FPL 2026/27 first-half chip deadline: use them before GW19
Fantasy Premier League managers receive two sets of four chips in 2026/27: Wildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain and Bench Boost for each half of the season. The first set must be used before the Gameweek 19 deadline at 13:30 GMT on Saturday 2 January 2027. Unused first-half chips do not roll into the second half.
Chip deadline at a glance
| Rule | Correct 2026/27 answer |
|---|---|
| First-half chips | Wildcard, Free Hit, Triple Captain, Bench Boost |
| First-half cutoff | GW19 deadline: 2 Jan 2027, 13:30 GMT |
| Can unused first-half chips be saved for GW20? | No |
| Second half | A new set of the same four chips |
| Chips in a single Gameweek | One only |
| Can Free Hit be used in GW1? | No |
| Can first Free Hit in GW19 be followed immediately by second in GW20? | No, under the stated Free Hit restriction |
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Why this matters from GW9 onwards
There are only eleven Gameweeks from GW9 to GW19 inclusive. Managers who have not used any first-half chips need to consider real opportunities for each rather than leaving all four until the final weeks. However, using a chip in GW9 purely to avoid “wasting it” later is not good strategy.
Wildcard
Use when your team needs permanent restructuring across many positions. Do not confuse one difficult fixture with a long-term problem.
Free Hit
Use for a one-week mismatch where your permanent squad is worth keeping. Consider GW9 or GW12 in relation to your own team; there is no universally correct window.
Bench Boost
The most useful week is often when the bench has genuine minutes and reasonable fixtures. Do not build a weak normal XI merely to squeeze a few extra bench points out of one round.
Triple Captain
Prefer a reliable starter with a strong goalscoring outlook. A Double Gameweek can help but is not a guarantee of good returns.
What to do now
Check which first-half chips you have left. Use the Transfer Planner to map possible use across GW9–GW19. Keep the general chips guide for mechanics and your Free Hit windows guide for timing.
Source
A planning calendar without forcing bad decisions
With first-half chips expiring at the GW19 deadline, you can review chip options now without locking each chip to a specific week. A manager with a healthy fifteen-player squad might be able to Bench Boost naturally. Another manager with many injuries might prefer the Wildcard, while a concentrated squad facing a poor single-week schedule could justify a Free Hit. Triple Captain is a separate expected-minutes and scoring-upside decision.
Don't stack chips: the rule allowing only one chip per Gameweek means you cannot combine the benefits of Triple Captain and Bench Boost in one round. Check your chip history before planning the remaining uses; not every manager has the same chips available.