50/50
What Is a 50/50 Contest in DFS?
Last updated September 22, 2026 by Ship It Nation
A 50/50 is a cash game where the top half of the field wins. Every winner gets the same prize, a little less than double the entry fee because the site keeps a fee.
Why It Matters
Since half the field gets paid, the goal is to avoid a bad score rather than chase a great one. Lean on high-floor players and popular value, and skip risky contrarian swings. Compared with a double-up, more entrants cash but each prize is smaller.
Example
Say you enter a $10 50/50 on an eight-game NHL slate with 100 entries. You take the goalie on the heaviest favorite and skaters from top power-play units, even though many other lineups will look similar. You do not need a huge night: finishing 40th pays the same as finishing first, so avoiding a zero from a scratched player matters more than chasing upside.
In a 50/50, the lineup that loses is usually the one that took an unnecessary risk. Swap out any player whose role or status is shaky before lock.
Common Questions
How much does a 50/50 pay?
A winning entry gets a little less than double the entry fee. The site keeps a fee from the prize pool, so the exact amount depends on the contest, and the payout table shows the precise prize before you enter.
Is a 50/50 or a double-up better?
Neither is always better. A 50/50 pays a larger share of the field a smaller prize, while a double-up pays slightly fewer entries exactly twice the entry fee. Compare the fee and field size of each contest, since those decide which offers more value.
What happens if there is a tie at the cash line in a 50/50?
Tied lineups split the prizes for the places they occupy. If the tie straddles the last paid place, each tied lineup can receive less than a full prize, so a single extra point near the cash line can matter.