Asian Handicap

Asian Handicap Explained

As the name recommends, wagering on football using Asian Handicaps is especially prominent in the Far East, though it remains not so popular in the rest of the world. Moreover, the Asian Handicap market offers better value in comparison with the other football markets. Thus, a higher chance of profit over long-term is guaranteed.

It is not an amazing fact that the “ordinary” punter usually avoids using Asian Handicap services. It is not very easy to deal with ultimately new concepts such as ‘quarter’ or ‘half goals’, that is for sure. At that point when it happens to deal with coefficients such as Bolton – 0.25 or Nottingham Forest +0.75, it is quite predictable that numerous bettors will wager on more direct and well-known selections – 1×2, Overs or Both Teams To Score.

Compared to specific range of terminology, Asian Handicap can even seem not so complicated to understand. In fact, the bookmakers gives a disadvantage (handicap) to the team which is thought to be the obvious favourite, or the stronger one, and an advantage to the team that is considered as the underdog (or the weaker one).

Most importantly Asian Handicap is displayed as quarter, half or full goals and is either positive or negative (it depends whether it is a favourite or underdog). For example, +1,5AH is a bet that gives a goal and a half  advantage to the underdog, meanwhile -1,0AH states that the favourite starts the game one goal down before the kick-off.. The punter is left with the choice of either support the favourite to score more than the handicap or to back the underdog to keep their artificial advantage.

There are three various types of Asian Handicaps which are clarified in detail beneath:

The Full Goal Asian Handicap

The full goal Asian Handicap uses an entire number to give the underdog a head start and the favourite a disadvantage. For instance, +1, +2, +3 (positive values) are given to the weaker team, whereas negative values  (-1, -2, -3) are given to the stronger one.

The full goal Asian Handicap includes three possible outcomes – you could win, lose or have your stake returned. Each of them depends on the outcome of the match.

But let us give you a simple example of how exactly this works. A random bookmaker gives -1/+1 Asian Handicap line for the Spanish division game between Barcelona and Valencia. Probably some of you already know that the Catalonians have one goal disadvantage (because they are the favourite) and the Bats have one goal advantage (because they are the underdog).

Perhaps you would like to wager on Barcelona -1 AH at coefficient, let’s say 1.90, in this case you will need a win with more than one goal in order to secure a profit. In case Catalonians won only by 1 goal difference, you will have your stake refunded. Unfortunately if Valencia wins, you will remain with empty hands losing your money.

Quite the opposite, is in case when you bet on Valencia +1 AH at 3.30, you will make a profit unless The Bats lost by a two goal. A win or draw for Valencia mean win, in  case they lost by one goal margin, your stake will be returned.

One of the biggest advantages of using Asian Handicap is associated with the attractive opportunity to have your stake returned. The team you are backing may lose the match but you would not be out of pocket. Thus, you decrease your chances of losing in comparison with the straight betting selections(1×2).

It is essential and very important to reveal that Asian Handicap of ‘0’ is also an alternative. The distinction here however is that if your team wins, you win, the draw has been excluded, so if the match closes in a draw, your stake is returned. This is precisely the same as the Draw No Bet alternative which bookmakers likewise offer.

Half Goal Asian Handicap

As the name recommends, the half goal Asian Handicap works with half goal values to give the underdog a head start while disadvantaging the stronger team. The underdog is given a positive half goal lead, e.g. +0.5, +1.5, +2.5, and the favourite  is given a negative artificial disadvantage, e.g. – 0.5, – 1.5, – 2.5.

In comparison with the Full Asian Handicaps (3 outcomes are possible – win, loss , returned stake), the half goal Asian Handicap represents just two outcomes – win or loss. You may looked confused and embarrassed but the reason is quite obvious – a team cannot score half a goal, therefore ‘the draw’ is excluded.

To make things clearer, let’s follow the example below to see how exactly this type of Asian Handicap works. A random bookmaker shows +1.5/-1.5 AH line in the Bundesliga clash between Leverkusen and Bayern. If you intent to wager on Leverkusen +1.5 (random coefficient 2.20), you would be hope the Aspirins to hold their +1.5 advantage. This means that they should not lose by two or more goals.

On the other side, in case you are betting on Bayern -1.5, you are expecting a win by two or more goals. If Leverkusen manage to win or draw, you will lose your money , as well as a Bayern win with just one goal margin. The latter may look a little confusing and elaborate to comprehend, because although you are backing a team which won the match, you are still a loser as you need to cover the handicap line.

Quarter Goal Asian Handicap

The quarter goal Asian Handicap represents values of a quarter to change the beginning of the match. As usual, the underdog gets a positive advantage of a quarter, e.g. +0.25, +0.75, +1.25, while the stronger team receives a negative quarter goal disadvantage, e.g. – 0.25, – 0.75, – 1.25. The quarter goal Asian Handicap is composed as a fraction (+0.25, +0.75, +1.25…) or it can be presented with two numbers(0, +0.5 or -1.00, -1.50).

The transition between fractions and two-numbered value is very easy to understand. For example, -0.25 is absolutely the same as 0.00;-0,50, and +1.25 means the same as +1.00;+1.50. It depends on bookies’ preferences which presentation of the Quarter Asian Handicap to choose.

The quarter goal is frequently found as the most difficult of the Asian Handicaps to comprehend mainly because it takes ideas from both the full goal and half goal Asian Handicaps. It is splitting the stake in two separate that makes most of the bettors wondering how to calculate their potential profits and how to use it at all . So for instance, +1.25 is the same as +1.00, +1.50, so half of your stake would go on the lower esteem (+1.00) and the other half going on the higher esteem (+1.50). The wager is then keep running as two separate wagers before being consolidated and settled as one.

