Handicap +4/-4: How to Bet with a 4-Goal Edge

Lina Almans

20 December 2023

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Handicap +4/-4 (aka spread) is a type of bet that gives or takes away a 4-goal advantage to or from a team before the game starts. It is a way to balance the game when one team is a clear underdog who has zero chance of getting a draw, much less a win.

The bettor’s aim: To predict the winner of the game, but with the handicap applied to the final score.

It’s a game-changer that lets you bet on these scenarios:

Negative handicap (-4): You subtract 4 goals from the team you choose. This means that they need to win by more than 4 goals to make your bet win.
Positive handicap (+4): You add 4 goals to the team you choose. This means that they can win, draw, or lose by up to 3 goals and still make your bet win.

But wait, there’s more: If the team you choose with a +4/-4 handicap loses or wins by exactly 4 goals — you get your cash back.

How it may look at Bet 365:

handicap 4

Each type has different outcomes, depending on the actual score of the game. Let’s see how it works with the Werder vs Leipzig match.

Negative Handicap (-4)

Negative handicap (-4) is a type of bet where you take away a 4-goal edge from the favorite team. This means that they need to win the game by more than 4 goals to make your bet win.

For example, if you bet on Leipzig -4, it means that Leipzig starts the game with a 0:-4 disadvantage. So, if the game ends 3-3, or Leipzig loses, you lose your bet.

Here are the possible outcomes for handicap (-4):

Wager (-4)	Real Score	Adjusted Score	Outcome
Leipzig	5-0	1-0	Win
	4-0	0-0	Break Even
	4-3	0-3	Lose

Note: Real score – handicap = adjusted score.

Positive Handicap (+4)

Positive handicap (+4) is a type of bet where you give a 4-goal edge to the underdog team. This means that they can afford to lose the game by up to 3 goals and still make your bet win.

For instance, if you bet on Werder +4, it means that Werder starts the game with a 4:-0 lead. So, if Werder wins after the handicap applied (5-4), you win the wager.

Here are the possible outcomes for handicap (+4):

Wager (+4)	Real Score	Adjusted Score	Outcome
Werder	1-3	5-3	Win
	0-4	4-4	Break Even
	0-5	4-5	Lose

Note: Real score + handicap = adjusted score.

Pros and Cons of Asian Handicap +4/-4

Pros	Cons
Big bucks for big gap: Boost your payout by picking a larger gap than the regular odds for the favorite team. Draw is not a loss: avoid losing the bet if the game is a draw after the handicap. Small edge for small loss: Win the bet with the underdog by choosing a smaller gap than the regular lose odds.	Big gamble: Take a higher chance with the favorite team by choosing a bigger gap than the regular win odds. Lose all for loss: Lose your entire stake if the game is a loss after the handicap.