What is Asian Handicap betting?

What is Asian Handicap betting?

Asian Handicap (or Hang Cheng) is a form of football betting which endeavours to level up the chances of two teams in a match by "handicapping” the perceived superior team for betting purposes. The perceived weaker team is given a theoretical head start on which basis betting takes place, with the odds on the two teams brought closer together.

There are really two types of Asian Handicaps – those with a single handicap (e.g. –½) and those with two handicaps (e.g. -½, 1). The latter reflects the fact that you are really placing two bets, each worth half your stake.

We will start this explanation with the most straightforward handicaps, the ½ goal handicaps.

Liverpool (-1/2) v Chelsea (+1/2)

The market is written as above. This means that Chelsea, the away team, has a 1/2 goal start over Liverpool. If Chelsea win or draw the match, the fact that they receive a 1/2 goal handicap start means that all bets placed on Chelsea will be winners. If Liverpool win the match, then all bets placed on Liverpool will be winners and all bets placed on Chelsea will be losers.

Liverpool (-1½) v Chelsea (+1½)

This market gives Chelsea a 1½ goal start over Liverpool. If Liverpool win the match by two goals or more, then all bets on Liverpool are winners. If Chelsea win, draw OR LOSE BY ONE GOAL, then all bets on Chelsea are winners.

Sometimes the two teams are perceived as being evenly matched. This is represented on the handicap as follows:

Liverpool (level) v Chelsea (level)

If the match is drawn, ALL STAKES WILL BE RETURNED. If Liverpool win, all bets on Liverpool are winners. If Chelsea win, all bets on Chelsea are winners.

A similar settlement comes into effect with a one-goal handicap, represented as follows:

Liverpool (-1) v Chelsea (+1)

This market gives Chelsea a one-goal start over Liverpool. If Chelsea win or if the game is drawn, backers of Chelsea will be winners. If Liverpool win by two goals or more, backers of Liverpool will win. If Liverpool win by exactly one goal, all stakes will be returned, and all bets are effectively void.

Where the handicap includes a ½ (e.g. –1/2, +1½, -2½), there can be no draw outcome. Backers of one team will win while backers of the other team will lose.

Where the handicap includes a whole number (e.g. 0, +1, -2), there can be a draw outcome, in which case there is no winner and no loser, and stakes are returned.

Let us now look at examples where there are two handicaps. What this means is that half your stake is placed at one handicap and half at the other.

Liverpool (-0, ½) v Chelsea (+0, ½)

This handicap actually represents two bets – half your stake at the 0, or level, handicap and half your stake at the ½ goal handicap. So, if you back Chelsea and the game ends in a draw, half your stake will be returned to you in settlement of the 0, or level, handicap while the other half is a successful bet at +1/2 and will be settled as a winner. For Liverpool backers, if the game ends in a draw, half their stake will be returned at the 0, or level, handicap, while the other half is a loser at the –1/2 handicap.

Liverpool (-1/2, 1) v Chelsea (+1/2, 1)

Here, your bet will be split equally over the ½ and 1 goal handicaps. So, if you back Chelsea, and Liverpool beat Chelsea by one goal, half of your stake will be returned in settlement of the +1 goal handicap, while the other half is an unsuccessful bet at +1/2 and will be settled as a loser. For Liverpool backers, if Liverpool win by one goal, half their stake will be returned on the -1 goal handicap while half will be a winner on the –1/2 goal handicap.