Guide to Win Draw Win (1X2)

A Win Draw Win, or 1X2, is one of the most popular betting markets you’ll come across when betting on a game. It lets you predict how a match will end by backing one of three outcomes: a home win (1), a draw (X), or an away win (2). This wager is settled at full time, which means only the score at the end of 90 minutes counts.

Each option in a 1X2 market has its own odds. Home favorites usually have lower odds for a home win, while underdogs may have higher odds for an away win. Analyzing both outcomes thoroughly helps you find value in every bet a bookmaker offers. 

In this article, MatchPlug provides a detailed guide to everything you need to know about the Win Draw Win, or 1X2, betting market, including strategies for backing one and where to find a reliable 1X2 bet.

What We Discuss:

1. What is Win Draw Win?
2. How Does Win Draw Win Work?
3. What Bettors Should Know About Win Draw Win  
4. Advantages and Disadvantages of Win Draw Win (1×2)
5. Top Leagues With the Most Win Draw Win Results 
6. Why Does Home Advantage Matter In A Win Draw Win Market?
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Betting On Win Draw Win
8. Best Win Draw Win (1X2) Betting Strategies
9. When Win Draw Win (1X2) Offers Good Value 
10. Where To Find Reliable Win Draw Win (1X2) Markets

What is Win Draw Win? 

Win Draw Win in football simply means you predict the outcome of a match after the full 90 minutes plus injury time. You predict that one team will win outright or the match will end in a draw.

This betting market allows for three possible outcomes:

Home Win 

You back the home team to win. The final score doesn’t matter; if the home team finishes with more goals, you win.

Draw

You bet that the game will end with both teams having the same score. This could be 0-0, 1-1, or 2-2. 

Away Win 

An away win is a wager that the visiting team will win. The final scoreline doesn’t matter, as long as they finish with more goals.

How Does Win Draw Win Work?

In a match between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille in Ligue 1, with PSG hosting, the 1X2 betting market for it would be:

1 (PSG Win) –  X (Draw) – 2 (Manchester United Win)

Key factors influencing the odds include home advantage, team form, player injuries or suspensions, and the match’s importance.

When staking for a 1X2 bet, here’s how it works:

If you stake ₦2,000, and the odds are:

• PSG to win (1) at odds of 2.20, you will get ₦4,400 if they win. That is your ₦2,000 stake plus ₦2,200 profit.
• A draw (X) at odds of 3.00, with a prediction that the game will end 1-1 or 2-2, will return ₦6,600 on a ₦2,000 bet.
• Backing Marseille to win (2) at odds of 2.75 will give you ₦5,500 if they do win the match.

What Bettors Should Know About The Win Draw Win (1X2) Market

Winning long-term with a 1X2 market is statistically impossible, especially if you alternate your bets between the three outcomes for every match. To increase your chances, you should apply these analytical methods:

1. Determine Who Needs To Win Badly

There’s something called the “motivation” strategy, where one team needs points more than the other. For example, if Liverpool are playing a team in the middle of the EPL table, they are most likely to win; therefore, they don’t have enough hunger to win.

However, a team fighting to avoid relegation has a higher chance of pulling off an upset because they need to win to stay in the EPL. Despite what the market may have you believe, don’t ignore the sheer will of a team fighting to stay alive.

2. Form

Team form is one thing consistently monitored in football betting. A team’s recent form is one thing to consider when determining how a game will finish. If a team has struggled to stay afloat in recent matches, what caused it? 

Did they face stronger teams? Were their key players injured? Conversely, if they have a pattern of beating stronger teams at home or away, you could bet that streak will continue. 

3. Pattern

When dealing with Clubs that have won 6 consecutive matches to rise in the standings, look at some of their more intangible habits. Similarly, if a team struggles after losing two or more goals in a row, you may want to exclude them if they are playing a club with a strong offense.

4. Compare Offensive and Defensive Statistics

Analyzing offensive and defensive statistics is a key strategy when evaluating a win 1X2 prediction. If you spot some discrepancy, like one club being bad offensively and the other having a strong defense, then you can determine what the result will likely be.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Win Draw Win (1×2) 

Before backing a Win Draw Win bet, you should understand some of its advantages and disadvantages. We have shared them below: 

Advantages of Win Draw Win

These are some of the advantages of the Win Draw Win market:

1. Easy To Understand

A win draw win bet is one of the easiest betting markets to understand, because you’re simply betting on whether the home team or away team will win, or if the match will end in a draw.

2. Available Across Leagues

No matter the league you’re betting on, whether Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga, you’ll always find a 1X2 market.

3. Ideal For Beginners

If you’re new to sports betting, the 1X2 market is the easiest place to start. It helps you build your knowledge of the industry while still earning. 

