A Guide To Asian Handicap In Soccer

The Asian handicap is a type of bet in which an advantage or disadvantage is given to one of the teams in a game. The objective is to eliminate the possibility of a tie as a third option. As its name indicates, its origin is in Asia, although it is well-known and used worldwide.

Understanding what it consists of is extremely useful for bettors. It opens up a huge universe of options for betting on results and scores in various sports, such as soccer, basketball, or tennis. It allows bettors to fine-tune the bet they want to make and maximize the potential return.

Asian Handicaps for Beginners

One way to learn to play well with Asian Handicap soccer is to focus on a single type of handicap at the beginning, preferably integers (+1, -1, +2, -2, etc.), as they are the closest to the actual score of the game. Making several test bets, betting a minimal amount of money is advisable to check if you understand the mechanics and if they produce the effect you expect.

Once bettors understand the basics of the Asian handicap system, mastering the rest of the details is easier. It’s then possible to move on to the medium handicaps (-0.5, +0.5, -1.5, +1.5, etc.), placing some test bets to get a feel for how the system works.

When adding an Asian handicap of +0.5 to a soccer team, 0.5 goals must be added to the number of goals scored by that team. In doing so, the game can never end in a tie since 1-1 or 2-2 becomes 1.5-1 or 2.5-2, and so on.

If bettors bet on another team and they have an Asian handicap of -1, it means that one goal must be subtracted from the total number of goals scored. For example, if the game was 3-1 in that team’s favor, the result would have been 2-1, and it would have been won anyway. 

If they had won 2-1 when applying the handicap for the rest of the match, the final result would be 1-1. If the game ends in a tie, the bet is canceled, and the money is returned.

Differences Between Asian Handicap And European Handicaps

There are essentially two types of handicaps with sportsbooks, the Asian handicap and the European handicap. The big difference between the two is that the Asian handicap admits null bets, where the player recovers part of the bet, and even partially null, where half of the money played is recovered. The other half bet can be a winner or loser. 

On the other hand, the Asian handicap does not admit ties, and the bets will be winners or losers but never null. Logically, the European handicap also does not admit bets on the quarterfinals.

As a tie is not allowed, the European handicap odds will always be higher than the Asian odds since there is less chance of it being a winner. In a match, the Asian handicap of -1 can have a fee of 1.75, for example. In that same match, the European handicap of -1 might have a fee of 2.15.

Types of Asian Handicaps

To properly understand what the market consists of in Asian Handicap soccer, it helps to divide it into the possible options and, in turn, whether the handicap options are positive or negative. 

Whole Asian Handicap 

For Asian Handicap soccer, this refers to adding or subtracting from the team score the number of goals indicated by the Asian handicap—for example, +1, -1, +2, -2, +3, -3, etc.

In Asian Handicap soccer, if the handicap is positive, its effects are that if the team affected by the handicap wins or draws, the bet is a winner. If the bet’s result is the same as the handicap, the match is tied. This cancels the bet, and the amount wagered is returned to the bettor. If the game ends in a score higher than the handicap, the bet is lost.

If the handicap is negative and the bettor wins by a difference greater than the handicap, the bet wins. However, if the bettor wins by the same difference as the handicap, the match is drawn, the bet is voided, and the amount wagered is refunded. In addition, if the team draws or loses, the bet loses.

Medium Asian Handicap

The medium Asian handicap simply adds or subtracts from the competitor’s score the many “and a half” indicated by the Asian handicap. With this handicap, there is no way for the bet to be tied and voided.

If the handicap is positive, its effects on the resolution of the bet are that in case of victory or tie, the bet wins. If you lose by more than the handicap, the bet loses.

When the result is negative, its effects are that in case of victory by a margin higher than that indicated by the handicap, the bet is a winner. If you win by a lower margin than the one expressed by the handicap, tie, or lose, the bet is a loser.

