What is European Handicap 2nd Half (EH 2H)?
European Handicap is a type of bet designed to eliminate the draw outcome by giving one team a virtual advantage (or disadvantage). When applied to the 2nd half, the handicap applies only to the goals scored in the second half, not the full match.
Unlike Asian Handicap, European Handicap does not allow half wins—you either win, lose, or draw.
- Team A: +1 EH 2H → Team A starts the 2nd half with a 1-goal advantage.
- Team B: -1 EH 2H → Team B starts the 2nd half with a 1-goal deficit.
How It Works (Example with a Team)
Scenario:
- Match: Chelsea vs. Arsenal
- Half-time score: Chelsea 0 – 1 Arsenal
- You bet: Chelsea +1 European Handicap 2H
Step 1: Focus on the 2nd half only.
- Chelsea scored 1 goal in the 2nd half.
- Arsenal scored 0 goals in the 2nd half.
Step 2: Apply the handicap:
- Chelsea +1 → 1 (handicap) + 1 (actual 2nd half goal) = 2
- Arsenal 0 → 0 (no handicap) + 0 (actual 2nd half goal) = 0
Step 3: Determine result
- Chelsea 2 – 0 Arsenal → Your bet wins.
If Chelsea had scored 0 and Arsenal 1, then:
- Chelsea 0 + 1 = 1
- Arsenal 1 + 0 = 1 → Draw → Your stake is returned (depending on bookmaker rules).
Common European Handicap 2H Lines
| Handicap | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | No handicap, win = bet win, draw = stake returned |
| +1 | Team starts 2nd half with 1 goal advantage |
| -1 | Team starts 2nd half with 1 goal deficit |
| +2, -2 | Bigger advantage/disadvantage, less risky for favorite team |
Betting Tips for European Handicap 2nd Half
- Look at 1st half trends
- Teams losing at HT often push hard in 2nd half. Betting them with +1 or +2 handicap can be profitable.
- Consider team style
- Defensive teams may not score much in 2H → be careful with negative handicaps.
- Aggressive teams may dominate the 2H → negative handicap may be worth it.
- Check injuries and fatigue
- Teams with tired players in 2H may concede more → good for + handicaps on weaker side.
- Use small stakes for high-risk handicaps
- Large negative handicaps are riskier; better for favorites with strong 2H record.
- Combine with live betting
- European Handicap 2H works very well for in-play betting, since you can observe 1st half performance before placing your bet.
Example Bet Slip
- Match: Chelsea vs. Arsenal
- HT: Chelsea 0 – 1 Arsenal
- Bet: Chelsea +1 EH 2H
- Result: Chelsea scores 1, Arsenal scores 0 → Bet Wins
- Bet: Arsenal -1 EH 2H
- Result: Arsenal scores 0, Chelsea scores 1 → Bet Loses
Summary:
European Handicap 2nd Half lets you bet on 2nd half performance only, eliminating draws (or returning stake on 0 handicap). Use it for teams known for strong finishes, or to cover underdogs who may bounce back after HT.