Analysis of One of the Most Ancient Types of Bets

Handicaps – very popular in betting shops, you can meet them absolutely in all betting companies. But for beginners in the world of betting, it can be difficult to understand their principle and to set priorities correctly. Let’s consider what are the main types of bets on handicaps.

Plus handicap

All bookmakers bet a positive handicap on one of the teams, if there should be a duel of different strength rivals. This is done to enable the betters to make a profit, since the odds for a net win (Home or Away) are close to 1.00.

Let us examine in detail what a positive handicap means, when it is worth betting on it, consider the pros and cons.

Read more about the plus handicap

On the sites of betting companies you can find another designation of the term – positive (plus) handicap. That is, when calculating the final result of the meeting to the team goals (points, pucks), the handicap is added, which can be expressed as a decimal (+0.5; +5.5) or as an integer (+1; +10). A handicap with multiples of 0.5 is the so-called Asian handicap.

Handicaps – points that are given to an outsider so that he can compete on equal footing with the leader.

But there are also multiples of 0.25 (+1.75; +3.25) – this is a double Asian handicap. Integer numbers are generally denoted European handicap, but Asian can also have integer values.

For example, with the odds of +15, you can visually imagine that the fight begins with the score 15:0. The second team needs to score at least 16 points so that the virtual account leans towards her and the bet does not pass. Usually, the handicap is added after the match, the result of the favorite is left unchanged.

Differences from minus handicap

A positive handicap is given only to outsiders. And for the favorites of the competition bookmakers bet a negative handicap. This means that they take away the odds from the points of a stronger opponent. For example, when its value is -0.5, the leader must score one point more than the outsider in order for the bet to play. With the score 1:0, he will be ahead of the opponent by 0.5 points (1-0.5 = 0.5).

Negative handicap can be expressed in whole and fractional numbers, as well as positive. The only difference is in the sign in front of the number. A small plus handicap helps to hedge when players compete for a victory, among which it is difficult to distinguish a clear leader and outsider. And with a minus, it is appropriate to bet, if the favorite is much stronger than an outsider.

Examples of bets on a plus handicap

Best of all you can learn to consider a positive handicap on a clear example:

1. Two teams are playing, the first one is Home (+3) – three odds points. We make a bet on it. The competition ended with a score of 0:2. From this it is clear that our team lost, but there is still a handicap, which we did not take into account. We calculate 0 + 3 = 3. New outcome 3:2, bet played.
2. The conditions are the same as in the first example, but the game ended with a score of 0:3. As a result of calculations we see that 0 + 3 = 3, therefore, we have a 3:3 draw. In this case, the betting company will return the bet to us, but only if it practices placing the Asian handicap. European Handicap bets will not be refunded.
3. Two athletes compete, on the second the bookmaker offers +5.5. The presence of a half-handicap suggests that there cannot be a draw. The competition ended with the score 7:2, we see that the first athlete won, but after adding the handicap (2 + 5.5 = 7.5), the result changes 7:7.5. The bet wins. But if the first athlete had scored more points (at least one), then we would have lost.

Plus handicap in football

Football betting ranks first in popularity in betting companies. All football championships of the BS offer bets with a handicap. Usually its numerical value is not too big: from +0.5 to +3, since matches rarely end in a crushing score (6:0; 5:1; 7:1).

In football, you can bet not only on the outcome of the competition, but also on the statistics: the number of goals scored by both clubs, the number of fouls and corners, etc. The statistics also accept bets with a handicap.

Plus handicap in tennis

Tennis betting with a handicap has its own characteristics. Handicap can be offered on games and on sets. Since the games in the game are usually more than 10, the numerical value can be +3, +5, +8 or another fractional, or an integer number ranging from 1 to 8. In betting on sets, bookmakers do not offer more than 0.5-1 points odds since the number of sets can be either 3 or 5.

A simple example. In the semifinals of the Shenzhen Gemdale Open, Alison Risk played with Maria Sharapova. At Risk, the bookmakers offered to bet with a handicap of +4 (odds1.88). We bet on the American tennis player $100. The outcome of the meeting: 6:4, 2:6, 3:6. We count by games: 6 + 2 + 3 = 11 (Risk), 4 + 6 + 6 = 16 (Sharapova). We add the handicap: 11 + 4 = 15, the final result is 15:16. The bet of $100 lost, for the passage was not enough just two points.

Plus handicap in basketball

Basketball has its own specific handicap betting. It is clear that they are made only for an outsider, but one team can earn 100 or more points, and the other for 30, 40 and even 80 less. But bookmakers never offer such odds, a maximum of +15, and the average value ranges from +4 to +8. Therefore, it is logical to make positive stakes in basketball only for a team that is not inferior in strength to the opponent. 8 points in basketball – it’s just 3-4 throws.

Consider the Utah Jazz vs. Chicago Bulls team game 23.11 17. At the Chicago Bulls handicap is +8.5 (odds 1.95). The meeting ended with a score of 110:80 in favor of the Utah Jazz. A simple calculation of 80 + 8.5 = 88.5 shows that the bet on the outsider would not pass.

