One of the biggest attractions of online sports betting is the availability of various markets. One of the most popular bet types you will find online is the 1×2 betting market, which involves predicting the outcome of a match or event.
So, what is the meaning of 1×2 in betting? 1×2 or 3-way betting is a simple option considering the 3 possible outcomes of a sports event or match. A 1×2 bet is the same as a money line or 2-way bet, except it includes a draw as a potential outcome. It covers the three outcomes in most sporting events: team A wins, team B wins, or the game ends in a tie. The “1” in the term represents the home team, the “2” represents the away team, and the “X” denotes a tie result.
Ultimately, a 1×2 bet is a straightforward betting option that involves making predictions on the outcome of a match or game. You are wagering on what you think will happen in the match. If your prediction is accurate, you win;
if you wager on any of the other two inaccurate options, you lose the bet.
One important thing to note about the 1×2 betting system is that it only considers the regular time in games. There are some sports matches, like tournaments and qualification games, where a tie is not an option since one team has to advance to the next stage. If such a game ends in a tie, they are often settled in extra time or with penalties. But 1×2 bets would only consider the result at the regular stoppage time of the game, such as the 90 minutes of play in football.
It is important to understand how to calculate payouts for your bets to be successful with 1×2 bets. Understanding the math behind your bet will help you make informed decisions. Like most betting options, the payout calculation for 1×2 bets is simple. You don’t need professional 1×2 tips or complex stats to understand it. Your payout is simply the multiplication of your stake and the odds offered.
For example, let’s say there is a football match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in the La Liga league, and a sportsbook offers the following market for the match:
| Contestants | Home (1) | Draw (X) | Away (2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid vs. Barcelona | 2.31 | 3.10 | 3.50 |
From the example, here are the potential payouts for the three possible outcomes for a $100 wager:
| Criteria | Home (1) | Draw (X) | Away (2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid vs. Barcelona | 2.31 | 3.10 | 3.50 |
| Potential payout ($100 wager) | $231 | $310 | $350 |
| Potential Profit | $131 | $210 | $250 |
It means that backing the home team would earn a $131 profit for a correct prediction; an accurate away team prediction will earn you $250, while the tie option can yield $210.
Another exciting thing about 1×2 betting is that it allows punters to lay bets. If you don’t understand what a lay bet means, it is when bettors place a wager against an outcome occurring. Instead of betting on another outcome, a lay bet means you bet that anything else except that outcome will happen. For instance, in the example denoted above, if you place a Barcelona lay bet, you will only lose the bet if the team manages to win the game. Conversely, you will win the bet if Real Madrid wins or the game ends in a tie.
That said, the payout calculation of lay bets is quite different from your typical calculation. In lay betting, you essentially act as the bookmaker by betting against other bettors. As such, the profit for your lay bet will equal the stake.
So, if you lay Barcelona with a $100 bet, you will win $100 in profits if your prediction is accurate.
Another important thing to note about lay bets is that there is liability attached to them. Liability refers to the amount you will need to payout if your prediction is inaccurate, i.e., Barcelona manages to win the game. There is a liability because you are the sportsbook in this scenario and must payout wins. The formula for liability is:
So, in the case of our example with a $100 stake, laying Barcelona at the same price means you risk losing $250. You should note that you can usually find lay bets on betting exchanges, not sportsbooks.
One of the most appealing things about 1×2 bets is that it comes in different types and varieties. Many sportsbooks provide different types of safe bets 1×2 that punters can place when they place bets online. These 1×2 bets offer punters different opportunities, each with specific rules that guide their usage. Understanding and then utilizing these variants can help improve bettors’ betting experience and increase their winning chances.
Now, let’s take a look at some of these bet types.
The first-half 1×2 bet means that a punter focuses on only the outcome of a game’s first half. So, instead of wagering directly on the outcome of the entire match, this bet type allows punters to bet on the outcome at the halfway point.
The first-half 1×2 bet can be an appealing option for punters who want to back a team they know would often go hard on the offensive in the first half. It provides quicker results and a unique betting opportunity. However, the downside is that this betting option is riskier than the overall result.
Many betting 1×2 sites also offer punters the chance to place their wagers on the second half of the game. It is similar to the 1×2 first-half betting option but focuses on the outcome of only the second half of a match or event. This betting option completely dismisses the results of the first part and takes the second half as an independent event. It essentially offers bettors the chance to bet on the potential comeback of teams, something quite common in football and many other sports.
