Betting Basics: What’s the “To Win Either Half” Bet?

Have you ever watched your team get humiliated in the first half, heading into the break 5-0 down with no hope of playing for anything but a bit of pride? Then, they come out fighting and win the second half 1-0, so you leave with a bit of consolation and the chance to say,  “well, at least we won the second half”.

Well, we’ve got some good news and more consolation coming your way. There’s a betting market that actually rewards this. It’s called the “to win either half” bet, and if you’ve never heard of it before, it might just become your new favorite backup plan.

In this article, we explain what it means, how it works in soccer (and other sports), how it compares to other bets, and how you can use it to your advantage, especially if you’re the kind of bettor who likes giving underdogs a fighting chance.

What does ‘to win either half’ mean in betting?

You’re betting on a team to outscore the other side in either the first half or the second half of a game. That’s it. They don’t need to win the match. They don’t even need to draw. As long as they win just one half, your bet wins.

Think of the game as two separate mini-matches. If your team outscores the opponent in either of those, you’re in business.

A basic example of how this works is:

• Team A loses the match 3–1.
• But in the second half, they score the only goal (1–0).
• The second half is a win for Team A — and a win for your bet.

It doesn’t matter if they got thrashed in the first half. The bet pays as long as they outperform their opponent in one half. No more, no less.

Real examples of how to win either half works across different sports

Fulham vs Tottenham – Premier League, March 16, 2025

• Halftime: 0–0
• Final score: Fulham 2–0 Spurs
• Second-half goals: Rodrigo Muniz (78’), Ryan Sessegnon (88’)

Spurs held their own for 70 minutes, but once Fulham broke through, they ran away with it. If you’d bet on Fulham to win either half, you’d win — even though they didn’t score until the last quarter of the match. The 2–0 second-half scoreline was all that mattered.

Bulls vs Lakers – NBA, March 23, 2025

• Halftime: Lakers 65–62 Bulls
• Second half: Bulls outscore Lakers 81–50
• Final score: Bulls 146–115 Lakers

The Lakers completely fell apart in the second half. But, they still won the first half. So if you’d bet on Lakers to win either half, you’d win the bet — despite the second-half collapse and embarrassing final score. That’s the power of this market because one good stretch can be enough.

Bath vs Bristol – Premiership Rugby semi-final, June 1, 2025

• Halftime: Bristol 13–6 Bath
• Second half: Bath score four unanswered tries
• Final score: Bath 34–20 Bristol

Bristol dominated the first half. Bath dominated the second. If you’d backed either team to win either half, you’d be paid out. This is one of those rare scenarios where both sides would have made a bet like this profitable — despite only one of them winning the match.

Why should you bet ‘to win either half’?

Now that you know how the bet works, the next question is obvious: when should you use it — and why?

The “to win either half” offers real strategic value in situations where betting on a team to win the whole game feels too ambitious, but you still see a path for them to take control — even briefly.

Let’s look at the key reasons this market is worth considering.

1. You get two chances instead of one

Unlike a match winner bet, where your team has to outperform the opposition across the full game, this market gives you two separate opportunities: one in the first half, one in the second. If your team outscores their opponent in either, you win.

This is especially useful when you expect a game with clear momentum shifts — maybe one side starts fast but fades, or a team tends to grow into games after the break.

For example, teams like Fulham and Brentford in the Premier League have regularly split their performance between halves — losing early but finishing strong (or vice versa). Bettors who track these patterns can find value here without needing a full 90-minute upset. If you’re betting after Christmas, another useful stat to look at is which teams perform best in the second half of the season.

2. It reduces risk when backing underdogs

Let’s say Burnley are away to Manchester City. The odds for a Burnley win might be around +550, reflecting the fact that over 90 minutes, they’re unlikely to get a result. But you might still think they have a decent shot of frustrating City for part of the game.

Maybe Burnley come out flying, nick a goal, and keep City out until the break. Or maybe City go 3–0 up early and ease off late, allowing Burnley to “win” the second half 1–0.

In both scenarios, a bet on Burnley to win either half at +225 would pay — even if they lose the game 4–1.

This is a way to back an underdog’s competitiveness, without relying on the full upset.

3. It capitalizes on game flow and fatigue

Big clubs with congested fixture lists (think Man City, Bayern, or PSG during cup-heavy weeks) often rotate players mid-game or drop intensity once the result looks safe.

