Two-Up rules and the five odds bet
In Two-Up two coins are tossed together. Two heads win for Heads, two tails win for Tails, and one of each, called "odds", is tossed again. At OpalRove a round allows up to five tosses: if all five are odds, Heads and Tails bets lose and the Five Odds bet pays 30 to 1. The chance of five odds in a row is exactly 1 in 32 (3.125%).
How a round works
Each toss has three possible results. Both coins heads happens 1 time in 4, both tails 1 time in 4, and one head with one tail (odds) 2 times in 4. An odds throw does not settle anything: the coins are tossed again.
A round is settled by the first throw that is not odds, or by a fifth odds throw in a row. A new round starts every 30 seconds.
The three bets
| Bet | Wins when | Pays | Chance per round | Return (RTP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heads | Two heads come up before two tails, within five tosses | 1 to 1 | 48.44% (31 in 64) | 96.875% |
| Tails | Two tails come up before two heads, within five tosses | 1 to 1 | 48.44% (31 in 64) | 96.875% |
| Five Odds | Five odds throws in a row | 30 to 1 | 3.125% (1 in 32) | 96.875% |
"1 to 1" means a $1 bet returns $2: your dollar back plus one more. "30 to 1" means a $1 bet returns $31.
Why Heads is not a 50% chance
Five odds in a row ends the round with neither heads nor tails. That takes 1 round in 32 away from both sides, so each one wins (1 - 1/32) / 2 = 31/64 of the time, or 48.44%.
That small gap is the house margin. Every Two-Up bet at OpalRove returns 96.875% of what is staked over the long run, and the Five Odds bet is priced to return exactly the same.
A short history
Two-Up is an Australian coin game best known from Anzac Day, when it is played in pubs and RSL clubs. Traditionally a spinner tosses two pennies from a small wooden paddle called a kip, and the ring of players bets on how they land.
Questions
- What does "odds" mean in Two-Up?
- An odds throw is one head and one tail. It settles nothing and the coins are tossed again. At OpalRove five odds throws in a row end the round.
- What are the chances of five odds in a row?
- Each throw is odds half the time, so five in a row is (1/2) to the power of 5 = 1 in 32, or 3.125%.
- How much does the Five Odds bet pay?
- 30 to 1. A $1 bet returns $31, including your dollar.
- Can I play Two-Up for free?
- Yes. Every game at OpalRove has free practice play with practice credits, and no account is needed. Practice credits have no cash value.
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Updated 2026-11-05.