The rules for the normal 1×2 betting system also apply here, such as 1 stand for home, 2 for away, and X for home. Also, unless stated otherwise by the sportsbook, this betting option does not count extra time results. Similar to the first-half option, this bet type too often provides better odds and quicker results. The downside is that the limited timeframe results in more uncertainty and risk.
Another way that sportsbooks allow punters to make the most of their 1×2 bets is through handicaps. So what is handicap meaning in 1×2 betting? 1×2 handicap bets essentially work the same way as what punters know as “point spread,” where sportsbooks attempt to level the betting field and create a more balanced market. But this handicap bet type has a draw outcome, which is why it is called a 3-way handicap in many circles.
In this betting type, sportsbooks will assign a virtual disadvantage (negative handicap) to the stronger team (known as the favorite) and a virtual advantage (positive handicap) to the weaker team (i.e., the underdog). The actual handicap that will be on any game will depend on the sports, sportsbook, and the strengths of the teams involved in the game. But, it is usually calculated and placed at a good range that often makes it hard to predict what outcome will happen. This bet type aims to give the underdog a fighting chance and for players to win bets on them potentially.
Naturally, there are pros and cons to this betting type. A major pro is that this bet type skews things to players’ advantage, but the downside is that it also introduces additional uncertainties.
Aside from the typical 1×2 bets we have explained, there are other ways that punters can maximize their betting experience for the best value. One of the ways you can do this is through 1×2 value bets. 1×2 value bets refer to wagers that offer favorable odds and a much higher expected return. In simpler terms, it is a bet where the odds offered by a sportsbook are lower than the true probability of the outcome. It means that with 1×2 value bets, you have a higher chance of winning than the odds provided by the sportsbook.
For example, let’s say there is an upcoming matchup between the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins on an NHL game night, and you want to place a hockey 1×2 bet. After you analyze the game, you discover that the New York Rangers have a 55% chance of winning, Boston Bruins have a 25% chance, and a 20% probability of the game ending in a tie.
However, a sportsbook offers the following 1×2 hockey bet market on the game:
Based on what a value bet means, in the case of our example, a bet on the New York Rangers would be considered a 1×2 value bet. You can usually find value bets on tipster sites that provide betting tips 1×2 and many useful tools.
Fixed 1×2 bet refers to wagers that feature predetermined odds and stakes. Typically, odds work in sporting events because as a game’s date draws near, odds can change to reflect anything that can impact the match result. It is especially so for live and in-play betting, where odds fluctuate as the game progresses
However, the downside of fixed 1×2 bets is that you tend to miss out on better odds. If the odds on the bet you place improve after the fact, you won’t get the chance to take advantage of the favorable odds.
Point bet 1×2 is another variant of the typical 1×2 betting system that introduces elements of points in predicting the outcome of games. It involves predicting which team will win a game (i.e., selecting the 1×2 outcome) and predicting the number of points or goals both teams will score. For example, let’s say there is an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. A typical sportsbook would offer 1×2 points bets attached with points margins that the teams have to meet for punters to win such bets. A 1×2 betting strategy on the Los Angeles Lakers would only win here if the Lakers win the game and the total number of points achieved by both teams meets the assigned margin.
Naturally, there are both benefits and drawbacks to this betting option. The major benefit is that this 1×2 betting option often has higher potential returns than normal 1×2 bets. There are also some drawbacks to this betting option, including the increased complexity and the higher level of risk it adds.
1×2 single bet is the simplest variant of 1×2 betting. It is a subset of the typical 1×2 bet, involving choosing one of the three possible outcomes in this betting option – a home win, a draw, or an away win.
The odds that betting 1×2 sites offer for this option depend on several factors, from the strength of the teams involved, to their recent performance and form and much more.
So, sportsbooks often tailor the odds to favor them in the long run. But there is still much room for punters, especially experienced ones, to make decent winnings from 1×2 betting.
To place a 1×2 bet, you choose the outcome you predict will happen and stake the amount you want. The odds offered and the staked amount will determine a punter’s potential winnings should the outcome occur.
The single 1×2 bet is popular amongst punters online today, primarily due to its simplicity and potential for good wins. The downside to this option is that there is usually no margin for error, and it typically offers lower odds for favorites.