Half-Goal Asian Handicap

With the half-goal Asian handicap, there are only two options: add half a goal to a team or subtract it. In the case of betting on half a positive goal (+0.5), bettors are turning the bet into a double chance, while a handicap of a negative half goal (-0.5) is identical to a match-winner bet.

Asian Quarter Handicap

With this type of Asian handicap, bettors are essentially making a double bet, as if the money played were divided into two bets, those corresponding to the handicap immediately before and after the handicap on which the bet is placed.

Mixed Asian Handicap

The Mixed Asian Handicap is the mix between the Asian Full Handicap and the Asian Half Handicap. In other words, a mixed Asian handicap is an Asian quarter handicap where the user divides the money played into two bets, one on the full Asian handicap and one on the half, and is expressed as a quarter, for example, +0.25, -1.75, etc.

Asian Handicap 0.0

The Asian 0 handicap does not add or subtract any points to or from the score. Its function is the same as that of the ‘invalid draw’ or ‘draw no bet’ bets. In other words, in the event that the match ends in a draw, the bet is canceled, and the amount played is returned to the account balance.

Positive Asian Handicap

The positive Asian handicap consists of adding goals to the team for which you bet. Often, it is used to cover variables for the underdog, even getting to lose the game. In the case of the Asian handicap of half a positive goal (+0.5), as mentioned previously, it works as a double chance in favor of the team we are betting on. 

Another option is to add a positive Asian handicap to the favorite to cover the bet, although logically, the fee will be lower.

Negative Asian Handicap

The negative Asian handicap is the opposite of the positive handicap, meaning that goals are subtracted. Logically, subtracting goals from the underdog makes no sense, so the negative Asian handicap can be applied to the favorite team in a competition to improve the odds. 

After determining the starting handicap, the negative Asian handicap is applied. If the team the bettor bets on wins, the bet will be a winner. If there is a tie, the bet is voided.

Finding Asian Handicaps In Sports

Asian Handicap In Soccer

Asian Handicap soccer is one of the most popular betting markets because it allows bettors to take advantage of the winner or loser when there is a big difference between them. When one of the two teams has a lot of advantage over the other, the odds are very low, which is why the bookmakers added this market a few years ago. 

It’s also possible to find Asian handicapping for the “goals – first half” market. As the name implies, bettors take advantage of a handicap to place a bet on the score at the end of the first half. It can also be used for the second half market.

Asian Handicap In Baseball

The Asian handicap in baseball is also known as the “run line.” This can be established around the event’s winner and based on race and point. There are different submarkets within this sports betting option, but the handicap is always the same, 1.5, whether negative or positive. 

At the same time, bettors must consider that the bet will be lower or higher depending on each team’s pitcher, the key player in predicting the potential winnings in this market. 

Asian Handicap In Basketball

Bettors can choose this market for the final winner of the match but also for the winner of each period of the event. These odds will be much higher because it requires more experience and luck. The range of handicap options for basketball and the NBA can go from -4.5 to +11.5. 

Asian Handicap In Football

Finally, there is also the handicap market in football. As in other sports, it is a betting option unsuitable for beginners. One of the most common football handicap options is +3.5 and -3.5. If betting on the favorite, the team has to win by more than 3.5 points; if betting on the underdog, the team has to lose or tie by a difference of at least 3.5 points.  

Asian Handicap Betting Tips

It is worth remembering that the Asian handicap is an extremely complicated system. As such, it is primarily recommended only for the most experienced bettors. When choosing the indicated bet, it is advisable to patiently check what type of handicap is the one that corresponds.

A good way to get started is by selecting only the games presented with a previous wide favorite. These have a stronger chance of winning by more than one goal, making it easier to develop a betting rhythm and discern patterns. 

In terms of strategies, there are many. One that is as attractive as it is profitable is to make a combination of Asian handicaps, although with no more than two or three bets. The first step is to choose some teams that play at home and are very strong.

That will significantly decrease their chance of losing, so the Asian zero handicap bet seems ideal. The worst scenario would be that of two draws (bet canceled), and profits would be obtained with a home-team victory and a tie.

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