Handicap 0,5 – I will explain to you
Lina Almans
05 January 2024
Comment 0
What is Handicap +0.5/-0.5? Asian handicap +0.5 and -0.5 (aka point spread) is a type of half-goal spread where you give or take a 0.5-goal edge to or from a team before the game kicks off.
Note: This works for any sport where players can score, such as goals in football, points in basketball, or pucks in hockey.
- +0.5 means that the team you pick starts the game with a 0.5-goal edge. They need either to draw or to win to make your wager win.
- -0.5 means that the team you pick starts the game with a 0.5-goal deficit. They need to win the game by at least 1 goal to make your wager win.
- ±0.5 also means that unlike the regular whole-goal handicap, where a draw after applying the handicap results in a refund, the ±0.5 handicap eliminates the possibility of a tie. There are only 2 ways to go: win or lose.
Note: The sign (+ or -) before the number shows which team has the edge or the gap. The number (0.5) shows how big the edge or the gap is.
How It Works with an Example
Imagine you want to bet on a match between Real Sociedad VS Barcelona.
So, Barça is the favorite team, because they have a stronger squad and a better record. They have a -0.5 edge, which means they need to win by at least 1 goal to make your wager win.
Real Sociedad is the underdog. They have a +0.5 edge, which means they only need to draw or win to make your bet win.
Wager | Actual Score | Adjusted Score | Outcome |
Real Sociedad +0.5 | 1 : 0 | 1,5 : 0 | Win |
2 : 1 | 2,5 : 1 | Win | |
1 : 2 | 1,5 : 2 | Lose | |
Barcelona -0.5 | 0 : 2 | 0 : 1,5 | Win |
0 : 1 | 0 : 0,5 | Win | |
2 : 2 | 2 : 1,5 | Lose |
Pro tip: The adjusted score is the real score plus (+) or minus (-) the edge.
Pros and Cons of ±0.5 Asian Handicap
Pros | Cons |
No draw, no drama: Avoid the draw scenario and simplify the bet with only 2 outcomes. | No refund, no mercy: Lose your entire stake if the game is a loss after the handicap. |
Big payout: Boost your payout by picking a larger edge than the regular odds for the favorite team. | Big challenge: Take a higher risk with the favorite team by choosing a bigger edge than the regular win odds. |
Useful Articles About Handicap: