What is Double?

How a Double Works

To place a double, you choose two selections from two different events and combine them into one bet. Your stake is placed on the first selection, and if it wins, the full returns — stake plus profit — are automatically reinvested on the second selection. Both legs must win for you to receive a payout; if either loses or is void, the bet is typically lost (though a void leg usually reduces the double to a single on the remaining selection, though rules vary by bookmaker).

The combined odds of a double are calculated by multiplying the decimal odds of each selection together, then multiplying by your stake. For example, if Selection A is priced at 2.50 (6/4 fractional) and Selection B at 3.00 (2/1 fractional), the combined decimal odds are 2.50 × 3.00 = 7.50. A £10 stake would return £75.00 (£65.00 profit). The same two singles would return a combined profit of only £35.00, illustrating how a double amplifies returns — but also concentrates risk, because one losing selection wipes out the entire bet.

Worked Example

Suppose a tipster advises a double: Manchester City to win at 1.80 and Arsenal to win at 2.20. Combined decimal odds are 1.80 × 2.20 = 3.96. A £10 stake would return £39.60 (£29.60 profit) if both teams win. If City win but Arsenal lose, the entire £10 stake is lost — there is no partial return for winning one leg.

This example highlights a key point for tipsters and followers alike: the advised odds at the time of recommendation matter greatly. If the tipster advised City at 1.80 but by the time you place the bet they have drifted to 1.65, your combined odds drop to 1.65 × 2.20 = 3.63, reducing the return to £36.30. Tracking advised odds versus obtained odds is therefore important when assessing a tipster's stated profit figures against what a follower could realistically achieve.

Why Doubles Matter When Judging a Tipster

Tipsters who regularly advise doubles rather than singles can produce results that look impressive but are harder for followers to replicate consistently. Because both legs must win, the strike rate on doubles will naturally be lower than on singles, even if the tipster's individual selections are sound. A long losing run is statistically more likely with doubles, which means drawdown — the peak-to-trough drop in a bankroll — tends to be steeper. Always check whether a tipster's profit figures are based on level stakes singles or include multiples, as the two are not directly comparable.

When reviewing a tipster's record on TipsterCheck, pay attention to whether doubles are proofed at advised odds or starting price, and whether the sample size is large enough to draw meaningful conclusions. A short run of successful doubles can inflate ROI and yield figures significantly, masking an otherwise average strike rate. Conversely, a tipster whose doubles show consistent long-term profit over a substantial sample is demonstrating genuine skill in identifying correlated or independent value across multiple markets.

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