The classic three-way football market, home win, draw or away win, leaves the draw as a constant source of uncertainty. Alternative options that handle this third outcome differently are easy to find when comparing football markets on Afropari and other bookmakers. These include double chance, draw no bet and Asian handicap, each of which offers a different way to express a view on the match.
This guide explains how each market works, how it settles and what to consider before using it.
Step 1. Understand double chance
Double chance consists of two out of the three potential outcomes for which you can place a single bet. The three options include: home win or draw, away win or draw, and home win or away win.
"Home or draw" bets win if there is a home win or the game finishes in a draw, whereas it loses in case of an away win. This option can be considered in cases where it is thought that the home team will not lose; however, it is also a matter of the price on offer.
Since it consists of two possible outcomes, double chance carries significantly lower odds than those of a single outcome. As an example, if the price of the home win was 1.90 and the draw – 3.60, then using the reciprocal formula of the odds we get a theoretical price of 1.24. This is not the actual offer from a bookmaker. The prices of 1X2 markets already have the margin built-in, so Double Chance can also be priced separately.
Step 2. Understand draw no bet
Draw no bet bet does not include draw in the winning bet, but the match has three outcomes for the football match. Winning on the bet is determined if the team wins and losing if the team loses. In the case of the draw, the stake will be returned. This means that Draw No Bet bet will be settled either as winning, losing or returned stake.
This is the reason why Draw No Bet odds fall between the three-way and double chance odds. Taking into account the example price of the home team win of 1.90, one can assume that the price for the Draw No Bet could be around 1.40-1.50 based on the away team win odds and the bookmaker's margin for that market. The exact number cannot be calculated only based on two numbers as there is the need to know the third number and apply margin.
It makes sense to use the market when a team is stronger, but the possibility of the draw exists.
Step 3. Learn the basics of Asian handicap
The Asian handicap provides one side of the match a virtual lead or disadvantage before the game starts. This bet is determined according to the score after the handicap is taken into consideration.
When the handicap is zero, the same way as the draw no bet works, assuming that both bets have the same conditions for settlement: in case of a draw the stake is refunded. In case of -0.5 the selected side must win the game. When the handicap is +0.5 the selected side must not lose.
With whole numbers of handicap there is an opportunity to get the stake back in case of a tied score after adjustment. For a -1.0 handicap, the selected team should win by at least two goals to win the bet.
Step 4. Master the quarter handicaps
For instance, quarter handicaps such as -0.25, +0.25, -0.75 or +0.75 divide the stake evenly into two bets for the closest lines. For -0.25, half the stake will be placed on the 0 line, while the other half will be placed on -0.5.
In case the chosen team wins the game, both halves of the stake will win. In case there is a tie result, the half placed on 0 line is returned, while the other half is a loss. When using +0.25, the stake will be divided into 0 and +0.5, which means that there will be a return for half of the stake and a win for another half in case of a tie.
With -0.75, the stake will be divided between -0.5 and -1.0. In case of winning by at least two goals, both halves will be won. A victory by one goal will give a half win: -0.5 half will win, and the other half of -1.0 will be refunded. In case of losing or drawing, there will be a total loss.
With +0.75, the stake will be divided between +0.5 and +1.0. A victory or a tie will yield to winning both halves of the bet. A defeat by one goal results in a half loss (-0.5 lost, +1.0 refunded), while losing by two or more goals results in a total loss.
Step 5. Compare the settlement outcomes
The table below shows how each market settles for a selection on the home team. Unless the rules state otherwise, standard football markets settle on the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, excluding extra time and penalty shoot-outs:
| Market | Home win by 2+ | Home win by 1 | Draw | Away win by 1 | Away win by 2+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double chance, home or draw | Win | Win | Win | Loss | Loss |
| Draw no bet, home | Win | Win | Stake returned | Loss | Loss |
| Asian handicap 0 | Win | Win | Stake returned | Loss | Loss |
| Asian handicap -0.25 | Win | Win | Half lost, half returned | Loss | Loss |
| Asian handicap +0.25 | Win | Win | Half won, half returned | Loss | Loss |
| Asian handicap -0.5 | Win | Win | Loss | Loss | Loss |
| Asian handicap +0.5 | Win | Win | Win | Loss | Loss |
| Asian handicap -0.75 | Win | Half won | Loss | Loss | Loss |
| Asian handicap +0.75 | Win | Win | Win | Half lost, half returned | Loss |
Step 6. Match the market to the fixture
Each market reflects a different view of a match, but no market is right for a fixture simply because of team strength or the expected result. The quoted price and the settlement conditions matter just as much. A few points are worth checking:
- double chance covers two results, so its lower price only makes sense if the third outcome really looks unlikely;
- draw no bet protects against a draw through a refund, but the refund comes at the cost of lower odds than the three-way market;
- negative handicaps require a winning margin and often carry higher odds than the match-winner market for that reason;
- positive handicaps can win even if the team does not win the match, which is reflected in lower odds;
- quarter lines split the stake between two handicaps, so partial wins and losses should be understood before placing the bet.
Team news, home and away form and recent goal differences all help inform the choice. A favourite that regularly wins by a single goal may be a poor fit for a -1.5 handicap unless the price clearly reflects that risk.
Different markets, different settlement
The markets double chance, draw no bet, and Asian handicap do not alter the likelihood of a draw on the field. They simply alter the way a draw or some specific winning margin influence the payout. The double chance market will always have relatively low odds since it involves two win conditions in a match. In contrast, the draw no bet will include one win condition, and returns your stake in case there is a draw in the game.
Knowing precisely how each market pays off prevents any confusion once the referee blows the whistle. It does not assure you of anything, but at least you will know the terms under which you are betting and stick to your budget.