Half-by-half markets split the 90 minutes into two independent periods and ask questions about each. Win Either Half and Win Both Halves are the most common, but this family of markets also includes Team to Score in Both Halves, Both Halves Over/Under, and Highest Scoring Half — each of which uses half-time and full-time scorelines in a specific way.
What does "Win Either Half" mean in betting?
A team wins this market if they score more goals than the opponent in at least one of the two halves. They do not need to win both — winning one is sufficient. The full-time result is irrelevant.
Example: Liverpool vs Chelsea. First half: Liverpool lead 1-0 (Liverpool win the first half). Second half: Chelsea score to make it 1-1 in the second half, final score 2-1 Liverpool.
Liverpool won the first half (1-0 at half-time). The second half was level (Chelsea equalised). "Liverpool Win Either Half" wins because Liverpool won the first half — one half is all that is required.
If Liverpool had been trailing at half-time and equalised in the second half to draw both halves, the market would lose. A half is only "won" by a team if they scored more goals than the opponent in that specific 45 minutes — a level half does not count.
What does "Win Both Halves" mean in betting?
The team must score more goals than the opponent in the first half AND score more goals than the opponent in the second half. Both halves must be won individually.
Example — winning: Arsenal vs Spurs. Arsenal lead 2-0 at half-time (win first half). Second half: Arsenal score once more (no Spurs goals) to make it 3-0. Second half score: 1-0 to Arsenal. Arsenal won both halves. Win Both Halves: Arsenal wins.
Example — losing: Same match. Second half: Spurs equalise the second-half score at 1-1. Arsenal's second-half lead disappears. Arsenal did not win the second half — the second-half score was level. Win Both Halves: Arsenal loses even though they won the match 3-1 overall.
Team to Score in Both Halves
This market asks whether the named team scored at least one goal in each half — not whether they won each half.
Example: "Liverpool to Score in Both Halves" — Liverpool need at least one goal before half-time AND at least one goal in the second half.
- Liverpool score twice in the second half but the first half ends 0-0: loses — no goal in the first half
- Liverpool score one goal in the first half and one in the second half: wins
- Liverpool score three goals, all in the second half: loses — no first-half goal
Both Halves Over/Under x.5
This market applies an Over/Under line to each individual half separately. Both halves must independently clear the line.
"Both Halves Over 0.5" wins if there is at least one goal in the first half AND at least one goal in the second half. If either half ends 0-0, this loses.
"Both Halves Over 1.5" requires 2 or more goals in the first half AND 2 or more goals in the second half — both conditions independently. A match with 3 goals in the first half and 1 in the second loses this market (second half did not clear the 1.5 line).
For more on how half-specific markets work, see First Half Markets Explained.
Highest Scoring Half
Which half of the match contains more goals? Three outcomes are available:
- First Half — more goals scored in the 45 minutes before half-time
- Second Half — more goals scored in the 45 minutes after half-time
- Equal — the same number of goals in each half (including 0-0)
Example: A match ends 3-2 total. First half: 3 goals. Second half: 2 goals. First Half Higher wins.
Another match: First half 1 goal, second half 3 goals. Second Half Higher wins.
A match with 2 goals in each half: Equal wins.
Team Highest Scoring Half
Same concept but applied to a single team's goals only.
"Home Team — First Half Higher" wins if the home team scores more of their goals in the first 45 minutes than in the second 45 minutes. The away team's tally is not relevant.
Example: Home team scores 2 in the first half and 1 in the second. Home Team First Half Higher wins. Home team scores 1 in the first half and 2 in the second — Home Team Second Half Higher wins.
How Win Either Half relates to Win Both Halves
| Scenario | Win Either Half | Win Both Halves | |----------|----------------|-----------------| | Team wins both halves | Win | Win | | Team wins first half only | Win | Lose | | Team wins second half only | Win | Lose | | Team wins neither half | Lose | Lose |
Win Both Halves is a stricter version of Win Either Half. Any scenario that wins "Both Halves" also wins "Either Half" — but not the reverse.
For more on first-half-specific markets, see First Half Markets Explained. For the full overview of football markets, see Football Betting Markets Explained.
Frequently asked questions
Does the full-time result matter for Win Either Half? No. The market looks at each half independently, not the overall score. A team that draws 1-1 at full time can still win the "Win Either Half" market if they led 1-0 at half-time (winning the first half). The full-time result is irrelevant.
How is a half scored if it ends level? If both teams score the same number of goals in a half — including a 0-0 first half — neither team "wins" that half. For Win Either Half and Win Both Halves, a level half does not count as a win. For Both Halves Over/Under, each half's total is assessed against the line independently: a 0-0 first half always loses "Both Halves Over 0.5."
Can a losing team win the "Win Either Half" market? Yes. A team can lose 1-3 overall but still have won the first half 1-0. "Win Either Half" on that team would win even though they lost the match — the full-time result has no bearing on this market.