Asian Handicap Definition
There is no simple explanation of the term “Asian Handicap”.
Asian Handicap is a betting system that seeks to take the “advantage” away from the “stronger” team. The stronger team is as such “at a disadvantage” in the literal sense of the word, giving the supposedly weaker opponent an imaginary advantage when the game begins. This, in theory, would balance any advantage or disadvantage, and increase the chances of both teams winning the Asian Handicap by 50-50%.
Who does the handicap?
Betting shops. While no one can be sure how bookmakers arrive at certain handicaps and odds, the general belief is that bookmakers analyze each game based on the history of these matchups; news involving both teams before a match in relation to injuries, internal club affairs, etc.; home field advantage; the performances of the home team and the away team when playing at home and away; the current form of each team as a whole; the current form of the key players on each team; And the list goes on. It is true that these factors play an important role in determining handicaps and odds, but the other side of the coin is one that not many people think about, and that is the “mind games” side. The point of all this, for the bookies of course, is to make a profit on any game where they offer Asian Handicap as a betting option. To accomplish this, many elements will be in play, including “Which path would bettors take if a certain disadvantage was put on the market?” If punters are expected to go in one obvious direction, bookmakers may need to come up with a strategy to influence them. For example, Manchester United play Hull City: the hypothetical expected handicap is -2, which means that Hull City enters the game with a 2-goal lead. Bookies may not take the obvious route, but instead go for the -1.5 handicap. An unexpected handicap would send the Asian handicap betting world into a frenzy: “What does this mean, do bookmakers have information that punters don’t?”; “Are there missing news punters?”; “This handicap is wrong, this handicap is suspect. I should bet against the favorites (ie Manchester United) today!” Interesting dynamic at play, don’t you think?
Various Asian Handicaps
Level: the 0:0 handicap, which means that both teams are difficult to separate on paper and as such neither team enters the match with a handicap in their favor or disadvantage. This is the simplest of all disabilities. If Chelsea take on Manchester United, a level handicap means that in the event of a tie, punters backing either team will get their bets back. If Chelsea win, bettors on Chelsea win. If Manchester United win, Manchester United punters win.
¼: the Quarter handicap, also known as “Middle Level” in Asian countries. This handicap divides the bet between the next closest ¼ intervals. This is best illustrated with an example. Let’s say John places a $10 bet on Chelsea on the -¼ handicap against Liverpool. The ¼ handicap means that John’s $10 bet is split into 2 bets, ie the $5 Chelsea bet with the Level handicap (described above) and the $5 Chelsea bet with the ½ handicap. Did you get all that? Now let’s confuse it a bit more. If the payout, or odds, for Chelsea at -¼ is 1.90, and Chelsea and Liverpool tie, then John lost nothing on the $5 bet on Chelsea at the level handicap. However, John lost the $5 bet on Chelsea on the ½ handicap. In total, John lost $5.
½: the Half handicap, also known as “Half Ball” in Asian countries. This disadvantage is simple. Because a team cannot score half a goal, the result of a match in the Asian Handicap will never be a draw when it comes to a half handicap. Simple illustration, if Chelsea “gives” the ½ handicap to Tottenham, that means Tottenham enters the game half a goal ahead, ie Chelsea 0 – ½ Tottenham. If Chelsea wins the match, Chelsea wins the Asian Handicap, meaning the bettors on Chelsea win. If Chelsea draw (or lose, obviously) the match, Chelsea loses on the Asian Handicap, meaning bettors on Chelsea lose their entire bet.
¾: the three-quarter handicap, also known as “Half Ball One Ball” in Asian countries. This handicap divides the bet between the next closest ¼ intervals. This is best illustrated with an example. Let’s say John places a $10 bet on Chelsea with a -¾ handicap against Everton. Handicap ¾ means John’s $10 bet is split into 2 bets, i.e. the $5 bet on Chelsea with ½ handicap (described above) and the $5 bet on Chelsea with 1 handicap. If the payout, or odds, for Chelsea at ¾ is 2.00, and Chelsea beat Everton 1-0, then John will not He lost nothing on the $5 bet on Chelsea with the 1 handicap. However, John won the $5 bet on Chelsea with the ½ handicap. In total, John earned $5.
1: the One handicap, also known as “One Ball” in Asian countries. By this stage, you should be familiar with the whole concept of Asian Handicap, so I would imagine it’s relatively straightforward. If Chelsea “gives” the 1 handicap to Portsmouth, that means that Portsmouth enters the match with a direct 1 goal lead. If Chelsea win by 1 goal (ie 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3, etc.), there is a break-even point. Bets will be returned to bettors. If Chelsea win by 2 goals or more, Chelsea punters win. If Chelsea draw (or lose), Chelsea bettors lose.
Popularity
Although the name “Asian Handicap” might suggest that this betting system is only popular in Asian countries, the truth is far from it. Europe based bookies are now starting to offer Asian Handicap called “Line Bets” and it is based on the same concept. While Asian Handicap is primarily associated with soccer, it has now gained popularity in other sports as well, primarily basketball (for example, favorite teams “give” points to weaker teams), tennis (for example, favorite players “give” games or sets to weaker players), National Hockey League (which is similar to soccer), and so on.
End of article: this is the original work of mine, Fate85. All rights reserved.