Asian Handicap

The Asian handicap splits the bet into just two possible outcomes: one team wins or the other does. The draw drops out as a separate option. This is made possible by half values such as minus 0.5 or plus 1.5. With a handicap of minus 0.5, your bet wins if the team wins the match. A draw is not enough here, because the half point cannot be reached.

Some values are split, for example minus 0.25 or minus 0.75. Your stake is then spread across two neighbouring lines. Depending on the result, one part can win and one part can be refunded. This partial refund is the real hallmark of the Asian handicap and sets it apart from the classic handicap.

With whole lines such as minus one or plus one, there is also the push. If the actual margin exactly matches the line, a draw arises mathematically and you get your full stake back.

You can read more in the guide Bet types at a glance.

The Asian handicap uses a whole range of lines. They repeat in the plus and the minus range. The overview below shows the common values and what they do.

With half lines there is never a draw in the settlement. With whole lines a push is possible, and with split lines a partial refund.

Suppose you stake 20 euros on the Asian handicap minus 0.25 at odds of 1.90. Your stake is spread across two lines, 10 euros each on zero and on minus 0.5. The table shows three scenarios.

You calculate the winning part with payout = part-stake times odds. At 10 euros and odds of 1.90, that gives 19 euros per winning part. In a draw, only one part is lost; the other comes back as stake.

Both bet types give a team a notional head start or deficit. The difference lies in how the draw is treated and how the stake is split. The classic handicap works with whole goals, and in a mathematical draw it only returns your stake. The Asian handicap also uses half and split values.

With a half line such as minus 0.5, there can be no mathematical draw. There is always a clear winner of the bet. With a split line such as minus 0.25, your stake is spread across two neighbouring lines, so in a draw only one part is lost and the other comes back as stake. This fine gradation makes the Asian handicap more flexible, but it also takes more care when you fill in the slip.

At the betting shop, the staff will gladly help you choose the right line if you are unsure. For getting started, the classic handicap is the better choice, because its settlement is easier to follow.

The Asian handicap is more flexible than the classic handicap, but it is harder to read. Once you understand the lines, you can control your risk very precisely.

• Advantage: no draw risk with half lines, so there is always a winner of the bet
• Advantage: the partial refund with split lines lowers the risk
• Advantage: with whole lines, the push protects your stake

• Disadvantage: the way the stake is split is hard for beginners to grasp
• Disadvantage: the odds are often close to 1.90, and so lower than on pure underdog tips
• Disadvantage: settlement takes a close look at the chosen line

Before placing the bet, be clear about which value applies and whether it is a half, whole or split line. That determines whether, in a draw, your stake comes back, comes back in half or is lost. Don't confuse a half line with a split line, because only with the split line is your stake spread across two values. If in doubt, check at the terminal how a particular final score would be settled before you hand in the slip. This bet type suits experienced users who already know the different lines. Only stake what you can afford to lose. Play responsibly. Gambling is only permitted from the age of 18 (21 in Bremen).