We should emphasize on the more possible outcomes that exist here – a win, a loss, a half win or a half loss. Obviously a ‘win’ means both of your stakes are winning, on the other site – a ‘loss’ – the two stakes losing. The new concept here – a ‘half win’ – means one stake winning, the other is returned, while a ‘half loss’ implies that one of the two columns of your stake is losing , the other is refunded.

Let’s follow the example below to make things a little more easier to understand – Ajax are facing Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie Derby as the Asian Handicap Line represents values -0.75/+0.75. Have in mind these numbers are the same as -0.50; -1.00 and +0.50;+1.00.

If you are backing Ajax on AH – 0.75 at 2.00 coefficient, you will be expecting a win with  two or more goal to double your money (have 2 columns winning). Of course, you can still make a profit – if Ajax won just by one goal as the -0.50 column is a winning one and the second column – 1.00 makes your stake refunded (see the Full Goal Asian Handicap to revise its fundamentals).

In case you raise your bet on Feyenoord on AH+0.75 at 2.00 coefficient, you will demand Feyenoord to secure a win or a draw.  Moreover, a loss by one goal is among the best of the worst outcomes, because -0.50 is a loss but the -1.00 means half of your stake will be returned (known as half-loss).

Asian Goal Line

Asian Goal Line is another  wide-spread alternative for wagering which is known for  scoring of certain number of goals. The curious fact here is that there are always two final outcomes – OVER and UNDER goals. As part of the Asian Betting Selections, you still have the opportunity to have your stake refunded(see Asian Handicap detailed description above). Some of the betting options may sound familiar to you – goals, perhaps half-goals, but you can still have the choice to bet on quarter-goals(2 column bet). Let us give you some examples what profit could you expect in each kind of Asian Goal Line Selections and the possible final outcomes:

ASIAN GOAL LINE OVER 1

Obviously, this is a type of bet where you expect more than 1 goal to be scored. In case the game ends with only one goal scored, you will have your stake returned. If the result is goalless (0-0), you will lose your money. The best option for you is to see 2 or more goals scored. This is one of the easiest to comprehend Asian Goal Line Selection. The same rules are in force for the Asian Goal Line Over 2,3 and etc.

ASIAN GOAL LINE OVER 1.25 ( 1;1.5 )

In this alternative of the Asian Line is little more difficult mainly because you are betting on 2 columns –over 1 goal and over 1,5 goals (have a look at the detailed explanation of Quarter Goal Asian Handicap) combined in one single stake. The possible outcomes are :in case of no goals – you lose, one goal scored – (half-lose, the over 1 goal column returns your stake, the win requires 2 or more goals to be scored). The same rules are applied for the Asian Goal Line Over 2,25, Asian Goal Line Over 3,25 etc.

ASIAN GOAL LINE OVER 1.5

This alternative is equal to  the ordinary Over 1.5 goals. You are demanding at least 2 goals in the match. 0 or 1 goal scored mean you lose.

ASIAN GOAL LINE OVER 1.75 ( 1.5;2 )

As you find in this alternative you again wager on 2  sections – the first column goes on over 1,5 goals and the second on over 2 goals. Three outcomes are possible – loss (in case of 0 or 1 goal scored), half-win (you need at least 2 goals scored to have the first column winning, and the second will return your stake), you can chase a flawless win, if there are 3 or more goals in the match. The sum rules are applied for Asian Goal Line Over 2,75, Asian Goal Line Over 3,75 and etc. For more detailed information, please find the Quarter Goal Asian Handicap Section in the article above.

ASIAN GOAL LINE UNDER 1

This is  a type of bet in which you expect a goalless draw, or no goals in the match. In case only one goal is scored, you have your stake returned due to the Asian Line. If the final whistle blows and the result is 0:0, your stake is winning. In case 2 or more goals are scored, you will be completely out of the pocket. It is one of the easiest Asian Betting Selections to perceive. The same rules are applied for Asian Goal Line Under 2, Asian Goal Line Under 3 and etc.

ASIAN GOAL LINE UNDER 1.25 ( 1;1.5 )

In this alternative of the Asian Line is little more difficult mainly because you are betting on 2 columns – under 1 goal and under 1,5 goals (have a look at the detailed explanation of Quarter Goal Asian Handicap) combined in one single stake. The possible outcomes are : you secure a win in case of and endless draw (0 goals), you have a half-win with 1 goal scored (1,5 column s winning, the under 1 goal column returns your stake). You are losing if there are 2 or more goals scored in the match. The same rules are applied for the Asian Goal Line Under 2,25, Asian Goal Line Under 3,25 etc.

ASIAN GOAL LINE UNDER 1.5

This alternative is equal to  the ordinary Under 1.5 goals. You are demanding less than 2 goals in the match. You win with 0 or 1 goal scored in the match. 2 goals scored mean you are losing.

ASIAN GOAL LINE UNDER 1.75 ( 1.5;2 )

As you find in this alternative you again wager on 2  sections – the first column goes on under 1,5 goals and the second on under 2 goals. Three outcomes are possible – win (in case of 0 or 1 goal scored), half-lose (if there are 2 goals scored, the second column returns your stake as the lower one – 1,5 is losing). Yo are losing if there are 3 or more goals scored after the final whistle blows. The sum rules are applied for Asian Goal Line Under 2,75, Asian Goal Line Under 3,75 and etc. For more detailed information, please find the Quarter Goal Asian Handicap Section in the article above.

You are craving for deeper knowledge of Football betting? Please, have a look at the other sections of your Bettor’s Manual – 10 Rules for Football Betting, Betting Dictionary, Types of Odds.

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