What is 1x2 in betting?

Updated October 2026.

1X2 is the bet on the final result of a match with three options: 1, the home team wins; X, the match is a draw; 2, the away team wins. It is the oldest and most heavily bet market in soccer, the first one listed at every sportsbook, and the format used by football pools around the world. It is also called "match result", "full time result", "match winner" or "3-way moneyline".

This guide explains how to read it, what counts and what does not (extra time does not), how to interpret the odds and when it pays to swap 1X2 for one of its sister markets: double chance, draw no bet or the Asian handicap.

What each symbol means

"1" is always the team shown on the left or on top in the fixture name, which is normally the home side. At a neutral venue (cup finals, international tournaments, relocated games) there is no real home team: the book designates one team as "1" and the other as "2" based on the order it lists them. Check that order before you bet; it is a more common mistake than you would think.

How to read 1X2 odds

A match priced at 1.95 (1) / 3.40 (X) / 3.80 (2) in decimal odds reads like this:

• Stake 100 on 1 and the home team wins: you collect 195 (95 profit).
• Stake 100 on X and it is a draw: you collect 340.
• Stake 100 on 2 and the away team wins: you collect 380.

The odds reflect the probability the book assigns to each outcome. Dividing 1 by the odds gives the implied probability: 51.3% for the home win, 29.4% for the draw and 26.3% for the away win. They add up to 107%: the extra 7% is the book's margin on that market. A 1X2 whose implied probabilities add up to 104% is cheaper for the bettor than one adding up to 108%, and comparing that sum is the fastest way to compare books without staring at a single price.

The lowest odds mark the favourite. When the favourite is very short (below 1.30), the 1X2 pays very little for calling the obvious, and the real risk is an unexpected draw wiping out the whole stake.

What counts and what does not

• Only regular time counts: 90 minutes plus stoppage time in soccer. If a knockout tie ends 1-1 and is decided in extra time or on penalties, the 1X2 settles as a draw even though one team goes through.
• To bet on who advances in a knockout tie there is a separate market, "to qualify" or "to win including extra time". Do not confuse it with 1X2.
• If the match is abandoned and not completed within the book's deadline (usually 24 or 48 hours), 1X2 bets are void and refunded.
• In sports without draws (basketball, tennis, volleyball) the market has two options and is called "match winner", "moneyline" or "12". In ice hockey and American football there is usually a 1X2 on regulation time plus a separate two-way market that includes overtime.

1X2 versus the moneyline

In the US, "moneyline" usually means a two-way market: pick the winner, and if the game goes to overtime the winner of overtime wins the bet. Soccer books in the US offer both: a 3-way moneyline, which is exactly 1X2 on regulation time, and a 2-way moneyline or "draw no bet" where the draw refunds your stake. If you are used to American odds, +150 is 2.50 in decimal and −120 is 1.83; the logic of the market is the same.

1X2 versus its alternatives

1X2 is the base market; the other result markets are variations that distribute the draw risk differently. Using the odds from the example (1.95 / 3.40 / 3.80):

The pattern is simple: the more a market protects you against the draw, the less it pays. Draw no bet is the most used middle ground; the Asian handicap lets you raise the odds by demanding a bigger win.

When 1X2 is the right market and when it is not

It is right when you have a clear opinion about the exact result and the odds pay for it: an underrated away side at 3.80, a draw in a tight derby at 3.40. 1X2 is the market with the highest odds for being right, precisely because it protects you from nothing.

It is not when you think one team is better but the draw looks likely (DNB or 1X fit the risk better), nor when the favourite is below 1.30: you are risking the whole stake for a small return, and an Asian handicap of −1 or −1.5 offers a reasonable price for the same conviction.

1X2 in accumulators

Accumulators built from several 1X2 picks are the classic weekend coupon. They multiply the odds and multiply the risk by the same factor: four picks at 1.60 give total odds of 6.55, but the implied probability of landing all four is 15%. One unexpected draw kills the whole ticket. If you are going to combine, consider swapping your shakiest 1X2 picks for double chance or draw no bet: the total odds drop, but a void leg does not break the accumulator.

Common 1X2 mistakes

• Assuming extra time counts in finals and knockout ties.
• Mixing up which team is "1" at a neutral venue.
• Backing the draw just because the odds are high: 3.40 implies 29%, and draws happen in roughly a quarter of league games. There is value only if your analysis says more than that.
• Stacking short-priced favourites because it feels "safe": 1.20 implies 83%, which still means one in six fails.
• Not comparing the sum of implied probabilities across books before placing the bet.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1X2 mean in betting?

It is the full-time result market: 1 is a home win, X is a draw and 2 is an away win. It settles on the score at the end of regular time.

Does 1X2 include extra time?

No. If the match is level after 90 minutes and is decided in extra time or on penalties, the 1X2 pays out as a draw (X).

Which team is 1 and which is 2 at a neutral venue?

1 is the team the book lists first and 2 the team it lists second. Check the order on your bet slip.

What is the difference between 1X2 and double chance?

Double chance covers two of the three results (1X, X2 or 12) at lower odds. 1X2 covers one result at higher odds.

Is 1X2 the same as the moneyline?

It is the same as a 3-way moneyline. A 2-way moneyline either includes overtime or refunds the draw, depending on the sport and the book.

Is there a 1X2 in basketball or tennis?

No, because there is no draw. In those sports the equivalent market is "match winner", with two options.

Betting is a form of entertainment that involves the risk of losing money. Set a budget before you start and do not exceed it. 18+ only.