That creates opportunities for their opponents to win a half — usually the second.

In rugby, teams facing strong opposition (e.g. Italy vs France) might lose the match, but win the second half due to late substitutions or a mental drop-off from the leader. It happens often enough to make this market viable — especially if you’ve studied team tendencies and lineups.

4. It can be a smarter middle ground between risk and safety

When you’re looking at underdogs or unpredictable matchups, your main betting options often sit at two extremes. Go big on a full-time upset (long odds, low probability, or play it safe with something like double chance (low reward, low risk).

The “to win either half” market offers something in between — and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

Take this example:

• Team A to win the match: +550
• Team A double chance (win or draw): -110
• Team A to win either half: +225

A full-time win pays well, but you’re asking a weaker team to do something very difficult. Double chance is safer — but at that price, it might not be worth it unless you’re combining it with other bets.

If you’re the kind of bettor who sometimes backs the field in outright markets to spread risk, then backing a team to win either half gives you a similar safety net within a single match. You’re not relying on the full upset — just a shorter window where your team can come out on top.

That makes it a more realistic path to a payout, especially if your team has a history of strong starts, late surges, or just playing one good half before the game slips away.

5. It gives bettors a reason to stay engaged

There’s also a psychological value. A losing first half doesn’t kill the bet. It resets for the second half. And, if you’ve backed a team known for late rallies, you’re still in the game.

It’s especially useful for live betting. If you’ve seen a team get dominated early but start to regain momentum, betting on them to win the second half (or hit the “win either half” line if it’s still open) gives you a reason to keep watching, and potentially a smart way to ride the momentum swing.

When to use the win either half bet

• You’re backing an underdog with a track record of strong halves.
• The favorite is likely to rotate players or ease off late.
• Both teams are inconsistent and you expect a game of two halves.
• You’re looking for mid-range odds with a realistic payout path.

When to avoid the win either half bet

• The underdog rarely scores or creates chances.
• The favorite is relentless for the full 90 minutes.
• The match is unpredictable with no strong patterns in form.
• The odds offered are too short to justify the risk.

How is ‘to win either half’ different from other bet types?

If you’ve placed a few sports bets before, this market might sound like something you’ve seen under a different name. Maybe you’re thinking it’s like backing a team to win the first half. Or a watered-down version of double chance. Or some kind of half-time/full-time combo.

It’s not any of those — but the confusion makes sense. To win either half sits in an awkward middle ground between familiar markets. It’s less demanding than a full-time result, but not as forgiving as some safety-first options. And unless you understand how it actually works, it’s easy to misjudge the risk.

So, let’s put it in context. Here’s how this bet compares to the markets most casual bettors already know — and what makes it a different kind of play.

Match result (full-time) vs to win either half

This is the classic bet: your team has to win the whole match. If they lose or draw, the bet loses.

To win either half is more forgiving. It only looks at two 45-minute periods. If your team outscores the opponent in just one of those — regardless of the final result — your bet pays.

This makes it a useful alternative when you think a team might have a strong period in the game, but not enough to win over 90 minutes.

Half-time/full-time (HT/FT) vs to win either half

This is a combination bet. You’re predicting who will be ahead at half-time and again at full-time — and both calls need to be correct. It’s higher risk, and often used for longer odds.

To win either half is much simpler. You don’t need to predict when your team will perform — just that they’ll do better than the opponent in either half. No sequence, no precision. One good stretch is enough.

Win both halves vs to win either half

This one asks a lot. Your team needs to win each half individually — meaning they must score more than the opponent in both halves.

That’s hard to pull off unless you’re backing a dominant favorite, and even then, one quiet half can ruin the bet.

To win either half is the inverse — a much lower bar. One strong half is enough. If your team only wins the second half 1–0 after losing the first 3–0, you still win the bet.

Double chance vs to win either half

Double chance covers two of the three possible full-time outcomes: win or draw, draw or lose, win or lose. It’s a popular lower-risk bet, but it’s still tied to the final result.

With to win either half, the final score doesn’t matter. Your team could lose 4–1 and still win your bet if they won the second half 1–0.

It’s a completely different logic — double chance is about avoiding loss at full-time. To win either half is about capitalizing on performance within the game.

FAQs about the ‘to win either half’ bet

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