Now that we know the meaning of 1×2 in betting and how it works let’s look at which sports it typically works for. One obvious fact about 1×2 betting is that it comes with an added element of a draw, so the betting type works best for sports where a draw is a realistic outcome. Some of the most popular sports here include football, ice hockey, rugby, and others. These sports have room for 3-way betting, making them the perfect options. Now, let’s look at how 1×2 bets work with these sports.
Football is undoubtedly the most popular sport when considering 1×2 betting. The sport attracts many bettors, and its process and structure make 1×2 bets ideal. To win a 1×2 football bet, you need to predict the outcome of the matchup: whether the home team will win, the away team to win, or the game ending in a draw.
With the sport’s widespread popularity and the availability of numerous football leagues and competitions that provide an unending stream of matches, football has abundant opportunities for safe bets 1×2. Some of the most popular football leagues that provide 1×2 bets include the UEFA Champions League, the English Premier League, the Spanish La Liga, the German Bundesliga, the Italian Serie A, and so much more.
Ice hockey is another popular sport suitable for the 1×2 betting system. It is a fast-paced and thrilling sport that attracts significant attention worldwide and much 1×2 betting interest.
Like football, ice hockey has numerous leagues and competitions that provide steady streams of 1×2 betting opportunities. These leagues include the National Hockey League (NHL), Continental Hockey League, Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Liiga, American Hockey League, etc.
As explained, hockey 1×2 bet markets work like typical 3-way bets – you either back the home or away team or bet on the game ending in a tie.
That said, a standard ice hockey game features three periods, each of which is usually 20 minutes long. So, unlike football, where first-half and second-half 1×2 bets are available options, this is not the case for ice hockey. The normal 1×2 full-time bets, 1×2 handicap bets, and others are usually the most applicable.
While ice hockey and football 1×2 odds are among the most popular sports for 1×2 betting, they are not the only markets these sports betting types apply to. Rugby is another major sport where 1×2 betting is applicable. While draws can be rare in rugby games, they happen enough to make them an option for punters to place bets.
Aside from the popular options we have looked at, there are many other sports where 1×2 betting is a valid option. If a draw is a typical outcome in a sport, then 1×2 betting is possible. Other sports include baseball, handball, water polo, boxing, basketball, etc.
On the flip side, there are also quite a few sports where 1×2 betting is not an option. These sports don’t allow 3-way betting as their games rarely end in draws. These sports include tennis, volleyball, cricket, and others.
Now that you know what 1×2 bet means, how it works, and which sports it is best used on, let’s discuss where you can enjoy the betting opportunities.
As mentioned, 1×2 bets are among the most popular and straightforward bet types any punter will find online. As a result, you will hardly find any sports betting site that does not offer 1×2 betting markets to its punters. However, some platforms are naturally better and offer much wider betting opportunities.
Some of the biggest and most popular brands that are offering great betting opportunities for 1×2 bets include:
That said, you should note that there are many factors betting experts consider when choosing 1×2 betting sites to place their bets. These factors include licensing status, security, payment methods available, user experience, mobile optimization, bonuses and promotion, and much more.
As mentioned, the 1×2 betting system is one of the most popular bet types at any betting site online. This is because the betting option has numerous benefits, making it ideal for many punters. However, like any good thing, it also has some drawbacks. So, let’s get into the pros and cons of engaging in this betting option.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
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PROS
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CONS
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While 1×2 is a simple bet, no strategy can guarantee a win. However, punters can always keep some professional tips 1×2 in mind when placing their bets. While these tips won’t guarantee winning your bets, they would significantly improve your chances of winning.
Now let’s take a look at some of these tips:
Now that you understand the 1×2 bet type meaning in betting, you can see that it is one of the best and biggest markets the sports betting industry offers. 1×2 betting offers one of the simplest and most intuitive options, making it ideal for beginners and experts. The betting option is valid across many sports, from football to ice hockey, baseball, handball, and others. As long as a sport allows for a home win, a draw, and an away win, 1×2 bets are applicable, creating huge markets for punters.
Experienced punters can also make the most of this option through different 1×2 betting types like 1×2 first-half markets, 1×2 second-half markets, 1×2 handicaps, and much more. While it has its fair share of downsides, there is no denying the appeal of a good football or hockey 1×2 bet. So, if you want a good way to make lucrative winnings without spending too much, 1×2 betting is a great option.
