What they are

• Double gameweek (DGW): a club has two league matches in one gameweek. Its players can score in both.
• Blank gameweek (BGW): a club has no league match. Its players score nothing that week.

The same gameweek can be a double for some clubs and a blank for others.

Why they happen

A league match gets moved, usually because one of the clubs is still in a cup and the cup tie lands on the same weekend. Weather, stadium problems and other clashes can do it too. The moved match leaves a blank where it was, and gets replayed later, often creating a double when it’s added to another gameweek.

They cluster in spring, when the cup competitions reach their late rounds. New dates are often only confirmed a few weeks ahead, so keep an eye on the fixture list.

Handling a blank

• Count your players. If eight or more of your squad still play, you’re usually fine with a transfer or two and your bench.
• If you’re short, a Free Hit lets you field eleven who play, then your squad comes back the week after.
• Don’t wreck your squad for one week. Selling good players just because they blank once can cost you more in the weeks after.

Making the most of a double

• Two matches beat one. A good player with two fixtures usually outscores a great player with one, as long as he starts both.
• Watch rotation. Two matches in a few days can mean rest. Prefer players who rarely get rotated.
• Captain a doubler. Double gameweeks are where Triple Captain shines.
• Bring players in early. Use a week or two of free transfers to get there, rather than taking hits on the eve of the double.

Chips and the calendar

A common plan: Free Hit in a big blank, Bench Boost and Triple Captain in big doubles, and a Wildcard a week or two before to set it all up. See How the FPL Chips Work for each chip.

On Pitchline: the fixtures ticker shows each club’s run, including weeks with two matches or none, and the Planner flags blanks and doubles for your squad over the next five gameweeks.