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ASIAN HANDICAP

We've all met asian handicap (also known as Hang Cheng), even if it was in a very simple form. Every handicap which ends in 1/2 or .5, for example Bayern -1.5), and every under / over bet, are actually asian handicaps. The main advantage of AH is elimination of a draw, and therefore, only two bets exist. Mathematically, the chance to win is increased from 33% (three possible outcomes) to 50% (two possible outcomes). Even though it may sound a bit complicated at first, AH isn't that hard to play. Some rules should be memorised. Half number (0.5, 1.5...) - two possible outcomes. Full number (0, 1, 2...) - possible return of stake. Quarter number (0.25, 0.75, 1.25...) - many combinations are possible.

Asian handicap (0) means that no one is the favorite, and the draw is eliminated from the bet. We can only place a bet on one of the two teams, and in case of a draw we get our stake back, regardless of our bet. This handicap is also known as "draw no bet" or DNB. This bet will appear when the opponents are tightly matched, although some bookies will offer AH (0) even when there's a clear favorite. In that case, the odds will be very low, of course.

Score Home Away
  0 0
0:0 100% of stake returned 100% of stake returned
1:0 Win Lose
0:1 Lose Win
2:0 Win Lose
0:2 Lose Win
1:1, 2:2, itd... 100% of stake returned 100% of stake returned

 

Asian handicap (-0.25) means that, in case of a draw, 50% of stake can be lost (when betting on the favorite) or 50% can be gained (when betting on the underdog). Therefore, the quarter handicap is better suited for betting on underdogs, but also very good for playing on favorites as 50% of stake may be returned even if the bet was, realistically speaking, wrong. This bet will appear when one of the teams is a slight favorite. This handicap actually consists of two handicaps, 0 and 0.5, and the stake is divided equally between the two. That's why the 50% win / lose outcomes are possible.

Score Home Away
  -0.25 +0.25
0:0 50% of stake lost Odds x 50% of stake
1:0 Win Lose
0:1 Lose Win
2:0 Win Lose
0:2 Lose Win
1:1, 2:2, itd... 50% of stake lost Odds x 50% of stake

 

Asian handicap (-0.5) is a handicap with which most players are familiar with, as it's the same as european handicap, although some european handicaps on full number may have three outcomes. Only two outcomes are possible with this AH, a draw is eliminated. This bet will appear in soccer when the favorite's win is equally probable as the draw and the underdog win combined. This bet is also used for over / under betting.

Score Home Away
  -0.5 +0.5
0:0 Lose Win
1:0 Win Lose
0:1 Lose Win
2:0 Win Lose
0:2 Lose Win
1:1, 2:2, itd... Lose Win

 

Asian handicap (-0.75), just like all other quarter handicaps, consists of two handicaps (0.5 and 1). Unlike the quarter handicap, the three quarter handicap isn't good for betting on underdogs. Although he's rewarded with a big handicap, the underdog still has to at least draw to make the bet a winning one (in case of a 1-goal or 1-point defeat, half of the stake is returned). Favorite, on the other hand, has to win by 2-point margin in order to make the bet a winning one (in case of a 1-point win half of the stake is returned, and the other half is multiplied by the odds. A very strange handicap indeed, and the bookies love to offer it as it's very hard to beat the house here. Things may go as you predicted and you still wouldn't see it on your bank account.

Score Home Away
  -0.75 +0.75
0:0 Lose Win
1:0 Odds x 50% of stake 50% of stake lost
0:1 Lose Win
2:0 Win Lose
0:2 Lose Win
1:1, 2:2, itd... Lose Win

 

Asian handicap (-1) will return the stake in case the favorite wins by 1-point margin - unlike the european three-way handicap which will not. All asian handicaps on full number are like this, including the AH (0) which also returns full stake, but in case of a draw. This handicap will actually return stakes on both sides of the bet if the favorite wins by the exact number offered by the handicap.

Rezultat Domaćin Gost
  -1 +1
0:0 Lose Win
1:0 100% of stake returned 100% of stake returned
0:1 Lose Win
2:0 Win Lose
0:2 Lose Win
1:1, 2:2, itd... Lose Win

 

Of course, all these handicaps may be increased, depending on the sport and the difference between the two opponents. AH -17.0 on a basketball game will behave the same as 0 or -1 handicap, with a bigger margin between the opponents. Likewise, AH -2.25 will still theoretically be better suited for playing on the underdog, and AH -3.75 will still be a handicap on which it's very hard to make a profit.

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