer “Odd Boost” on selected 1×2 events. For example, during El Classico, BetKIng offers boosted odds on 1×2 events, increasing the odds by up to +0.08.

Additionally, when you register with the BetKing referral code, you can get free bets worth up to 1,000,000 NGN, which you can wager on multiple 1×2 events.

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2. 1xBet

1xBet has a detailed pre-match stats page, which allows you to see both teams’ recent forms, available players, top scorers, and style of play. This can help you make the best 1×2 predictions. With the 1xBet promo code, you can even get a welcome bonus of up to 600,000 NGN.

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3. Bet9ja

This bookmaker offers the best way to boost your 1×2 winnings in accumulator bets. When you register with the Bet9ja promotion code, you’ll get a 170% boost on your acca bets including 1×2 events and win up to 100 million NGN.

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Can you use 1X2 betting for live bets?

Yes, you can place 1×2 bets on live bets. However, the odds tend to fluctuate a lot.

Does 1X2 betting include extra time?

No, 1×2 bets only deal with the full-time result. Extra time and penalties don’t count.

Is 1X2 betting better than handicap betting?

It depends on your preference. 1×2 is a lot simpler and easier to predict, while Handicap offers higher odds but can be quite complicated.

<!-- Author Start -->Jerry Falade<!-- Author End -->

Jerry Falade

Betting Content Writer

  • Betting expert
  • Strategies and trends

Jerry is an experienced writer with eight years of experience specializing in sports betting content. Over the years, he has written for several reputable publications, providing insightful articles to help readers make informed betting decisions.