What is Double Chance?
Double Chance is a simple, lower-risk result market that covers two of the three possible full-time outcomes in a football match — so you’re effectively buying insurance against one of the outcomes. For example, you can back:
- Home or Draw (1X)
- Away or Draw (X2)
- Home or Away (12) — either team to win
Why use it? Because payouts are reduced compared to a straight 1X2 bet, but the probability of winning goes up — useful for tight games or when you want to lower variance. This is a standard market at most bookmakers and is widely used by cautious punters.
When Double Chance makes sense
Use Double Chance when you expect a match will be close or when form lines suggest a draw might be likely. It’s also a go-to for bettors juggling many matches in an accumulator who want to protect part of their stake.
What is GG/NG (Both Teams to Score / BTTS)?
GG stands for Goal-Goal (both teams to score) and NG stands for No-Goal (not both teams to score). This Yes/No market — commonly labeled BTTS (Both Teams To Score) at major sportsbooks — simply asks: will both teams find the net during regular time?
GG/NG variants (2+, 1st half, etc.)
You’ll see many variants: GG/NG 2+ (both teams to score two or more goals), 1st-half GG/NG, 2nd-half GG/NG and combined markets. Exact rules differ by operator, so always check settlement rules.
Key settlement examples
Score 2-0: GG loses, NG wins.
Score 0-0: NG wins (no team scored).
Combining Double Chance & GG/NG — how the combo works
Many bookmakers offer combo markets (e.g., Double Chance + GG). The basic idea: you must satisfy both sub-markets for the bet to win. That means the chosen double chance outcome happens (e.g., Home or Draw) and both teams scored (GG). These combos usually pay better than single Double Chance but worse than two independent bets because the markets are related.
Why combine them?
Combining lets you tilt the risk/reward: double chance reduces result risk while GG/NG adds a goal-scoring hypothesis. In practical terms, if you think a home side is unlikely to lose and both teams are attack-minded, a ‘Home or Draw + GG’ may offer nicely priced value. But watch the odds — bookies price correlation into the market.
Operator rules to check
- Do extra time or penalties count? (Usually no.)
- Are own goals counted? (Yes, typically.)
- How do voided/abandoned matches settle?
Strategy, stats and a simple system
Smart bets come from process, not guesswork. Below is a compact strategy you can follow and backtest — use it as a starting point and adapt for your own bankroll and market access.
Data-driven checklist (quick scan)
- Recent goals per game: check both teams’ goals for/against in last 6 matches.
- Head-to-head: some pairings consistently produce goals; others are defensive stalemates.
- Squad news: missing strikers or key defenders shift GG/NG probabilities heavily.
- Match importance/tactics: early season cup games or two teams fighting relegation may play differently.
- Home/Away splits: some teams only score away or concede a lot at home.
Practical staking rule (simple)
Stake 1–2% of bankroll on single match DC+GG combos that pass your checklist. For bigger multiples, reduce stake per line. This helps avoid ruin from short losing runs — it’s boring but effective.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring correlation — teams that rarely concede will make GG unlikely even if both score sometimes.
- Overtrading small odds — small edges multiplied by bad staking still blow up bankrolls.
- Not checking operator rules — I once used a market that excluded extra-time goals and lost because of a late winner (lesson learned!).
Examples & worked bets
Example 1 — Safe-ish DC + NG
Match: Defensive home team vs weaker away side who struggles to score on the road.
Tip: Back Home or Draw + NG (double chance covers home/draw and NG assumes only one or no team scores). This pays better than plain Double Chance but lowers risk vs a straight favorite.
Example 2 — Value in Home or Draw + GG
Match: Two attack-minded teams with away side vulnerable at the back.
Tip: Back Home or Draw + GG if both teams average >1.3 goals per game and both have recent away/home goal form. Correlation works in your favour here — you profit if game ends 1-1, 2-1, etc.
Settling the bet
If the market was Home or Draw + GG and final score is 2-2, both conditions are met: the result is not an away win and both teams scored — bet wins. If final is 2-0, the double chance might be covered (Home or Draw) but GG fails → combo loses.
Further reading on 100Suretip
Want deeper staking plans and bank growth spreadsheets? Check our recommended guide: Best Betting Strategies — Staking & Bankroll Management. That page pairs well with DC+GG/NG systems and includes printable staking templates.
Authoritative reference
For general background about sports betting terms and settlement rules, see the Wikipedia entry on sports betting. (General reference only.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is GG the same as BTTS?
A: Yes. GG means both teams to score, which is the same market many operators label as BTTS (Both Teams To Score).
Q: Can I combine Double Chance and GG/NG on the same ticket?
A: Yes — many bookmakers offer that exact combo. The bet wins only if both sub-markets are satisfied; check the operator rules for settlement details.
Q: When is NG a good bet?
A: NG (No Goal) is good when one side are clear favourites who keep clean sheets and the away side rarely scores — low-scoring fixtures with strong defences are prime NG territory.
Q: What’s the safest of the three Double Chance options?
A: None are truly ‘safe’, but 1X (Home or Draw) typically has the highest implied probability when the home team is strong or evenly matched; 12 (Home or Away) is useful if you want to avoid a draw entirely.