4. Contains Value Odds

In evenly matched fixtures, the odds for all three outcomes can be quite lucrative.

5. Can Be Combined In Accumulator Bets

1X2 bets are popular in accumulator bets, making them ideal if you want to boost your payouts. 

Disadvantages of Win Draw Win

The 1X2 market may seem simple, but it has disadvantages. These are some of them:

1. Risky In Closely Placed Matches

In games where both teams are equally matched, all three outcomes may happen, making it impossible to pick just one. This could increase your chances of losing. 

2. Doesn’t Favor Performance

You could support a team for their ball possession but lose if they don’t win the match or score any goals.

3. Not Great For Hedging

1X2 markets offer no safety net, making them poor for hedging.

Top Leagues With the Most Win Draw Win Results 

Some leagues produce more Home, Draw, and Away results than others. These are some of them:

Leagues With The Most Home Wins

• UEFA Champions League
• Peru Segunda
• Greece Football League
• Algeria Division 1
• Bolivia Apertura
• Finland Kolmonen

Leagues With The Most Draws

• Argentine Primera División
• MLS
• Italy Serie A
• Italy Serie B
• Colombia Primera A
• USA USL Championship
• Colombia Primera A

Leagues With The Most Away Wins

• England Premier League 2
• Northern Premier League
• Hong Kong 1st Division
• Latvia 1. Liga
• Scotland Highland League
• Hong Kong 1st Division
• Germany Verbandsliga

Why Does Home Advantage Matter In A Win Draw Win Market?

Home advantage is a significant factor to consider in a 1X2 market. Across professional football globally, 44 to 46% of matches end in a home win, while away wins happen 27-30% of the time, and draws occur 24 -28% of the time. 

Here’s a statistical breakdown:

Statistics by League

Backing the home team won’t automatically guarantee a win, but it’s worth considering when making your predictions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Betting On Win Draw Win

1X2 may be one of the easiest markets to bet on, but it still comes with its own risks. While wagering, these are some mistakes to avoid:

1. Ignoring Both Teams’ Offensive and Defensive Strength

Going blindly into a wager is one of the worst mistakes you can make when backing 1X2. Before you bet, compare both sides’ offensive and defensive strength. This gives you a better idea of which team could win outright, helping with your ‘Win’ bet.

2. Backing The Favorites At Low Odds

Supporting the favorites at poor odds may seem safe, but you risk a lot and still leave money on the table. One upset from the underdogs could ruin your chances of winning.

3. Overlooking Draws

Draws aren’t boring and happen in 24-28% of football matches. They can offer great value.

4.  Settling For One Bookmaker

The best way to find true value is to visit different bookmakers’ websites until you find better odds. One match can have different odds across bookies.

Best Win Draw Win (1X2) Betting Strategies

A solid strategy for betting on the win 1X2 market can improve your chances of winning. Here are some of the best strategies we recommend:

1. Analyze Team Form

Before backing a team, review their form in the last 5-10 games of the season. Check wins, losses, and draws across both strong and weak teams.

2. Consider Home Advantage

Most teams tend to play better at home than away. To know where a team stands, check their recent home records as well. Factors that influence home advantage include supportive fans, familiarity with the pitch, and being well-rested before a match. 

3. Pick Leagues You’re Familiar With

Choosing a league you already know makes it easier for you to validate the accuracy of a sports betting site’s or bookmaker’s prediction. This leaves room for value betting.  If you already know Arsenal will beat Tottenham, you can confidently bet against the market. 

4. Look For Player Absences

Before backing a team, make sure you account for all key absences. Even if they are absent, the substitutes should be skilled enough to get you the results you want.

5. Compare Odds

Always compare odds before you settle on a bet. This lets you get better odds and potentially higher payouts.

When Win Draw Win Offers Good Value 

There are certain times when a 1X2 bet may offer value more than other times:

Start of the Season

Before the league table picks its winners, bookmakers set the odds based on reputation and last season’s form. However, if you’ve researched pre-season form, summer transfers, and new managers, you can find true value.

Derby Matches

Local derbies are mostly about pride, so past patterns won’t matter much when both teams are playing for glory. In such cases, the underdogs often play better than the odds predict.

After Major Contests

Clubs returning from a midweek Champions League or Europa League match usually underperform in weekend fixtures, especially away.

Where To Find Reliable Win Draw Win (1X2) Markets

The quality of a win draw win market depends on the football prediction sites you use. For reliable 1X2 predictions, you can count on MatchPlug. 

We publish a free 1X2 prediction for every match we cover, including our statistical model’s pick, its confidence level, and the form, head-to-head record, and expected-goals data behind it. 

Selections go up each morning and are updated as team news lands. We log every 1X2 call, including the ones that lose.