What “Game Handicap -1.5” Means
- In tennis betting, the game handicap adjusts the total number of games won by each player to create a level playing field.
- If you bet on Player A -1.5 games, it means:After subtracting 1.5 games from Player A’s total, he must still have more games than Player B for your bet to win.
So Player A needs to win at least 2 more games than Player B overall (because of the -1.5 line) for your bet to succeed.
Example Scenario
Match:
- Player A (favorite): Novak Djokovic
- Player B (underdog): Andy Murray
Your Bet:
- Novak Djokovic -1.5 games
Possible Outcomes:
| Final Score | Djokovic Games | Murray Games | Handicap Result (-1.5) | Bet Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-4, 6-4 | 12 | 8 | 12 – 1.5 = 10.5 > 8 | Win |
| 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 | 19 | 17 | 19 – 1.5 = 17.5 > 17 | Win |
| 7-6, 4-6, 6-7 | 17 | 19 | 17 – 1.5 = 15.5 < 19 | Lose |
| 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 | 17 | 15 | 17 – 1.5 = 15.5 > 15 | Win |
| 6-7, 7-6, 6-7 | 19 | 21 | 19 – 1.5 = 17.5 < 21 | Lose |
Key Takeaway: Djokovic must win at least 2 more games overall than Murray for your -1.5 bet to succeed.
Comparing Lines
- -1.5 Games = Favorite must win by 2 or more games overall.
- +1.5 Games = Underdog can lose by 1 game and you still win.
Betting Tips
- Check Playing Styles
- -1.5 game handicaps are common when a match is expected to be competitive but the favorite is slightly stronger.
- Good when the favorite often wins tight sets (7-5, 6-4).
- Surface Matters
- On fast courts (hard/grass), big servers may push sets to tiebreaks → harder to cover -1.5.
- On clay, breaks are more frequent → easier to cover -1.5.
- Head-to-Head History
- See if the favorite usually beats the opponent by comfortable margins in games.
- Best of 3 vs Best of 5 Sets
- Best of 5 (like men’s Grand Slams): more games overall, easier to cover -1.5.
- Best of 3: fewer games, tighter margins, riskier.
- Live Betting Opportunity
- If the favorite loses the first set narrowly (like 5-7) but still looks stronger, you can take -1.5 at better odds for the rest of the match.
Quick Rule of Thumb
If you’re betting -1.5 games:
- Look for a player who wins sets by breaking serve at least once regularly.
- Avoid players who frequently go to tiebreaks unless you’re confident they’ll win both sets.
Would you like me to also explain how this differs from a set handicap (like -1.5 sets)? (Many bettors confuse the two.)