Asian Handicap

INTRODUCTION

Asian Handicap is a form of betting where the perceived weaker team (or underdog) is given a number of goals head start. Conversely, the team perceived to be superior (the favorite) is penalized or ‘handicapped’ an equal number of goals in an attempt to make the two teams equal for betting purposes.
The favorite has to overcome the handicap, and will have it taken away from its final score. The handicap for the favorite is preceded by a minus (-). The underdog is given a 'head-start', and will have it added to its final score. The handicap for the underdog is preceded by a plus (+).
The wider the gap between the two teams, the greater the number of goals head start is given to the weaker team. If the two teams’ on-field ability is considered to be approximately equal, no handicap is given to either team.
So, Asian handicaps give you the chance to bet on a match in which teams are badly mismatched.
For example, if Chelsea play West Ham in the EPL, you’d expect to see Chelsea priced up to win the match at around 1.20. Who will want to place a bet at that price? On the Asian handicap, however, Chelsea might be priced up with a -2.0 goal, priced around 1.90 and West Ham with a +2.0 goal, priced at a similar price. All of a sudden, you can take a view on the game and place a bet.
Asian Handicap can be given as 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and so on.

ADVANTAGES OF ASIAN HANDICAP

• You eliminate the possibility of a draw result, increasing your main winning chance from 33.3% to 50% in a single game.
• Depending on the handicap you can win your bet even if the team you bet on don't win the game.
You can bet on a team you believe will lose the game, but because of a big handicap you can still win the bet. Typical here is when the favourite team wins the game with only one goal.
• When following the match 'live', tension is high since a single goal can take you from losing to winning (or the other way around).
• If you place multiple bets (accumulator), the number of possible outcomes is much less than in fixed odds (home/draw/away bets. E.g a treble bet, where all 3 selections must be correct). The number of outcomes is 2 x 2 x 2 = 8. With fixed odds betting the number of outcomes is 3 x 3 x 3 = 27.

ASIAN HANDICAP EXAMPLES:

Here are some hypothetical examples to explain the different goal start:
The following example shows how Asian Handicaps works. It may seem complicated at first look, but it is actually very simple to understand.
Two types of Asian Handicaps - Single Handicaps & Double Handicaps
Single Asian Handicap Bets
Example (a)
1.95 Chelsea (-0.5) v Liverpool (0.5) 1.95
The first figure 1.95 is the odds available and the figure in brackets is the handicap.
This means that Liverpool receive an imaginary half a goal lead at the start of the match.
If you bet on Chelsea who start half a goal down, they have to win the match for your bet to win.
If you bet on Liverpool, you win if they win the match or if they draw.
The table below lists the most commonly used Handicaps and the outcome of each:

Chelsea	Handicap		Liverpool
If Chelsea wins all bets win. If Chelsea draws all stakes returned. If Chelsea loses all bets lose.	0	0	If Liverpool wins all bets win. If Liverpool draws all stakes returned. If Liverpool loses all bets lose.
This occurs when the likelihood of either team winning is fairy level. Here you are really betting without the draw being an option. You win if your selected team wins. If it is a draw, your stake is returned.
If Chelsea wins all bets win. If Chelsea draws or loses the match all bets lose.	-0.5	0.5	If Liverpool wins or draws all bets win. If  Liverpool loses the match all bets lose.
When a perceived weaker team got a 0.5 goal start, you will either lose 100% or win 100%.
If Chelsea wins by at least two goals all bets win. If Chelsea wins by exactly one goal all stakes returned. If Chelsea draws or loses the match all bets lose.	-1	1	If Liverpool wins or draws all bets win. If Liverpool loses by exactly one goal all stakes are returned. If Liverpool loses by two or more goals all bets lose.
This is a good bet if you fancy an underdog to get a result. Even if you are wrong, if they can limit the defeat to just one goal then you don’t lose.
If Chelsea wins by at least two goals all bets win. Otherwise all bets are losers.	-1.5	1.5	If Liverpool loses by two or more goals all bets lose. Otherwise all bets are winners.
When a perceived weaker team got a 1.5 goal start, you will lose 100% if loses by two or more goals or otherwise win 100%.

The Double Asian Handicap Explained
In double handicap betting the wager is split in two.
Example(b)
1.90 Chelsea (-½,-1) v 2.0 Liverpool (+½,+1)
As usual, the first figure 1.90 is the odds available and the figure in brackets is the handicap.
Often the double Asian handicaps are expressed as decimals. The figure being the mid point between the two handicaps.
In this example you might there for see -0.75 Chelsea v Liverpool +0.75 or in Double Handicap 0, 0.5. This is also known as the level half Asian
handicap and could be referred to as -0.25 (0,-0.5)and +0.25 (0,0.5)
The table below lists the most commonly used Handicaps and the outcome of each:

Chelsea	Handicap		Liverpool
If Chelsea wins by one goal or more all bets win. If Chelsea draws you lose 50 per cent of your stake. The other half of the stake is returned. If Chelsea loses all bets lose.	0, -0.5 OR -0:1/4 OR -0.25	0, 0.5 OR 0:1/4 OR 0.25	If Liverpool wins all bets win. If Liverpool draws you win 50 per cent of your stake. If Liverpool loses by one goal or more all bets lose.
If Chelsea wins by two goals or more all bets win. If Chelsea wins by one goal, you win 50 per cent of your stake. If Chelsea loses or draws all bets lose.	-0.5, -1 OR -0:3/4 OR -0.75	0.5, 1 OR 0:3/4 OR 0.75	If Liverpool wins or draws all bets win. If loses by one goal, you lose 50 per cent of your stake. If Liverpool loses by two goals or more all bets lose.