What does 1×2 mean in betting? The complete guide

A 1X2 bet is one of the simplest and most common ways to bet on sports. You are picking one of three outcomes: a home win (1), a draw (X), or an away win (2).

Chances are, you have already used this format without thinking about it. It is how bookmakers present match result odds, especially in football but also in other sports. In this guide, we explain what 1X2 means, how it works, and how bettors use it.

🤔 What is a 1X2 bet? The symbols explained

A 1X2 bet splits a match into three possible outcomes, most commonly in football betting. It might look confusing at first, but it is very simple once you know what each symbol means.

• 1: Home team to win (the team listed first)
• X: The draw
• 2: Away team to win (the team listed second)

The team listed first is always treated as the home team for betting purposes, even if the match is played at a neutral venue.

It’s always worth noting the 90-minute rule. 1X2 bets are settled after 90 minutes, including stoppage time. If the match finishes level and goes to extra time or penalties in a knockout fixture, it does not count, and the result is treated as a draw (X).

⚙️ How does 1X2 betting work?

1X2 betting is all about picking the correct outcome of a match, and the odds determine your potential payout. To see how this works in practice, let’s look at a real-world example from a recent Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea.

Here’s how the odds might look in fractional format:

Outcome	Odds
Everton (1)	11/5
Draw (X)	12/5
Chelsea (2)	5/4

Here’s a breakdown of the calculations if you placed a tenner on each outcome:

• Everton win: £10 at 11/5 = £22 profit + £10 stake = £32 total return
• Draw: £10 at 12/5 = £24 profit + £10 stake = £34 total return
• Chelsea win: £10 at 5/4 = £12.50 profit + £10 stake = £22.50 total return

If you were feeling sorry for the bookmaker, or wondering how they stay in business, don’t. Bookmakers build a margin into these odds, known as the overround. This means the total probability across all three outcomes adds up to more than 100%.

Put simply, the odds are slightly lower than they should be across all three outcomes. That difference is what guarantees the bookmaker a profit over time.

🎲 1X2 bets for matched betting

Matched betting is a way of using free bets and bookmaker offers to make a profit by covering every outcome.

You do this by backing a 1X2 selection with a bookmaker and laying the same outcome on a betting exchange. For example, you might back Everton to win, then lay Everton on the Betfair Exchange or Smarkets so you are covered regardless of the result. Punters use this approach to set up a small, controlled outcome, either securing a profit or reducing losses.

• High liquidity: The 1X2 market has the most activity, with lots of punters using it on the Betfair Exchange and Smarkets. This high volume creates strong liquidity, keeping the spread (the gap) between back and lay odds tight and helping reduce qualifying losses.
• Looks like normal betting: 1X2 bets mirror what most casual bettors do, helping you blend in as a regular punter. Bookmakers may restrict accounts they think are not betting in a typical way, so this can help reduce the risk of limits.
• Easy to lay: Laying a 1X2 outcome means betting against it. For example, if you lay the home win, you win if the match ends in a draw or an away win.

🆚 2up matched betting vs. 1X2 strategy

Now we’re getting into the nitty gritty. Both use the 1X2 market, but the approach and level of risk are completely different.

1X2 strategy

First, let’s look at the standard 1X2 strategy.

• The concept: This is a speculative approach in sports betting. The bettor uses data, form, injuries, and trends to find value where the odds may be slightly underpriced.
• The mechanism: You back the 1, X, or 2 because you believe the probability of that outcome is higher than the odds suggest; in other words, you’ve found value.
• The 2UP angle: The 2UP offer acts as a safety net. If your team goes 2-0 up but the match finishes as a draw, the bet is still paid out early.
• The risk: High. If your team does not win or never goes two goals ahead, you lose your full stake.

2up matched betting

Now let’s look at how 2UP matched betting works, which takes a very different approach.

• The concept: This is a low-risk approach. The bettor is not predicting a winner, but targeting a specific edge in the 1X2 market using a bookmaker and a betting exchange; in other words, you are exploiting value.
• The mechanism: You back the home win with the bookmaker using the 2UP offer, then lay the same outcome on an exchange, covering the draw and away win.
• The “Holy Grail” scenario: It’s called that for a reason. If your team goes 2-0 up, the bookmaker pays out early. If the match then finishes as a draw or away win, the lay bet also wins, meaning both sides of the wager win.
• The risk: Extremely low. You usually only take a small qualifying loss, often less than 3% of your stake.

Which should you choose?

Which approach you choose depends on your preference, your attitude to risk, and how you see betting, whether as entertainment or a more structured strategy.

Use a 1X2 strategy if you enjoy following sports, making predictions, and believe you can find value in the odds over time. This approach comes with higher risk but offers bigger potential returns.

Use 2UP matched betting if you prefer a more structured approach, where the focus is on reducing risk and generating steady returns from each bet.

⚽ Which sports use 1X2 bets?

1X2 bets are mainly used in sports where a draw is a realistic and regular outcome. The draw is still priced up in other sports, but it is far more prominent where it happens regularly. Below, we look at where it is and isn’t.

Football

Football is the king of the 1X2 market. Because games are often low-scoring, draws are common, making the X a realistic and often high-probability outcome.

The 90-minute rule also matters here. 1X2 bets are settled at full-time. If a match finishes level and goes to extra time, the result is still recorded as a draw (X).

Rugby Union & Rugby League

Rugby still uses the 1X2 market, but draws are far less common than in football. When they do happen, the odds are usually very high, often 20/1 or more.

That makes the draw a high-risk, high-reward option, mainly for punters looking to take a chance on a rare result.

Cricket

This is a unique case. In Test cricket, a draw and a tie are different results, but for betting purposes they are both treated as a draw and covered by the X in a 3-way market.

Because matches can last up to five days, factors like weather and pitch conditions play a big role in cricket betting, making the draw a more tactical option.

Ice hockey

In ice hockey, particularly in the NHL, the standard market is usually the Moneyline, which includes overtime and shootouts. However, the 1X2 market still exists as the 60-minute result.

If the score is level at the end of regulation time, the X wins, even if a team goes on to win in overtime or a shootout.

Sports to avoid

In high-scoring sports like basketball and tennis, 1X2 is virtually non-existent and usually limited to niche options like quarters or sets. Instead, the standard approach is the 2-way Moneyline market.

Here, you simply choose one team or player to win. Alternatives like handicaps or point spreads are far more common.

📝 Conclusion

1X2 betting is one of the most common ways to bet on sports. You pick a home win, a draw, or an away win, and that’s it. It’s simple, but how you use it makes a big difference. You can take a risk and try to find value, or play it safer with strategies like matched betting.

Once you understand how it works, it becomes much easier to bet with confidence.

❓ FAQ about 1X2 betting

Here are some common questions and answers about 1X2 betting.

1. What are the odds like in 1X2 bets?

In 1X2 bets, the odds show how likely each outcome is. The favourite will have shorter odds, while the underdog will be bigger. The draw usually sits somewhere in the middle, but it can vary depending on how close the match is.

2. How is payout calculated for 1X2 bets?

It’s simple. You multiply your stake by the odds. For example, £10 at odds of 3.00 returns £30, including your stake. Your profit is the extra on top. If your bet loses, you lose your stake. There’s no payout unless you pick the correct result.

3. Can I win if I bet on X in 1X2?

Yes. You win if the match finishes as a draw after 90 minutes. It doesn’t matter what happens during the game. If the score is level at full-time, your bet wins, even if the match later goes to extra time or penalties.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – gamcare.org.uk

Read our guide on responsible gambling practices.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.