What is Asian Handicap and how to use it?

The Asian Handicap is a form of betting that aims to level the playing field between two unevenly matched teams. 

Unlike traditional 1X2 betting (where you bet on a home win, draw, or away win), the Asian handicap reduces the possible outcomes to just two, eliminating the draw. This is achieved through the use of handicaps. At first glance, Asian Handicaps look like one of the more complex areas of football betting. But they're fairly straightforward and can make betting on one-sided matches more exciting.

Asian handicap betting means betting on the outcome of a football match where the two teams are given a handicap - which can be positive or negative - before the game starts. The handicap represents a goals head-start or a goals deficit awarded to the teams before kick-off.

In Football, Handicaps are expressed in goals and are used to give a weaker team a virtual advantage or a stronger team a virtual disadvantage. These handicaps can be whole numbers (e.g., +1, -1), half numbers (e.g., +0.5, -0.5), or quarter numbers (e.g., +0.25, -0.25, +0.75, -0.75).
The primary purpose of the Asian handicap is to make betting on matches with a clear favorite more exciting and balanced. It creates more betting opportunities and can offer better value than traditional betting markets.

Types of Handicaps:
- Whole Handicaps:
If the team wins by more goals than the handicap, the bet wins.
If the team wins by exactly the handicap, the bet is a push (stake returned).
If the team wins by fewer goals or loses, the bet loses.
- Half Handicaps:
These eliminate the possibility of a push. The team either wins or loses the bet based on the handicap.
- Quarter Handicaps:

These split the stake between the two nearest half handicaps, allowing for scenarios where part of the stake is won and part is pushed or lost.

In essence, the Asian Handicap adds a layer of complexity to betting, but it also provides more nuanced betting options and can lead to more favorable odds.

Do you only find Asian Handicap on games that the market considers a mismatch?
- No, you find Asian Handicap bets on all sorts of matches, including games that are likely to be closer. On a game like Chelsea v Arsenal, you might have a sneaking suspicion Arsenal will win but you're not 100% confident. By backing Arsenal +0 Asian Handicap, you give yourself the safety net of getting your stakes back if the game is a draw. In this instance, the +0 Asian Handicap market works exactly the same as the DRAW NO BET market.

Can you bet on the Asian Handicap market in-play and use it for trading?
- Yes you can. During a football match prices on the Asian Handicap change according to match circumstances. In this sense you can use the Asian Handicap market to trade exactly as you would any other football market - i.e. you can place bets before the game because you think it will offer cash-out opportunities, or you can use the Asian Handicap market during the game in order to lock in a profit.

To dive deep into the essence of Asian Handicap and fully grasp its potential, check the Education Portal on Sharp Exchange.