{"id":357,"date":"2019-04-17T10:06:04","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T10:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joomla-1189735-5893702.cloudwaysapps.com\/betting\/?page_id=357"},"modified":"2021-10-19T08:30:29","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T08:30:29","slug":"betting-handicaps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/articles\/betting-handicaps\/","title":{"rendered":"Handicap Betting Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you consider yourself to be part of the betting community, either via the internet or in your local bookies shop, you may have heard the word \u2018handicap\u2019 bandied about and wonder what the Dickens could that possibly mean?<\/p>\n

In actual fact a handicap is a way of maximising your betting value by adding an artificial headstart (or obstacle) to one of the teams or players involved.<\/p>\n

Confused? Not to worry. Read on for all the info you need on betting handicaps.<\/p>\n

What is a Betting Handicap?<\/h2>\n

\"Football<\/p>\n

Think back to your school days (easier for some readers than others, presumably) and remember the old games of football you used to have on the playground. You probably got lined up and two captains picked the sides.<\/p>\n

Inevitably, there would be a miss match and some folks would start whining. \u201cThe teams aren\u2019t fair,\u201d they\u2019d say, \u201cWe\u2019re going to get hammered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d the opposite captain would say. \u201cYou can have a two-goal headstart.\u201d<\/p>\n

And right there, ladies and gentlemen, handicapping was born.<\/p>\n

Types of Handicaps<\/h2>\n

There are two general types of handicaps: traditional and Asian.<\/p>\n

Traditional Handicap<\/h3>\n

\"TraditionalThe traditional handicap is as described above; providing an obstacle for the more capable to overcome, or handing a headstart to the weaker party. It\u2019s most common application is in football, although many sports can be wagered upon with handicaps including tennis (game\/set handicaps), cricket (score handicaps), snooker (frame handicaps), darts (leg\/set handicaps), American Football (the same principal as a handicap but known as the \u2018point spread\u2019), and many more.<\/p>\n

The key thing to note is that the traditional handicaps are doled out in whole numbers<\/strong>; the reason why that is important will become clear soon enough.<\/p>\n

Visually, handicaps are presented on betting coupons as follows:<\/p>\n

The main \u2018Handicap Result\u2019 market is derived by bookmakers as the set of outcomes closest to even money. The \u2018Alternative Handicap Result\u2019 tab offers options for punters who like betting on dead certs (as if anything like that exists), long shots, or something in the middle.<\/p>\n

But what do the plus and minus numbers actually mean?<\/p>\n

+1 -><\/strong> Here a team is given a single goal headstart, so if we bet on Arsenal vs Chelsea with a one goal handicap, Arsenal would hypothetically be 1-0 up as the first whistle blows.<\/p>\n

So our bet would land if Arsenal win or draw the game. Let\u2019s say the game ends 1-1:<\/p>\n

Arsenal 1 vs 1 Chelsea -> Add the one goal handicap -> Arsenal now theoretically win 2-1 and our bet wins.<\/p>\n

-1 -><\/strong> This is the opposite effect, where a goal is taken away from the selected team at the final whistle. In order for the bet to land, our pick must win by two or more goals.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s use the example above and say that Chelsea win 2-0:<\/p>\n

Arsenal 0 vs 2 Chelsea -> Apply the handicap -> Chelsea now theoretically win 1-0, so our bet still lands.<\/p>\n

With these whole number handicaps there are no \u2018pushes\u2019, e.g. stake refunds where the handicap means a draw is the outcome.<\/p>\n

So if Chelsea win 1-0 and we have backed them at the -1 mark, the hypothetical result becomes 0-0. That means our bet loses.<\/p>\n

Asian Handicap<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"AsianThe concept behind Asian handicaps is the same as their traditional counterparts, although the way to work it out is slightly different.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because Asian handicaps introduce fractions into the mix. Most often it will just be +\/- 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, etc. and in this case, it is still fairly simple, but then there are also 0.25 and 0.75 to contend with, and this is where it starts to get a bit confusing.<\/p>\n

