This article explains what a 3 way moneyline is, how soccer operators settle these markets, and how to do the basic math to convert odds and calculate payouts. It is aimed at sports fans and bettors who want practical, repeatable steps rather than theoretical detail. You will find a short worked example with decimal odds, a checklist to avoid common mistakes, and pointers on when a 3-way market can be the appropriate choice for match-result betting.

A 3 way moneyline lists home win, draw, and away win as separate outcomes.

Soccer 3-way markets usually settle on 90 minutes plus stoppage time unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Convert odds to implied probability to compare prices and spot potential value.

What a 3-way moneyline is

A 3 way moneyline is the standard match-result market that lists three distinct outcomes: home win, draw, and away win. This market is commonly shown as 1, X, and 2 and is used to settle the result at the end of regulation play in soccer; a concise guide to the 1X2 market explains this setup and common labels for each outcome Pinnacle 1X2 guide.

In practice, each outcome is priced separately and a bettor chooses one of the three options. If the selected outcome matches the official match result for the market's settlement window, the selection wins; otherwise it loses. This structure differs from markets that treat the draw as a non-event or that include extra periods of play in the settlement rules.

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Read the worked example later in this article or use a simple calculator to run the same numbers yourself.

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Basic definition

When someone refers to 1X2 or a 3-way moneyline they mean a market that offers three mutually exclusive outcomes for a single match: 1 for the home side, X for a draw, and 2 for the away side. Each outcome has independent prices so the draw is selectable on its own.

Where you see it most

The 3-way market is most familiar in soccer and is the default match-result option on many operator menus because draws are common in the sport and must be priced explicitly rather than pushed or voided.

How soccer 3-way bets are settled: regulation time explained

Standard 3-way soccer markets are settled on regulation time, meaning the two 45-minute halves plus any stoppage time added by the referee. Operator rules commonly specify that market outcomes are decided at full time without extra time or penalties unless the market explicitly includes those periods Soccer rules and typical operator settlement language and other operator guides like FanDuel's soccer betting guide.

That settlement convention follows the match duration defined in the Laws of the Game, which treats a standard match as two 45-minute halves. Because the Laws of the Game set the baseline match length, operators and educational resources use regulation-time settlement as the default for 1X2 markets IFAB Laws of the Game, match duration.

Markets that say they include extra time or penalties will explicitly state that on the market page. When a market includes extra time, the presence of those periods changes which scores count for settlement, so reading the market text matters before choosing an outcome.

Reading odds and converting to implied probability

Odds come in different formats but are convertible to an implied probability so you can compare the three outcomes on the same scale. For decimal odds the formula is simple: implied probability equals 1 divided by the decimal odds, which gives a direct percentage equivalent for each price Investopedia implied probability guide.

What is an example of a 3-way bet?

A 3-way bet, often shown as 1X2, offers three selectable outcomes for a soccer match: home win, draw, or away win; a simple example uses three decimal prices and a stake to show implied probabilities and payout math.

American odds use two standard formulas depending on whether the number is positive or negative. For positive American odds the conversion is 100 divided by (odds plus 100). For negative odds the conversion is the absolute value of the odds divided by (absolute value plus 100). These conversions are standard practice for comparing prices across formats and learning them makes cross-checks faster.

Implied probability matters because it converts each outcome price into the same scale so you can see which result the market considers most likely and how much margin the operator has built into prices.

Decimal, American and implied probability formulas

In brief, use these formulas to convert common odds formats to implied probabilities: decimal p = 1/decimal; American positive p = 100/(odds+100); American negative p = |odds|/(|odds|+100). Memorizing the decimal formula first helps because it is the most direct for payout math and comparison Investopedia implied probability guide.

When comparing three prices in a 3-way market convert each to implied probability, add them up and you will see the market overround, which indicates the bookmaker margin. That sum is useful for spotting value or unusually large margins across the three outcomes.

Payout math for a winning selection uses the same arithmetic as other single-outcome markets. With decimal odds you compute the gross return by multiplying stake by the decimal odds and the net profit as stake times (decimal odds minus 1). This is the standard way to show what you get back on a successful pick Implied probability and basic payout math explained.

Before doing any calculation confirm the odds format shown by the operator, because mixing formats or assuming the wrong type will produce incorrect payouts. Convert American odds to decimal if you prefer the decimal arithmetic or use the equivalent American formulas to check results.

Numeric example: if you place a 20 stake at decimal odds of 2.50, gross return equals 20 times 2.50 which is 50, and net profit equals 20 times (2.50 minus 1) which is 30. Label each step when you do the arithmetic to avoid mistakes.

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A clear, step-by-step 3-way bet example

Setup: imagine a league match listed with these decimal prices: home 2.10, draw 3.40, away 3.20. You want to check implied probabilities and the payout for a 50 stake on the home side. These sample numbers are for demonstration so you can practice the same steps on live prices.

estimate net profit from a single selection

Use for single bet checks

Step 1, convert each decimal price to implied probability using p = 1/decimal. For home at 2.10 p = 1/2.10 which equals about 0.476, or 47.6 percent. Repeat for draw and away to see how the market splits perceived chances across three outcomes.

