Asian Handicap Tutorial

Betting with Asian Handicaps is actually very easy - once you know how!

The easiest way we think about Asian Odds is that one team is given a start over the other side. It's a bit like letting your younger brother have a 5 goal lead to begin with in backyard soccer.

So let's say Arsenal is given a 0.5 start against Manchester United. If you bet on Manchester United, then you will only win if Manchester United win by more than 0.5 goal - i.e., by 1 or more goals. Since Arsenal starts with a 0.5 lead, you only need the match to be drawn - or Arsenal to win - in order for a bet on Arsenal to win.

As another example, if Italy were given 1.5 goal start against England, then a winning bet on England would require England to win by 2 or more gaols. A bet on Italy would win if England won by 1 goal, the match is drawn, or Italy win the match. It is easy to see how the introduction of ½ goal starts has eliminated the possibility of draws.

With Asian Handicap Betting, not every bet is a winning or losing bet. Sometimes there is a "push" where you get your money back (watch out for Sportsbooks that take a commission out of your returned stake). The "push" can only occur when the handicap start is a whole number, i.e, 0, 1, 2, 3 etc. So if the handicap is set at 0, and the teams draw the match, then a push occurs.

As another example, if Arsenal is given a 1 goal start against Man Utd, and Man Utd win 1-0 (or 2-1 or 3-2), then every bet is a push.

Sometimes, your SportsBook might create what, in effect, is two bets out of the one Asian Handicap Line. They do this by offering ¼, ¾, 1¼ (etc) lines. To work out what the two different bets actually are, you simply subtract ¼ from the line to get the first handicap, and add ¼ to the line to get the second handicap. For example, if Arsenal were given a 0.25 start against Man Utd, then that is effectively one bet on a 0 handicap (0.25 - ¼), and one bet on a 0.5 handicap (0.25 + ¼)

For ¼ handicaps, half of your stake is applied to each bet in order to work out your winnings. So if one bet wins, you receive half your stake multiplied by the odds. If both bets win, you receive your full stake multiplied by the odds. If either of the bets is a push, you receive half your stake back for that bet.

Below is a table that shows the various formats of displaying the Asian Handicap Lines, and what they mean. Keep in mind that any Asian Handicap with a ¼ or ¾ line in it, means there are effectively two bets. You must subtract ¼ to get the first bet, and add ¼ to get the second bet.

