Asian Handicap β The Complete Guide
Asian handicap (AH) is the most common market in Asian sports odds. It removes the draw by giving one team a goal handicap, so a match has two outcomes instead of three.
What Is Asian Handicap?
Asian handicap gives one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage before kick-off. This effectively eliminates the draw, reducing outcomes from three to two. If the handicap results in a tie, your stake is refunded (push).
For a detailed breakdown of every handicap type, see our Asian Handicap Explained guide.
Types of Asian Handicap
| Handicap | Type | Draw Possible? | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Level ball (draw refunded) | Push (refund) | Team must win |
| -0.5 | Half goal | No | Team must win |
| -0.25 | Quarter goal | Half-push | Split: half on 0, half on -0.5 |
| -0.75 | Quarter goal | Half-push | Split: half on -0.5, half on -1 |
| -1 | Whole goal | Push (refund) | Team must win by 2+ |
| -1.5 | Half goal | No | Team must win by 2+ |
Asian Handicap Examples
Example 1: Manchester City -1.5 vs Arsenal
On Man City -1.5, Man City needs to win by 2 or more goals for that side to win. A 2-0 result is a win for that side, a 1-0 result is a loss. There is no push, because 0.5 handicaps always have a clear outcome.
Example 2: Liverpool -0.75 vs Everton
A -0.75 line is split into two equal halves: -0.5 and -1.0. If Liverpool wins by exactly 1 goal (e.g. 1-0), the -0.5 half wins and the -1.0 half is a push (refund), so the result is a half win. If Liverpool wins by 2+ goals, both halves win. If it is a draw, both lose.
How Asian Handicap Lines Move
- Lines differ between bookmakers β the same match can be -0.75 at one book and -0.5 at another
- Lines change over time β a line or its price can move after team news, large amounts of money, or a correction of the opening price
- Market makers often move first β other bookmakers frequently adjust their AH lines after them
- The closing line β the last AH line before kick-off is recorded and can be compared with the opening line
Compare Asian Handicap Odds on AsianOdds.com
AsianOdds.com shows AH lines side by side. The data shows how each line moved over time and which prices are falling.