Handicap +2/-2 in Sports Betting: How to Bet with Two-Goal Margin

Lina Almans

11 December 2023

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Handicap +2 and -2 (also called point spread) is a type of bet where you add or subtract a two-goal margin to or from a team before the match starts.

It’s a smart way to bet on games (as well as part of it, like half, quarter, set), especially when there is a huge difference in the quality or performance of the teams.

How Handicap 2/-2 may look in 1xBet:

What Does +2 and -2 Mean?

+2 means that the team you choose begins the game with a two-goal cushion. This means that they can draw, win, or lose by one goal and still make your bet win. For example, if you bet on Barcelona +2, it means that Barcelona has a 2-0 lead before the game even starts. So, if the game ends 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, Barcelona wins, or Barcelona loses by one goal, you win your bet.
-2 means that the team you choose begins the game with a two-goal deficit. This means that they have to win the game by more than two goals to make your bet win. For example, if you bet on Barcelona -2, it means that Barcelona has a 0-2 deficit before the game even starts. So, if the game ends 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, Barcelona loses, or Barcelona wins by one goal, you lose your bet.
Refund for two-goal difference: If the team you choose with a +2 handicap loses the game by two goals, or the team you choose with a -2 handicap wins the game by two goals, you get your money back.

Note: The sign (+ or -) before the number indicates which team has the advantage or the disadvantage. The number (2) indicates how large the advantage or the disadvantage is.

How to Win with It?

Suppose you want to bet on the game Juventus vs. Bayern Munich. Juventus is the favorite, so they have a -2 handicap. Bayern Munich is the underdog, so they have a +2 handicap.

The table below shows the outcomes of betting on either -2 or +2, depending on the actual score of the game:

Wager	Actual Score	Adjusted Score	Outcome
Juventus -2	4-1	2-1	Win
	3-1	1-1	Draw (Refund)
	2-1	0-1	Lose
Bayern Munich +2	4-1	4-3	Lose
	3-1	3-3	Draw (Refund)
	2-1	2-3	Win

Note: The adjusted score is the real score, plus or minus the handicap.

Pros	Cons
Boost your payout for the favorite: Earn more money for the favorite team by betting on a bigger margin than the normal win odds. Gain an edge for the underdog: Secure the bet with the underdog team by betting on a smaller margin than the normal loose odds, or a draw, even if they lose the game by 2 goals. Save your stake for a draw: Avoid losing the bet if the game is a draw after the handicap, as the stake will be refunded. Customize your bet for the game: Make the bet for the whole game or for a part of it. This can allow you to adjust your bet according to the game situation.	Lower win rate for underdog: Have a lower win rate for the underdog team by betting on a two-goal edge than the normal lose odds. Higher margin for favorite: Need a higher margin of victory with the favorite team by betting on a two-goal gap than the normal win odds. Harder to predict: Increase the uncertainty for the game by betting on a fixed margin. This can make your bet more dependent on the game situation.