1X2 Betting Explained

How to Calculate Your Payout for a Back Bet on a 1x2 Market

It is important to understand how to calculate payouts for your bets to be successful with 1x2 bets. Understanding the math behind your bet will help you make informed decisions. Like most betting options, the payout calculation for 1x2 bets is simple. You don’t need professional 1x2 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:

From the example, here are the potential payouts for the three possible outcomes for a $100 wager:

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.

How to Calculate Your Payout for a Lay Bet on a 1x2 Market

Another exciting thing about 1x2 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.

1x2 Bet Types

One of the most appealing things about 1x2 bets is that it comes in different types and varieties. Many sportsbooks provide different types of safe bets 1x2 that punters can place when they place bets online. These 1x2 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.

1x2 First Half

The first-half 1x2 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 1x2 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.

1x2 Second Half

Many betting 1x2 sites also offer punters the chance to place their wagers on the second half of the game. It is similar to the 1x2 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 1x2 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.

1x2 Handicap

Another way that sportsbooks allow punters to make the most of their 1x2 bets is through handicaps. So what is handicap meaning in 1x2 betting? 1x2 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.

1x2 Value Bets

Aside from the typical 1x2 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 1x2 value bets. 1x2 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 1x2 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 1x2 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 1x2 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 1x2 value bet. You can usually find value bets on tipster sites that provide betting tips 1x2 and many useful tools.

Fixed Bets 1x2

Fixed 1x2 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 1x2 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.

Points Bet 1x2

Point bet 1x2 is another variant of the typical 1x2 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 1x2 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 1x2 points bets attached with points margins that the teams have to meet for punters to win such bets. A 1x2 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 1x2 betting option often has higher potential returns than normal 1x2 bets. There are also some drawbacks to this betting option, including the increased complexity and the higher level of risk it adds.

1x2 Single Bet

1x2 single bet is the simplest variant of 1x2 betting. It is a subset of the typical 1x2 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 1x2 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 1x2 betting.

To place a 1x2 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 1x2 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.

Most Popular Sports for 1x2 Betting

Now that we know the meaning of 1x2 in betting and how it works let’s look at which sports it typically works for. One obvious fact about 1x2 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 1x2 bets work with these sports.

Football

Football is undoubtedly the most popular sport when considering 1x2 betting. The sport attracts many bettors, and its process and structure make 1x2 bets ideal. To win a 1x2 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 1x2. Some of the most popular football leagues that provide 1x2 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

Ice hockey is another popular sport suitable for the 1x2 betting system. It is a fast-paced and thrilling sport that attracts significant attention worldwide and much 1x2 betting interest.

Like football, ice hockey has numerous leagues and competitions that provide steady streams of 1x2 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 1x2 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 1x2 bets are available options, this is not the case for ice hockey. The normal 1x2 full-time bets, 1x2 handicap bets, and others are usually the most applicable.

Other Sports

While ice hockey and football 1x2 odds are among the most popular sports for 1x2 betting, they are not the only markets these sports betting types apply to. Rugby is another major sport where 1x2 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 1x2 betting is a valid option. If a draw is a typical outcome in a sport, then 1x2 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 1x2 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.

Advantages & Disadvantages of 1x2 Bets

As mentioned, the 1x2 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.

1x2 Betting Tips

While 1x2 is a simple bet, no strategy can guarantee a win. However, punters can always keep some professional tips 1x2 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:

• Do your research: Thorough research on the teams involved is key to any successful betting, and 1x2 bets are no exception. Before placing your bets, you must properly analyze the teams’ recent form, injuries, suspension, and other relevant statistics. Doing this will help make informed decisions for safe bets 1x2.
• Find value bet: Value bets are the ones whose perceived odds are higher than the actual probability of the outcome happening. These bets tend to offer better value to punters. So, you should always look for 1x2 value bets.
• Compare Odds: Due to the industry's competitive nature, many sportsbooks offer better odds than others in some betting markets. So, it would help if you always compared the odds sportsbooks offer to find the best option before placing bets.
• Set a budget and manage your bankroll: For any successful 1x2 betting experience, you need to set a budget and stick to it. It will help you avoid overspending and losing more money than you can afford.
• Be careful of accumulators: 1x2 accumulator bets can be a great way to get more for your bets. However, it also reduces the winning chances. So, it would help to be careful when engaging your accumulators for your football or hockey 1x2 bet markets or other sports.
• Be patient: Remember that you won't win every bet. There will be times when you will lose money. The important thing is to be patient and employ the right strategy, as this will make you profitable in the long run.