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3-Way Handicap bets – A beginner’s Guide

By Craig Harmer | ⏲️ Reading time: 8 minutes
Fact checked by Martins Lasmanis
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In this article, we will explain all you need to know about the 3-Way Handicap Market. We shall explain and provide examples of how exactly the market works. In addition, we shall explain the differences between a 3-Way and other handicaps and explain how to place a 3-Way handicap bet. Finally, we will cover the various pros and cons of betting on this market and when it is best to place a bet in it.

What is a 3-Way Handicap

A handicap bet involves giving an advantage (or disadvantage) to a team's score, which is applied at the end of the game before your bet settles.  A 3-Way handicap means that after the handicap has been applied, there are three possible results. Also commonly known as a European handicap, this means that after the handicap adjustment has been made, the result could be settled as a Home win, Away Win or Draw.  The 3-Way is included in the name, as many handicap markets are designed to make a draw impossible. Will shall explain more on this later. The amount of the handicap is indicated by either a + or - sign followed by a number. So, a +1 handicap would actually mean you add one to the team's score, and a -2 handicap would mean you would deduct two points.

How does a 3-Way Handicap work? (Real examples)

As we said earlier, the  3-Way Handicap works by applying an advantage or disadvantage to a team's score. The handicap is applied at the end of the game, and the bet is settled based on the new scoreline. There are three possible outcomes to the match, which are shown below.

Here are a few examples of how a result could be changed by the handicap placed.

Home win

Crystal Palace are playing Liverpool in the English Community Sheid

  • Liverpool (-1) - Crystal Palace (+1)

Liverpool is a strong favourite, so the minus handicap would be applied to them. In this case, it's a -1 deduction from their score at the end of the game.

So let's say the final result is

  • Liverpool 2 - 0 Crystal Palace.

When the -1 handicap is applied, Liverpool's score is reduced by one.

So the scoreline used to settle the bet would be.

  • Liverpool 1 - 0 Crystal Palace.

In this example, if you had placed a bet on Liverpool at (-1), your bet would settle as a win, as they still won the game after the handicap.

Away win

Using the same game but a slightly different market, we will now examine the +2/-2 option.

  • Liverpool (-2) - Crystal Palace (+2)
    This time, we will examine the Crystal Palace option, which involves adding two goals to the Crystal Palace score.

Let's say the final result is

  • Liverpool 2 - 1 Crystal Palace.
    When the +2 Handicap is applied, the Crystal Palace score increases by two.

So the scoreline used to settle the bet would be

  • Liverpool 2 - 3 Crystal Palace.
    In this example, the result of the game has changed completely, and instead of a home win, the handicap has meant that the bet would be settled as an away win.

Draw

Finally, we will look at the +3/-3 option.

  • Liverpool (-3) - Crystal Palace (+3)

This time, we will look at the Liverpool side of the bet.

Let's say the final result is

  • Liverpool 3 - 0 Crystal Palace.

When the -3 Handicap is applied, Liverpool's score is reduced by three

So the scoreline used to settle the bet would be

  • Liverpool 0 - 0 Crystal Palace

Which would mean that the result of the game is now a draw.

3-Way Handicaps vs Asian Handicaps

Understanding the difference between the two types of handicap is very important. 3-Way handicap betting is a lot simpler than Asian Handicap. It only works in whole numbers, so it's very easy to understand what will happen to the scoreline once the match has finished. Asian Handicap can use whole numbers but also uses half and quarter numbers.

Asian Handicap, as we mentioned, has markets that use whole numbers, but these can actually mean different things, specifically a different bet settlement compared to 3-Way handicaps.

The difference is that when the handicap has been applied, if the final result is a draw, if your 3-Way handicap bet was on the home or away team, it will lose. However, your  Asian Handicap bet would be settled as a push and refunded.

Some examples are in the table below.