Step 2, confirm the stake calculation. For the 50 stake at 2.10: gross return = 50 times 2.10 = 105. Net profit = 50 times (2.10 minus 1) = 55. Record both numbers and the decimal arithmetic so you can quickly recompute for different stakes or prices.

Step 3, add the three implied probabilities to see the overround. If the summed implied probabilities exceed 100 percent the difference approximates the operator margin. That margin affects whether a particular price offers value versus the implied real-world chance you assign to an outcome.

Comparing 3-way and 2-way moneyline markets

A 2-way moneyline typically lists only two outcomes; in some sports or markets a draw is impossible so the market uses head-to-head pricing, and in other operator variants a draw may cause the market to void or be settled with extra periods depending on the rules. This distinction changes the risk profile for a bettor and how implied probabilities should be interpreted American Gaming Association glossary. See also How to Bet on Soccer on Fox Sports.

With a 3-way market the draw is a selectable outcome that must be priced explicitly for regulation-time results. In contrast, some 2-way markets include extra time or treat draws as pushes so you must check the market wording to know whether a draw changes the settlement or is excluded.

Because the draw is priced separately in a 3-way market the implied probabilities for the three outcomes will usually look different than a 2-way market rolled into a two-price format. That shift affects comparative value and how you allocate stakes, particularly in matches where a draw is plausible.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

One frequent error is misreading the odds format and doing arithmetic with the wrong conversion. Always confirm decimal versus American odds before running payout math, and when in doubt convert American odds to decimal for a quick check Implied probability reference.

Another common mistake is assuming extra time or penalties count when the market actually settles on regulation. Avoid this by reading the market description or the operator help pages that explain inclusion of extra periods.

Simple verification steps cut down errors: check the market rules, convert any American odds to decimal if needed, do a small manual payout calculation, and keep a brief record of stake and result so you can review mistakes and learn from them.

Use a 3-way market when a draw is a realistic match outcome and you want to treat that possibility as an independent result rather than a push or void. League matches with evenly matched teams or tactical contexts that suppress goals commonly fall into this category Pinnacle 1X2 guide.

Compare implied probabilities across the three outcomes to spot value. If your model or judgement assigns a higher real-world chance to an outcome than the market-implied probability, that selection may offer positive expected value after you factor in the operator margin. See how Funded Plays evaluations work.

Operator labels and why precise wording matters

Help-centre rules often use specific phrases such as 'market settled on full time' or 'includes extra time and penalties' to indicate which periods count. Note those exact words because they directly change settlement and what counts as a winning result Operator soccer rules examples.

Because the Laws of the Game set the standard match duration many operator pages refer to regulation time as the default. When a market diverges from the default it will typically do so with explicit wording that you should treat as binding for that market.

Using implied probability to assess value in 3-way markets

Overround is the sum of implied probabilities for all outcomes in a market and it indicates the bookmaker margin. If the sum of the three implied probabilities equals 110 percent, for example, the extra 10 percent is the margin that makes the prices collectively unfavorable compared to a fair zero-margin market Implied probability methods.

To spot a potential value selection convert each price to implied probability, compare your assessed chance for the outcome to the market-implied probability, and then adjust for the overround. Positive expected value exists when your assessed probability implies a better long-term return than the adjusted market price.

Practical platform considerations and responsible use

Always check the specific market rules on the operator site before placing a 3-way selection. Help-centre settlement language and market notes determine whether extra time or penalties are included and whether special conditions apply to a match result Soccer market settlement guidance. See also the DraftKings support page How are Soccer bets settled?.

Practice responsible staking and bankroll tracking. Platforms that focus on skill-based challenges and simulated accounts, such as Funded Plays, can be useful for testing methods and record-keeping without staking real funds. If you use structured challenges to test consistency, treat them as training and keep expectations realistic.

Before placing a 3-way selection run this quick checklist: confirm the odds format, verify whether settlement is regulation time only, confirm your stake, do a quick decimal payout check, and note the selection for later review. These steps reduce simple arithmetic and rules errors.

For further learning, consult our blog, operator help pages on soccer rules, general guides to implied probability and payout math, and practice with sample numbers in a spreadsheet or a simple calculator to build confidence with the conversions and checks.

How does a 3-way moneyline settle in soccer?

A 3-way moneyline normally settles on regulation time only, which is the two 45-minute halves plus stoppage time, unless the market explicitly includes extra time or penalties.

How do I convert odds to implied probability?

For decimal odds use p = 1/decimal. For American odds use p = 100/(odds+100) for positives and p = |odds|/(|odds|+100) for negatives.

What is the simple payout formula for a winning decimal bet?

Gross return equals stake times decimal odds; net profit equals stake times (decimal odds minus 1).

Understanding the 3-way moneyline and the settlement rules that apply to soccer helps you avoid simple errors and make clearer comparisons across prices. Use the worked steps and the checklist here to verify odds, compute payouts, and keep a record so you can review outcomes over time. If you are testing methods, practice the conversions and payout checks in a spreadsheet or a controlled challenge environment before applying them in live markets.