Format 1	Format 2	Description
Man Utd vs Arsenal (0 : 0)	Man Utd (0) vs Arsenal (0)	Neither team has a start. If the team you bet on wins, your bet wins. If the match is drawn, a push results and your stake is returned. If the team you bet on loses, your bet loses.
Man Utd vs Arsenal (0 : ¼) or (0 : 0,½)	Man Utd (-0.25) vs Arsenal (+0.25)	Arsenal has a ¼ goal start. To get the first bet, subtract a ¼, and the line is (0 : 0). To get the second bet, add a ¼, and the line is (0 : ½) or Man Utd (-0.5), Arsenal (+0.5) Half your stake is applied to each bet. Case 1: Man Utd Win by any margin If you bet on Man Utd, then both bets will win (since even a 1 goal win covers Arsenal's points start). Well done. If you bet on Arsenal, then both bets will lose, since Man Utds margin of victory is greater than Arsenal's 0 or 0.5 goal start. Ooopsie. Case 2: The match is drawn Regardless of who you bet on, the first bet (0 : 0) is a push and half your stake is refunded. If you bet on Arsenal, then your second bet (0 : ½) wins, and you receive half your stake multiplied by the odds. *Excellent*. If you bet on Man Utd, then your second bet (0 : ½) loses as Arsenal have the ½ goal start. D'oh! Case 3: Arsenal win by any margin If you bet on Man Utd, then you definitely lose your full stake since Arsenal had the start to begin with. Major Bummer dude. If you bet on Arsenal, then both your bets will win since Arsenal had a start to begin with, and increased it even more. You beauty!
Man Utd vs Arsenal (0 : ½)	Man Utd (-0.5) vs Arsenal (+0.5)	Arsenal has a ½ goal start. Case 1: Man Utd Win by any margin If you bet on Man Utd, then your bet will win (since even a 1 goal win covers Arsenal's ½ goal start). Brilliant. If you bet on Arsenal, then your bet will lose, since Man Utds margin of victory is greater than Arsenal's 0.5 goal start. #$*@*!@#. Case 2: The match is drawn If you bet on Man Utd, then your bet loses, because Arsenal are ½ ahead courtesy of their start. If you bet on Arsenal, then your bet wins for the same reason. Case 3: Arsenal win by any margin If you bet on Man Utd, then you definitely lose your full stake since Arsenal had the start to begin with. Unlucky. If you bet on Arsenal, then your bet will win since Arsenal had a start to begin with, and increased it even more. Hip Hip Hooray!
Man Utd vs Arsenal (0 : ¾) or (0 : ½,1)	Man Utd (-0.75) vs Arsenal (+0.75)	Arsenal has a ¾ goal start. To get the first bet, subtract a ¼, and the line is (0 : ½) or Man Utd (-0.5), Arsenal (+0.5). To get the second bet, add a ¼, and the line is (0 : 1) or Man Utd (-1), Arsenal (+1) Half your stake is applied to each bet. Case 1: Man Utd Win by 1 goal Regardless of who you bet on, the second bet (0 : 1) is a push, and half your stake is returned. If you bet on Man Utd, then the first bet (0: ½) will win (since a 1 goal win covers Arsenal's ½ goal start). Booya! If you bet on Arsenal, then the first bet (0: ½) will lose for the same reason. Which game are you watching ref? Case 2: Man Utd Win by 2 or more goals If you bet on Man Utd, then both bets will win (since a 2 goal win covers Arsenal's points start). Oh yeah, ah huh. If you bet on Arsenal, then both bets will lose, since Man Utds margin of victory is greater than Arsenal's 0.5 or 1 goal start. Grrrr. Case 3: The match is drawn, or Arsenal win If you bet on Man Utd, then both your bets lose as Arsenal have a head start on both lines. Wo-wo-woeful. If you bet on Arsenal, then both your bets win for the same reason. Eat My Shorts!
Man Utd vs Arsenal (0 : 1)	Man Utd (-1) vs Arsenal (+1)	Arsenal has a 1 goal start. Case 1: Man Utd Win by 1 goal Regardless of who you bet on, the bet is a push, and your stake is returned. Case 2: Man Utd Win by 2 or more goals If you bet on Man Utd, then your bet will win (since a 2 goal win covers Arsenal's 1 goal start). Somebody stop me! If you bet on Arsenal, then your bet will lose, since Man Utds margin of victory is greater than Arsenal's 1 goal start. Tell it to the hand. Case 3: The match is drawn, or Arsenal win If you bet on Man Utd, then your bet loses as Arsenal have a head start. You're kiddin' aren't ya? If you bet on Arsenal, then your bet wins for the same reason. Ripper mate.
Man Utd vs Arsenal (0 : 1¼) or (0 : 1,1½)	Man Utd (-1.25) vs Arsenal (+1.25)	Arsenal has a 1¼ goal start. To get the first bet, subtract a ¼, and the line is (0 : 1) or Man Utd (-1), Arsenal (+1). To get the second bet, add a ¼, and the line is (0 : 1½) or Man Utd (-1.5), Arsenal (+1.5) Half your stake is applied to each bet. Case 1: Man Utd Win by 1 goal Regardless of who you bet on, the first bet (0 : 1) is a push, and half your stake is returned. If you bet on Man Utd, then the second bet (0: 1½) will lose (since a 1 goal win doesn't cover Arsenal's 1½ goal start). Give yourself an uppercut. If you bet on Arsenal, then the second bet (0: 1½) will win for the same reason. Lovely Dovely! Case 2: Man Utd Win by 2 or more goals If you bet on Man Utd, then both bets will win (since a 2 goal win covers Arsenal's points start). If you bet on Arsenal, then both bets will lose, since Man Utds margin of victory is greater than Arsenal's 1 or 1.5 goal start. Case 3: The match is drawn, or Arsenal win If you bet on Man Utd, then both your bets lose as Arsenal have a head start on both lines. If you bet on Arsenal, then both your bets win for the same reason.
Man Utd vs Arsenal (¼ : 0) or (0,½ : 0)	Man Utd (+0.25) vs Arsenal (-0.25)	Man Utd has a ¼ goal start. The bets are the opposite to Arsenal having a ¼ goal start.
Man Utd vs Arsenal (½ : 0)	Man Utd (+0.5) vs Arsenal (-0.5)	Man Utd has a ½ goal start. The bets are the opposite to Arsenal having a ½ goal start.
Man Utd vs Arsenal (¾ : 0) or (½,1 : 0)	Man Utd (+0.75) vs Arsenal (-0.75)	Man Utd has a ¾ goal start. The bets are the opposite to Arsenal having a ¾ goal start.
Man Utd vs Arsenal (1 : 0)	Man Utd (+1) vs Arsenal (-1)	Man Utd has a 1 goal start. The bets are the opposite to Arsenal having a 1 goal start.
Man Utd vs Arsenal (1¼ : 0) or (1,1½ : 0)	Man Utd (+1.25) vs Arsenal (-1.25)	Man Utd has a 1¼ goal start. The bets are the opposite to Arsenal having a 1¼ goal start.