Well just stick with us and remember how traditional handicaps work. Now keep that in mind and have a look at the info below, which explains how Asian lines are calculated:<\/p>\n

0.00 Asian Line<\/u><\/p>\n

Match Result: Win | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Draw | Bet Result: Stake Refund<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

+0,+0.50 (often known as +0.25)<\/u><\/p>\n

Match Result: Win | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Draw | Bet Result: Half Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

+0.50 Asian Line<\/u><\/p>\n

Match Result: Win | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Draw | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

+0.50, +1.00 (often known as +0.75)<\/u><\/p>\n

Match Result: Win | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Draw | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose by 1 Goal | Bet Result: Half Lost<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose by 2+ Goals | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

+1.00 Asian Line<\/u><\/p>\n

Match Result: Win | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Draw | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose by 1 Goal | Bet Result: Stake Refund<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose by 2+ Goals | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

And so on.<\/p>\n

-0.00, -0.50 (often known as -0.25)<\/u><\/p>\n

Match Result: Win | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Draw | Bet Result: Half Lose<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

-0.50 Asian Line<\/u><\/p>\n

Match Result: Win | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Draw | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

-0.50, -1.00 (often known as -0.75)<\/u><\/p>\n

Match Result: Win by 2+ Goals| Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Win by 1 Goal | Bet Result: Half Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Draw| Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

-1.00 Asian Line<\/u><\/p>\n

Match Result: Win by 2+ Goals | Bet Result: Win<\/p>\n

Match Result: Win by 1 Goal | Bet Result: Stake Refund<\/p>\n

Match Result: Draw | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

Match Result: Lose | Bet Result: Lost<\/p>\n

There are almost infinite options as far as Asian handicaps go, so if you expect a game to be a really one-sided affair then you can expect Asian lines of +\/- 3.00 or even 4.00.<\/p>\n

Handicap Betting Strategy<\/h2>\n

If you think about the nature of the beast, there are two ways in which handicap betting can be deployed to enhance the value of an event:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. When you think the favourite will win easily.<\/li>\n
  2. When you think the underdog will outperform their odds.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let\u2019s take a look at each in turn:<\/p>\n

    Enhancing a Favourite\u2019s Value<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \"Enhance<\/p>\n

    We\u2019ve all been there; glancing down a list of fixtures and spotting what we consider to be an absolute banker of a bet.<\/p>\n

    Unfortunately, the bookmakers agree with you, and so they price up the event accordingly to basically put you off betting on the favourite.<\/p>\n

    So let\u2019s say Manchester City are playing Swansea. Naturally, City are where the betting money is but their odds of 1\/4 are untouchable for smart punters who seek out value.<\/p>\n

    And this is where the handicaps show their teeth.<\/p>\n

    If we put \u00a310 on City to win the game against Swansea, then our total return will be \u00a312.50 \u2013 that is not what we\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

    So we can peruse the handicap markets and find a few ways to make extra money:<\/p>\n

    Manchester City -1 Handicap vs Swansea at 1\/2 -> \u00a310 returns \u00a315.<\/p>\n

    Manchester City -1.75 Asian Line vs Swansea at 7\/10 -> \u00a310 returns \u00a317.<\/p>\n

    So we\u2019ve found a way to massage extra betting value from the game \u2013 increasing our risk admittedly \u2013 and while the payout doesn\u2019t look much more in isolation, extend that to a whole season\u2019s worth of betting and we can see how utilising handicaps when having a wager on the favourite can work for us.<\/p>\n

    Getting Behind the Underdog<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    \"Underdog\"In a reverse of the above scenario, sometimes we can flick through a fixture list and think \u2018wow, I can\u2019t believe so-and-so are that price against them.\u2019<\/p>\n

    In these instances, punters have a number of options. They can bet the underdog to win the match outright (high risk, high reward), or use a \u2018cover\u2019 market to get them onside such as Draw No Bet or Double Chance (low risk, low reward).<\/p>\n

    The handicap markets offer a decent reward for minimal risk. Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n