Bet placed onResult before handicapResult after handicap3-Way HandicapAsian Handicap
England (-1)England 1

Spain 0

England 0

Spain 0

Bet losesPush
Stake returned
England (-2)England 3

Spain 1

England 1

Spain 1

Bet losesPush
Stake returned
Spain (-3)England 0

Spain 3

England 0

Spain 0

Bet losesPush
Stake returned

However, the majority of Asian Handicap markets include quarter or half numbers. As a team can’t score half a goal, this means it's impossible for the result after the handicap to be a draw. Unlike the 3-Way market, where it is possible

The table below shows how the match result changes after the handicap has been applied.

ResultAsian Handicap

England +0.5

Asian Handicap

Englnd +1.5

European Handicap England +1.0
England 0 Spain 1England 0.5 Spain 1England 1.5 Spain 1England 1 Spain 1

How to place a 3-Way handicap bet

First, you will need to create a betting account. We suggest one of the sites on our home page allbets.tv.

We will explain the steps below, but it’s essential to note that identifying the 3-Way Handicap market on a site can be challenging. It could also be referred to as the European Handicap or simply Handicap. If there are quarter or half numbers, then it's likely to be the Asian Handicap market, even if it's simply referred to as handicap. The name varies from site to site, so if you're unsure, check the rules section to confirm you are betting on the correct market.

Once you have an account

  • Step 1
    step 1

    Head to the sports list and pick the sport you wish to bet on.

  • Step 2
    step 2

    Click on the match you wish to bet on; usually, the first odds you see are the match odds or moneyline odds.

  • Step 3
    step 3

    Click on the fixture itself, and it will then display all the available betting options.

  • Step 4
    step 4

    Find the 3-Way Handicap market. Taking care to be sure it's the right market, as we mentioned above.

  • Step 5
    step 5

    Click on the odds you wish to bet on; this should add your selection to the bet slip.

  • Step 6
    step 6

    Enter your stake and confirm the bet.

Pros and Cons of 3-Way handicap bets

Pluses
  • Better odds on favourites
  • Less complex so easier to understand than Asian Handicap betting
  • Increases the chance of the underdog winning
Minuses
  • Unlike Asian handicap, there is no chance of a push and your stake being refunded
  • Having so many names can be tricky to locate on some sites and often gets confused with other handicap markets.

Remember always to gamble responsibly

Most important when betting online is that you gamble responsibly. Gambling should always be fun, and you should think of it as a hobby and something you do for entertainment purposes. It should be something you do with spare funds, with money you can afford to lose.

Any decent betting site will have a Responsible Gambling section, which will contain not only advice on staying safe while gambling but will also have a number of tools which you can activate which will help you keep your gambling responsible.

One of the best tips that you can do yourself to help stay in control is to keep a record of the amount you deposit into gambling sites and a record of how your results have gone. This should help you keep track of your spending and keep in control of your bankroll.

Conclusion

The 3-Way Handicap market certainly has its place. It helps balance the odds and gives you a better price when you want to bet on a favourite who you expect to win big, and if you want to bet on the underdog, with the advantage they stand a better chance of winning. It’s certainly the simplest type of handicap bet to place, as it's very easy to work out exactly what you're betting on and how the final score will be affected. This makes it perfect for beginners and an excellent entry market into handicap betting. Once you have placed a few bets and understood how the market works, moving on to the Asian handicap markets would be a good next step.

FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions

  • A three-way handicap bet is different from the more commonly known two-way handicap bet, as you have the option to not only bet on the Home or Away team to win, but you also can bet on the game being a draw after the handicap has been applied.

  • Yes, this is one of the markets that any good site will have the option to bet on in-play.

  • Like any handicap, the main aim of the handicap is to level the playing field between two teams or players. So it allows you to bet on a favourite at  better odds or bet on an outsider at shorter odds, but with an advantage

Author
Craig Harmer - Content Writer & Betting Expert
Content Writer & Betting Expert
Craig has been writing content for gambling sites on and off for twenty years, and knows exactly what to look for in a bookmaker. This comes through in his well researched and well written articles. In his spare time he a big football fan, and specifically follows whatever league Norwich City happen to be playing in that Season!
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