A/A Bet: How to Profit From Full Away Advantage

Sometimes a match unfolds in such a way that the away team seizes the initiative from the opening minutes and never lets it go until the final whistle. The A/A bet is designed exactly for these scenarios – a combined outcome that can bring a solid profit to those who know how to read the game and the statistics, not just the bookmaker's line.

Table of Contents

1. What A/A Means in the Bookmaker's Line
2. Which Factors to Consider Before Placing an A/A Bet
3. A/A in Practice: A Couple of Illustrative Scenarios
4. Strengths and Weaknesses of the A/A Bet
5. How to Use A/A Consciously in Your Strategy
6. A/A as a Tool for Those Who Think One Step Ahead

What A/A Means in the Bookmaker's Line

The A/A notation most often refers to the half-time/full-time market (or period/match in hockey).

The idea is simple:

• the first part of the notation is the result of the first portion of the game (1st half, period, etc.);
• the second part is the result after regular time.

Accordingly, A/A is a bet on the fact that the second (away) team will be ahead both after the first part of the game and at the end of the match.

For the bet to win, two conditions have to be met:

1. By half-time the away team is leading.
2. After regular time the away team is still the winner.

If, for example, the score is level at half-time but the away side eventually wins the match, a regular A bet would win, whereas A/A would already have lost. This is where the increased risk comes from, but also where the higher odds come compared to a simple away win.

Which Factors to Consider Before Placing an A/A Bet

Combined outcomes require a more thorough analysis than a standard win bet. Here are the key points you should check before you place an A/A wager.

1. Opening stretches of matches
Study how the away team usually starts games:

• how often they are ahead at half-time;
• whether they score early;
• whether they allow the opposition to create chances at the start of the match.

Some teams start aggressively and quickly pull away on the scoreboard – they are the ones that fit the A/A scenario best.

2. Statistics by halves and periods
Look not only at the overall win percentage, but also at:

• the results of the first half (or period);
• the number of goals/points before and after the break;
• how often the team “leads at half-time and converts that lead into a win”.

This helps you see whether the away side can hold on to a lead if they grab it early.

3. Style of play and coach's tactics
Some clubs feel more comfortable playing away from home: they rely on counter-attacks, are not shy about pressing, and are not afraid of the opponent's stadium.

It is important to assess how the coach distributes the team's resources:

• whether he fields his strongest line-up from the first minute;
• whether the team has a habit of “dropping off” in the second half;
• how the team reacts to taking the lead: do they sit back or push on to finish the opponent off.

4. Tournament motivation and match context
The away team may be highly motivated by:

• a battle for European spots or the play-offs;
• a decisive match for qualifying from the group;
• a heated rivalry.

Weaker home teams, on the other hand, may have nothing left to play for – in such cases a scenario where the visitors cruise to a comfortable win from the very start is quite realistic.

A/A in Practice: A Couple of Illustrative Scenarios

Football: The away side dominates from the first minutes

Imagine a Champions League match: the home team is the nominal Club Brugge and the visitors are Manchester City. Your analysis shows that:

• City often scores in the first half and rarely lets the initiative slip;
• Brugge regularly “fails to cope” in the opening stages against top clubs;
• the visitors are in great form and are highly motivated to fight for first place in the group.

You opt for an A/A bet.

The bet wins if:

• Manchester City are in front at half-time (for example, 0:1 or 1:2);
• after 90 minutes the visitors are still ahead (1:2, 1:3, etc.).

If, however, it is 0:0 at half-time and City eventually win 0:1, a straight A bet would have won, but A/A has already lost.

Hockey: A strong favourite away from home

Now let’s look at hockey. Suppose the Vancouver Canucks travel to face the Anaheim Ducks. The stats show that:

• Vancouver often wins the first period;
• at the same time, the team knows how to protect a lead and rarely lets the opponent back into the game;
• the Ducks, by contrast, often “collapse” in the opening stretches.

The bookmaker offers a “1st period/match” market and you take A/A.

Your bet will only win if Vancouver:

• is already ahead at the end of the 1st period,
• and remains in front when the final buzzer sounds.

Any draw or deficit for the visitors after the first period – and A/A “dies” immediately, even if they fight back and snatch the win by the end of the game.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the A/A Bet

Advantages of A/A

• Higher odds. The probability of both conditions coming in is lower than for a simple away win, so the line offers more attractive prices.
• A clear match scenario. This bet suits those who can predict not only the final result, but also the flow of the game: “the visitors will go ahead early and see the game out logically”.
• An interesting option for favourites. When the away side is a clear favourite, a straight A bet can have very low odds, whereas A/A makes such a match more profitable to bet on.

Disadvantages of A/A

• High risk. Two outcomes have to align at once – the half-time score and the final score. Any slip in the first half or a surrendered lead in the second turns the bet into a loss.
• Scenario dependency. Even strong away sides may start cautiously, “warming into” the game and only really turning the screw after the 60th–70th minute. In such matches, A/A is not the right choice; it is better to take a classic A or other markets.
• Harder to predict in volatile leagues. In competitions with frequent upsets and unpredictable starts, this kind of combined outcome becomes especially risky.

How to Use A/A Consciously in Your Strategy

To stop A/A from turning into a random gamble and make it a working tool, it is worth following a few practical rules:

• Rely on numbers, not gut feeling. Use half-time/period stats, compare how teams perform at home and away, and look at their recent run of games.
• Follow news and line-ups. The absence of a key forward, a reshuffled defensive line or rotation ahead of a cup game can completely destroy the scenario you were expecting.
• Assess motivation. A/A makes much more sense when the away team is motivated to get the job done from the first minute rather than “coasting” through the match until a convenient moment.
• Manage your bankroll. You should not stake large sums on combined bets. It is better to use them as part of your overall strategy: a small share of your bankroll for high odds, as a complement to calmer markets.

A/A as a Tool for Those Who Think One Step Ahead

The A/A bet is the choice of bettors who are ready to analyse the match more deeply than just “who will win”. If you can identify teams that take control already in the first half and keep that advantage until the end, this market can become one of the most interesting options in your line.

On our website you will find extended statistics for hundreds of matches, in-depth breakdowns and expert predictions. All this helps you avoid blind betting and instead build a well-thought-out strategy in which combined outcomes like A/A take their logical and profitable place.