Every pool coupon in the world uses the same three symbols. Once you know them, any coupon is readable.
- 1 — the home team wins.
- X — the match is a draw.
- 2 — the away team wins.
The home team is always the one listed first. So in Hearts of Oak v Asante Kotoko, a 1 means Hearts win, an X means a draw, and a 2 means Kotoko win.
It is the result at full time
This trips up more new players than anything else. The prediction is the result at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count. A cup tie that finishes 1–1 and is won on penalties is a draw on the coupon.
The draw is not a throwaway
Roughly a quarter of matches in most leagues finish level. Players who never pick X are quietly ignoring a third of the coupon. If a fixture looks genuinely tight, the draw is often the single most likely of the three outcomes.
Two habits worth building
- Decide the match, then look at the coupon — not the other way round. It is easy to talk yourself into a result because it makes your ticket look neater.
- Be honest about which matches you do not know. That is what doubles and triples are for: cover two or three outcomes on the fixtures you cannot call, and keep your singles for the ones you can. Here is how that changes the price of a ticket.
When you are ready, this week's coupon is here. 18+ only.