    Swansea +2 Handicap vs Man City at 13\/10 -> \u00a310 returns \u00a323<\/p>\n

    Swansea +2.00 Asian Handicap vs Man City at 11\/10 -> \u00a310 returns \u00a321<\/p>\n

    So let\u2019s establish what we have here. We can more than double our outlay based on the assumption that Swansea might <\/em>lose to Man City, but if it\u2019s just by a single goal then our bet will still land.<\/p>\n

    As far as our Asian line is concerned, Swansea can lose by a two-goal margin and our stake will be refunded as the worst case scenario.<\/p>\n

    The key to handicap betting on the underdog is that it enables us to pursue our hunch that a so-called lesser team or player will outperform expectations, and yet from a financial standpoint still minimise our risk. And you can\u2019t say fairer than that.<\/p>\n

    Handicap Betting: The Professional Approach<\/h2>\n

    \"Tips\"It would be simply outstanding if we could all turn our weekend betting into a full time job, but as we all know, adequately sourcing a consistent stream of winners is easier said and done.<\/p>\n

    Of the small band of \u2018professional punters\u2019 out there, the vast majority will have built their empire on Asian handicap betting.<\/p>\n

    Why? Because it enables those in the know to generate excellent returns as compared to those wagering on match winner, goals-based markets, etc. Where else can you bet on a team to lose by a single goal and yet your bet still wins?<\/p>\n

    Here are some quick pointers to maximise your own performance while handicap betting:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Do your homework<\/strong> \u2013 fail to prepare, and you prepare to fail. Make sure all your picks are well researched: injury news, current form, head-to-head records – use all of the data available.<\/li>\n
    • Do consider all the parameters <\/strong>\u2013 consider the bigger picture when hunting down handicap selections. An example would be a team playing away in the Champions League on a Wednesday and then facing a tough game on the Saturday. They may well struggle at the weekend despite the bookmakers suggesting otherwise, and so taking a holistic approach to bet finding is advised.<\/li>\n
    • Don\u2019t look at the odds first <\/strong>\u2013 this might seem a strange notion, but try it. Take a print-out of a set of fixtures and assign each with a scoreline that you think will play out. This should be the basis of your handicap selections; don\u2019t go price chasing.<\/li>\n
    • Do find \u2018faux favourites\u2019<\/strong> \u2013 sometimes the bookmakers get it wrong and price up a favourite at short odds even though they aren\u2019t what we might consider a genuine favourite. The best way to oppose them is to back their opponents with a + handicap mark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Are In-Play Handicap Markets Available?<\/h2>\n

      \"Live\"They are, but here\u2019s the thing; the handicaps are calculated according to the scoreline at that moment in time.<\/p>\n

      So if Team A goes 1-0 up then all of the handicap prices presented by your bookie will be based upon that scoreline. Don\u2019t be fooled into thinking that you\u2019re betting from a 0-0 line.<\/p>\n

      The key strategy here is knowing when to pull the trigger on your bet. Track the match(es) that you want to have a flutter on, and monitor the progress of the game. Who is in the ascendancy? Who is the more likely victor? Have there been any defining moments \u2013 injuries, red cards, etc?<\/p>\n

      The handicap lines are quite fluid in-play, and you will notice these fluctuate as the action unfolds. Timing is everything to ensure you get the very best value.<\/p>\n

      Can I Build Handicap Accumulators?<\/h2>\n

      You can, and in many ways these are a safer proposition than standard match winner accas. As mentioned, you can manage your risk better with handicaps or alternatively generate better odds by backing the favourite with a minus line.<\/p>\n

      A note regarding Asian handicaps: these can include stake refunds or half wins\/losses based upon your selections, so don\u2019t forget that your accumulator payout can alter based upon these outcomes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      If you consider yourself to be part of the betting community, either via the internet or in your local bookies shop, you may have heard the word \u2018handicap\u2019 bandied about and wonder what the Dickens could that possibly mean? In actual fact a handicap is a way of maximising your betting value by adding an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":69,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-357","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/357\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1034,"href":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/357\/revisions\/1034"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/69"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}