What It Means
1st Half 1X2
- You’re betting on the result at halftime, not the full-time result.
- Options:
- 1 = Home team leading at halftime
- X = Draw at halftime
- 2 = Away team leading at halftime
1st Half Over/Under
- You’re betting on the total goals scored in the first half.
- Bookmakers offer thresholds like Over/Under 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 goals for the first half.
Combined Market: “1st Half – 1X2 & Over/Under”
Here, both parts of your bet must be correct:
- The halftime result (1X2 part)
- The number of goals (Over/Under part)
Example of markets you’ll see:
- 1st Half – 1 & Over 0.5 goals (Home team ahead at halftime AND at least 1 goal in the first half)
- 1st Half – X & Under 1.5 goals (Draw at halftime AND max 1 goal scored in first half)
This gives better odds than placing each bet separately.
Example with a Team
Match: Manchester City vs Brentford
- You think Man City will start fast and lead by halftime.
- You also think there’ll be at least one goal in the first half.
Possible bets:
- 1st Half – 1 & Over 0.5: Man City must be winning at halftime AND at least one goal scored in first half.
- 1st Half – X & Under 1.5: Draw at halftime AND total goals in first half ≤1.
Scenario outcome:
- If halftime score is Man City 2-0 Brentford, your “1 & Over 0.5” wins.
- If halftime score is 1-0, it still wins.
- If halftime score is 0-0, it loses (because Over 0.5 not met).
- If halftime score is 1-1, it loses (City not leading).
Why Use This Market?
- Higher odds: Combining two conditions increases payout.
- Good for teams with fast starts: Some clubs are known for early goals and dominance (Man City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid).
- Early settlement: Bet ends at halftime, no need to wait for full-time.
Betting Tips
| Tip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Check first-half stats | Look at both teams’ average goals scored and conceded in the first half. Some teams start slow, others start fast. |
| Check line-ups | Missing key attackers/defenders can shift first-half goal patterns. |
| Use live data | If you’re betting in-play, wait to see tempo in first 10 minutes before betting. |
| Pick Over/Under carefully | Over 0.5 first-half goals is much safer than Over 1.5. |
| Don’t force high odds | Combined bets are risky; only use them when both conditions are strongly supported by data. |
Quick Stat Example
- In 2023/24 EPL, Liverpool scored in the first half of 25 out of 38 league matches.
- Against weaker teams at Anfield, “1st Half – 1 & Over 0.5” often landed.
- Meanwhile, teams like Everton had many 0-0 first halves (good for “X & Under 1.5”).
Sample Bets
| Bet | Condition | Wins if halftime is… |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Half – 1 & Over 0.5 | Home leads & ≥1 goal | 1-0, 2-0, 2-1 |
| 1st Half – X & Under 1.5 | Draw & ≤1 goal | 0-0, 1-1 |
| 1st Half – 2 & Over 1.5 | Away leads & ≥2 goals | 0-2, 1-2 |
Would you like me to create a small table of top European teams (like Man City, Bayern, PSG) with their average first-half goals scored/conceded to help spot good “1st Half – 1X2 & Over/Under” bets?