Pros and cons of positive handicap betting

Bets with a plus handicap allow you to win more money than to win a favorite. And in the case of a meeting of two teams of equal strength, you can also insure if they tied.

The disadvantages of such bets are that for beginners in betting, it is at first difficult to figure out how to calculate the odds, especially the Asian double. In basketball, you can’t bet with a handicap, not having previously studied the statistics of previous meetings, recaps, injuries of players, disqualification.

By betting with a positive handicap on tennis, there is a big risk to lose without having studied the characteristics of the players, their form at the moment, the statistics of the games. Therefore, inexperienced betters are recommended to start with football and hockey, where the gap between the points is not large, and the result of the fight can be more or less predicted.

Negative Handicap

In almost all sports, bookmakers offer to bet with a negative handicap on one of the opponents or team. For people who are not familiar with the world of betting, it is not entirely clear what this bet means.

Consider the cases in which you can apply a handicap with a negative value, how it differs from a positive value, how to calculate a bet.

Read more about the negative handicap

Negative odds are denoted by (-N). Instead of N, any integer (-1; -7; -4) or fractional (-1.5; -3.5; -0.75) numbers are substituted.

Often negative handicap is used in football, hockey, basketball, volleyball, tennis, rugby.

Bets with a minus handicap allow you to win more money than on a team’s net victory, since the odds will be higher.

Differences from plus handicap

A plus handicap – an advantage that is given to a weaker opponent (outsider). It also has fractional and integer values ​​(+0.5; +4; +1.75; +1).

A positive handicap is added to the points of a weaker team, and a negative one is subtracted from the result of a stronger team.

It is worth noting that the negative handicap bookmakers bet only on a favorite. The stronger the club or athlete, the greater will be its numerical value.

If the better decided to bet on a team with a negative handicap, then he should count on its victory. With a value of -0.5, it will be enough to outrun an opponent by one point. But with a handicap of -2, you need to score at least three points for the bet to play.

Bets on a fractional negative handicap

Fractional values ​​are specific to Asian handicap. A special feature of bets with a fractional odds is that the result of a match cannot be a draw, so the better never returns the full bet. It either wins or loses.

We give an example of the calculation. As part of the WNBA, the Connecticut San and Las Vegas Aces meeting takes place. The first team is considered the favorite and a negative handicap of -8.5 is offered. Connecticut Sun often wins by a wide margin, so you can safely bet on the team. The game ends with a score of 101:65 in favor of Connecticut San. We count: 101-8.5 = 92.5 (92.5:65), the bet is played. But if the result of the meeting was 101:93, then the better would have lost, since the team had 0.5 points less.

Bets on double Asian handicap

Double handicap – a special case of Asian handicap. Its difference is numeric values ​​that are multiples of 0.25 (1.25; 2.75; 0.75). Asian handicap bet is divided into two equal parts and placed on two different outcomes. This view is used by more experienced betters, because beginners do not understand the principles of calculation.

Consider how to do a double Asian handicap calculation:

1. A handicap of -0.25 means that at the same time a bet is made on 0 and -0.5. We bet on the team (-0.25). It wins with a score of 1:0, which means that the entire bet comes in, since 1-0.5 = 0.5 (the advantage of 0.5 points remains) and 0 + 1 = 1 (advantage of 1 point). If the teams tied, half of the bet (-0.5) does not enter at all, and the bookmaker is obliged to return the second half (0).
2. Asian Handicap -1.75 means -1.5 and -2. We bet on the favorite with (-1.75). The match ended with a score of 6:3 in favor of our team. We count: 6-1.5 = 4.5; 6-2 = 4. Both results are more than 3, which means that the bet has gone completely. With a score of 6:5, the bet would have lost completely.

Negative handicap in football

In football, negative handicaps are often used in betting on the favorite, but their numerical values ​​rarely exceed 0.5–2. This is due to the fact that in this sport there is rarely a difference of more than 3 goals.

Large handicaps can be displayed at the World Championships, when, according to the draw results, a very strong team with a frankly weak team (for example, Germany-Pakistan, France-Liechtenstein, Argentina-Moldova) are encountered. Also a negative handicap in football can be set on statistics.

Minus handicap in tennis

In tennis, negative handicap is used for betting on games and sets. There can be more than 20 matches in a match, therefore a negative handicap can have a numerical value of 5-10. A set is 5 or 3, so the handicap will be less: 0.5-2 points. Bookmakers on sets put up mainly fractional values ​​in order to avoid a possible draw in the calculation and not to pay the better bet.

Pros and cons of negative handicap betting

Pros:

• higher odds than just betting on an athlete or club win;
• great chances for passing bets, if teams play absolutely different in strength;
• the possibility of refund with a negative Asian handicap and half – with double.

Minuses:

• there is a big risk of losing if you bet without analyzing the statistics, because bookmakers do not always set odds that correspond to reality;
• the risk of losing when playing teams of the same strength as they can play in a draw or with a minimum gap in a score, which will not be enough to pass the bet.