In this article we will look at what a 2.5 asian handicap is, as well as giving you an example to look over so that hopefully you can begin to apply it to your football bets.
What is an Asian Handicap?
Asian handicaps were first used in Asia (hence the name) and they are mainly found in football but they can be applied to other sports too. The handicap can apply to the total goals scored but it is much more commonly used as a way to reduce or eliminate the advantage one team has, bringing the odds closer to events. A handicap is applied with the use of the plus (+) and minus (-) symbols. As a general rule the minus is assigned to the team that is the favourite, and a plus is assigned to the team being given an advantage.
Asian handicaps present you with just two options (Compared to three with a European Handicap). The draw is combined with the + handicap, and any scoreline that is a draw will see that side win (or push). The amount of the handicap will be the same for both teams with the advantage one team has equalling the handicap the other has.
What does -2.5 Asian Handicap Mean?
When an Asian Handicap bet is this high it means that one team will be considerably better than the other. The expectation is that one team will be winning by at least two goals, and your bet is that it will be three goals or more.
- If your team wins by 3 goals or more, then the bet will win.
- If your team wins by 1 or 2 goals, then the bet will lose.
- If it is a draw or the other team wins, then the bet will lose.
| Handicap | Match result | Bet result |
|---|
| -2.5 | Win by 3+ | Win |
| Win by 1 or 2 | Lose |
| Draw, or Loss | Lose |
What does +2.5 Asian Handicap Mean?
This is the other side of the bet where you are betting on the underdog to beat the spread (handicap). They can win and you win like normal, they can draw and you now win the bet on them due to the handicap, they can even lose by not just one goal but two goals and your bet on them will win. The possible match outcomes and relevant bet results are as follows:
- If your team wins or draws the bet will win.
- If your team loses but by only 1 or 2 goals then the bet will win.
- If the team lose by 3 goals or more then you lose all of your stake.
| Handicap | Match result | Bet result |
|---|
| +2.5 | Lose by 3+ | Lose |
| Lose by 1 or 2 | Win |
| Draw or Win | Win |
Real Examples of Asian handicap 2.5 bets
To explain properly it can help to show a real example*.
If the 2.5 market is being used to make the odds closer to evens then it is clear that one team is a heavy favourite to win.
To use a real example in the UEFA Europa Conference League game between Chelsea and Legia Warsaw have Chelsea as heavy favourites with odds on them winning at 1.27, the Draw at 7.2, and Legia Warsaw winning at 13. Generally speaking there will be people who do not want to bet on Chelsea because the return is not enough and there will be people who do not want to bet on Legia Warsaw because they view it as a bet that will not win. So we can introduce the 2.5 Asian Handicap to bring the odds closer together. After this has been applied the odds that are available are:
- Chelsea -2.5 @ 2.68
- Legia Warsaw +2.5 @ 1.52
So, if we place a bet of 10 on each, let us look at what each bet returns for each applicable score:
| Match Result | Chelsea -2.5 bet | Legia Warsaw +2.5 bet |
|---|
| Chelsea wins by 3+ | +16.8 | -10 |
| Chelsea wins by 1 or 2 | -10 | +5.2 |
| Draw | -10 | +5.2 |
| Legia Warsaw win | -10 | +5.2 |
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