Introduction to Asian handicap betting

Asian Handicap Definition

There is no simple explanation of the term “Asian Handicap”.

Asian Handicap is a betting system that seeks to take the “advantage” away from the “strongest” team. The stronger team is as such “at a disadvantage” in the literal sense of the word, giving an imaginary advantage to the supposedly weaker opponent when the game begins. This would, in theory, balance any advantage or disadvantage, and increase the chances of both teams winning the Asian Handicap by 50%-50%.

Who makes the handicap?

Betting shops. While no one can be sure how bookmakers arrive at certain handicaps and odds, the general belief is that bookmakers look at each game based on the history of these matchups; news involving both teams before a match in relation to injuries, internal club matters, etc.; home court advantage; the performances of the home team and the away team when they play home and away; the current form of each team as a whole; the current form of key players on each team; And the list goes on. It is true that these factors play an important role in determining handicaps and odds, but the other side of the coin is one that not many people think about, and that is the “mind games” side. The point of all this, for bookmakers of course, is to profit from any game where they offer the Asian handicap as a betting option. To achieve this, many elements will be in play, including “What path would punters take if a certain handicap were put on the market?” If punters are obviously expected to go in one direction, bookmakers may need to think of a strategy to influence them. For example, Manchester United plays Hull City: the hypothetical expected handicap is -2, which means that Hull City comes into the match with a 2-goal lead. Bookmakers may not take the obvious route, opting instead for the -1.5 handicap. An unexpected handicap would cause a frenzy in the Asian handicap betting world: “What does this mean, bookmakers have information punters don’t know?”; “Are there missing news punters?”; “This handicap is wrong, this handicap is suspect. I should bet against the favorites (ie Manchester United) today!” Interesting dynamic at play, don’t you think?

Different Asian Disadvantages

Level: the handicap is 0:0, which means that both teams are difficult to separate on paper and as such neither team enters the match with a handicap in their favor or behind. This is the simplest of all disabilities. If Chelsea play Manchester United, a level handicap means that if there is a tie, punters backing either team will get their bets back. If Chelsea wins, bettors on Chelsea win. If Manchester United wins, Manchester United punters win.

¼: the Quarter handicap, also known as “Mid-Level” in Asian countries. This handicap divides the bet between the next closest ¼ intervals. This is best illustrated with an example. Let’s say John places a $10 bet on Chelsea at the -¼ handicap against Liverpool. The ¼ handicap means that John’s $10 bet is split into 2 bets, i.e. the $5 Chelsea bet with the Level handicap (described above) and the $5 Chelsea bet with the ½ handicap. Did you get all that? Now let’s confuse it a bit more. If the payout, or odds, for Chelsea at the -¼ is 1.90, and Chelsea and Liverpool tie, then John lost nothing on the $5 bet on Chelsea at level handicap. However, John lost the $5 bet on Chelsea at the ½ handicap. In all, John lost $5.

½: the Half handicap, also known as “Half Ball” in Asian countries. This disadvantage is simple. Because a team cannot score a half goal, the result of a match in the Asian Handicap will never be a tie when it comes to a half handicap. Simple illustration, if Chelsea “gives” the ½ handicap to Tottenham, that means Tottenham enters the match with a half goal advantage, ie Chelsea 0 – ½ Tottenham. If Chelsea wins the match, Chelsea wins the Asian Handicap, meaning punters on Chelsea win. If Chelsea draw (or lose, obviously) the match, Chelsea lose on the Asian Handicap, meaning punters on Chelsea lose the entire bet.

¾: the three-quarter handicap, also known as “Half Ball One Ball” in Asian countries. This handicap divides the bet between the next closest ¼ intervals. This is best illustrated with an example. Let’s say John places a $10 bet on Chelsea with a -¾ handicap against Everton. The ¾ handicap means that John’s $10 bet is split into 2 bets, i.e. the $5 Chelsea bet with the ½ handicap (described above) and the $5 Chelsea bet with the 1 handicap. or the odds, for Chelsea at ¾ is 2.00, and Chelsea beat Everton 1-0, so John lost nothing on the $5 bet on Chelsea with the 1 handicap. However, John won the bet $5 at Chelsea with the ½ handicap. In all, John earned $5.

1: the One handicap, also known as “One Ball” in Asian countries. By this stage you should be familiar with the whole concept of Asian Handicap, so I imagine it’s relatively straightforward. If Chelsea “gives” the 1 handicap to Portsmouth, that means that Portsmouth come into the game with a direct 1 goal lead. If Chelsea win by 1 goal (ie 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3, etc), there is a break-even point. Stakes will be returned to punters. If Chelsea win by 2 goals or more, Chelsea bettors win. If Chelsea draw (or lose), Chelsea punters lose.

Popularity

Although the name “Asian Handicap” might suggest that this betting system is only popular in Asian countries, the truth is far from it. Bookmakers based in Europe are now starting to offer Asian Handicap called “Line Bets” and it is based on the same concept. While Asian Handicap is primarily associated with soccer, it has now gained popularity in other sports as well, primarily basketball (e.g. favorite teams “give” points to weaker teams), tennis (e.g. favorite players “give” games or sets to weaker players), National Hockey League (which is similar to football), and so on.

End of article: This is the original work of mine, Fate85. All rights reserved.

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