Handicap – an intentional advantage given to one of the opponents according to a certain parameter. But what is a 0 handicap in betting, since a zero advantage doesn’t seem to provide any initial benefit? Handicap 0 – a bet on one team’s victory, in which, if the match ends in a draw, the bookmaker will settle it as a refund.
Designation in online bookmakers’ listings
In online bookmakers, this type of bet is denoted either in full or in the abbreviated form H. The number 0 then follows in parentheses. It’s easy to find this market in the line-up. It is located in the section of European handicaps between the indicators H (-1) and H (1).
H (0) is relevant for any sports where the match as a whole or its regular time can end in a draw — football, hockey, basketball. But even where a draw is impossible, this market is still present.
For example, in tennis it’s possible to bet on H (0) by games. As a result, one of the opponents will win the match, but it’s quite possible for the number of games won to be equal. Example: score 7:6, 1:6, 6:2. The first player won 2:1 in sets, but the total in games is 14:14.
What is handicap 1(0) and 2(0)?
The standard notation looks as follows – H1 (0) or H2 (0). The numbers 1 and 2 refer to the home and away sides of the matchup. If the teams or athletes meet on neutral ground, check how the event is listed in the bookmaker’s official line (the order of opponents in the title).
European and Asian formats
H (0) belongs to the European format of betting market notation. However, understanding what a 0 handicap means in betting is also necessary when placing bets on Asian lines such as H (-0.25) and H (0.25).
Essentially, if you bet on (0.25), you’re splitting the stake between two options (0.5) and (0). Similarly, for (-0.25) — between (0) and (-0.5).
Settlement of handicap 0
The easiest way to understand the 0 handicap market, what it means and how to use it, is through specific calculation examples. Let’s take a UEFA Nations League football match between Poland and Wales. We place 1000 ₽ on H2 (0) at odds of 3.68.
The possible settlement outcomes are as follows:
- Poland wins. The staked amount is lost.
- The match ends in a draw. The bet is refunded.
- Wales wins by any score. The payout is 1000×3.68 = 3680 ₽, i.e. the net profit is 2680 ₽.
As we can see, this market offers three outcomes: loss, refund, or win. The advantage is that there’s an element of insurance. Understanding the Asian format is slightly more complex.
For illustration, let’s place 1000 ₽ on the same match for H1 (-0.25) at odds of 1.50. In fact, this creates two bets: H1 (-0.5) for 500 ₽ and H1 (0) for 500 ₽.
Let’s analyze the possible settlement outcomes:
- Poland wins by any score. The bet wins, and the payout is 1500 ₽.
- The match ends in a draw. The H1 (-0.5) part loses, meaning 500 ₽ is lost. H1 (0) is refunded. 500 ₽ is returned to the account — half of the stake is lost.
- A Wales win leads to a total loss of the bet amount.
Thus, accounting for the zero handicap in this example allows you to recover at least half the stake if the game ends in a draw.
Difference between zero handicap and double chance
For beginners, this market may seem very similar to the double chance option (1X or X2). But that’s not the case. With a zero handicap, a draw results in a refund, not a win. However, the odds here are noticeably higher. A comparison table for the mentioned match:
| Market | Odds |
| 1X | 1.17 |
| H1 (0) | 1.27 |
| X2 | 2.17 |
| H2 (0) | 3.76 |
What is the benefit of handicap 0?
The main advantage of this market is insurance against a draw. You can bet on the clean win of a favorite or your preferred team with higher odds. But if the match ends level, the money is lost. And if you’re not greedy and give your favorite a zero handicap, you can avoid an unfortunate loss.
Compared to double chance, the probability of winning is lower. However, it gives a good opportunity to find value odds. The insurance element still remains.
Should you bet on handicap 0?
Here are the basic principles of when it’s reasonable to use H (0):
- there’s no full confidence in the selected team’s victory;
- a value odd on H (0) has been found in favor of the underdog;
- the favorite only slightly outclasses the outsider, so the odds offered are reasonable;
- the bettor aims to increase the odds compared to 1X or X2.
Final recommendation: don’t overuse bets on H (0) backing favorites. Betting with odds below 1.50 won’t bring stable profits in the long run. When choosing a strategy based on zero handicap, it’s reasonable to target odds between 1.90 and 2.40.
