To analyze football odds effectively, you certainly need to know how to read them. Each type of odds will have its own way of interpretation and analysis. In today's article, let's explore how to read football odds for some of the most popular types of bets currently.
Match: At bookmakers, after selecting the sports category, choose football, and you will see the matches available for betting. Choose the match you're interested in. This is the first step in analyzing odds and betting on football.
Selecting the type of bet: Currently, football odds analysis is divided into two main types corresponding to the playing time: Full and 1st Half.
On the odds board, you'll see many types of odds with different symbols. The method of reading football odds varies for each type of odds. Specifically:
How to read Asian Handicap (AH) odds:
Asian Handicap, also known as handicap or HDP odds, is often denoted as HDP on the odds board. When analyzing Asian Handicap odds, you need to pay attention to both the match score and the final outcome. This is a relatively complex odds system with many different scenarios.
Asian Handicap, or handicap, is the odds that the bookmaker gives corresponding to the number of goals the favorite team must overcome against the underdog team. The higher the handicap, the greater the difference in class between the two teams. Some common ways to interpret Asian Handicap football odds include:
Over/Under, also known as Total Goals, over/under, or O/U odds, is also labeled as O/U on the odds board. When analyzing Over/Under odds, you only need to pay attention to the total number of goals scored in the match, not the final outcome.
Interpreting Over/Under football odds is very simple. The bookmaker will provide an odds ratio. If you believe that the total number of goals in the match will be higher than the bookmaker's prediction, you can choose Over. If you think that the number of goals will be lower, you can choose Under. For whole number odds like 1, 2, 3, ..., if the number of goals scored equals the bookmaker's sure home win prediction for tomorrow, the bet is a tie.
European Handicap (1X2) odds:
Along with Asian Handicap and Over/Under odds, European Handicap is also a popular type of odds. Unlike Over/Under odds, when analyzing European Handicap odds, you only need to focus on the match result, not the number of goals scored.
European Handicap, also known as Win-Draw-Win or 1X2 odds, is denoted as 1X2 on the odds board.
When analyzing European Handicap odds, the bookmaker will provide three odds corresponding to the home team winning, drawing, and losing. You need to choose one of the three outcomes and place your bet. The higher the odds, the lower the probability that the bookmaker assigns to that outcome. If your selection is correct after the match, you win the bet.
Odd/Even odds:
Odd/Even, also known as Odd/Even or Odd/Even odds, is a type of odds where you bet on the total number of goals scored in the match. If you believe that the total number of goals will be an even number, you choose Odd; if you believe it will be an odd number, you choose Even. Odd/Even odds are often confused with Over/Under odds, but they are two different types of odds with different interpretations.
Corner Kick odds:
Corner Kick odds are one of the popular types of odds favored by many players. With these odds, the bookmaker provides a number corresponding to the total number of corner kicks from both teams. If you believe that there will be more corner kicks in the match, you choose Over; if you think there will be fewer corner kicks, you choose Under.
The method of analyzing Corner Kick odds is similar to analyzing Over/Under odds. However, instead of analyzing the number of goals scored, you need to analyze the number of corner kicks from both teams. Pay close attention to the playing style and attacking style of both teams when analyzing Corner Kick odds.
Yellow Card odds:
The method of reading Yellow Card odds is similar to Corner Kick odds. However, you need to analyze and predict the number of yellow cards that both teams will receive in the match. If you believe that the total number of yellow cards will be less than the bookmaker's prediction, you choose Under; if you think it will be higher, you choose Over.
Additionally, when discussing methods of reading football odds, you can also explore some other popular types of odds, such as:
Note: The higher the betting odds, the lower the chance of winning, so players need to be vigilant in choosing the right betting option.
Key terms to know before reading football odds online
Before delving into how to read football odds, we need to understand the regulations, symbols, and terminology used when analyzing odds. Most bookmakers nowadays use common symbols and terms. So, what basic information do you need to know before reading football odds?Match: At bookmakers, after selecting the sports category, choose football, and you will see the matches available for betting. Choose the match you're interested in. This is the first step in analyzing odds and betting on football.
Selecting the type of bet: Currently, football odds analysis is divided into two main types corresponding to the playing time: Full and 1st Half.
- Full: Betting on the entire match, with results determined after both halves have officially ended.
- 1st Half: Betting on the first half. Results are determined immediately after the first half concludes.
How to read football odds for each corresponding type of bet
On the odds board, you'll see many types of odds with different symbols. The method of reading football odds varies for each type of odds. Specifically:
How to read Asian Handicap (AH) odds:
Asian Handicap, also known as handicap or HDP odds, is often denoted as HDP on the odds board. When analyzing Asian Handicap odds, you need to pay attention to both the match score and the final outcome. This is a relatively complex odds system with many different scenarios.
Asian Handicap, or handicap, is the odds that the bookmaker gives corresponding to the number of goals the favorite team must overcome against the underdog team. The higher the handicap, the greater the difference in class between the two teams. Some common ways to interpret Asian Handicap football odds include:
- Handicap -1: With this odds, you choose the favorite team to win when they win by a margin of 2 goals or more. If the favorite team draws or loses, the bettor loses. If the favorite team wins by exactly 1 goal, both sides tie the bet, and the bettor's stake is refunded.
- Handicap -0.5: You choose the favorite team to win the match regardless of the score. If the favorite team draws or loses, the bettor loses the bet, and vice versa.
- Handicap -1.5: This odds ratio is often given when there is a significant class difference between the two teams. You choose the favorite team to win the bet when they win by a margin of 2 goals or more. In all other cases, the bettor on the underdog team wins the bet.
Over/Under, also known as Total Goals, over/under, or O/U odds, is also labeled as O/U on the odds board. When analyzing Over/Under odds, you only need to pay attention to the total number of goals scored in the match, not the final outcome.
Interpreting Over/Under football odds is very simple. The bookmaker will provide an odds ratio. If you believe that the total number of goals in the match will be higher than the bookmaker's prediction, you can choose Over. If you think that the number of goals will be lower, you can choose Under. For whole number odds like 1, 2, 3, ..., if the number of goals scored equals the bookmaker's sure home win prediction for tomorrow, the bet is a tie.
European Handicap (1X2) odds:
Along with Asian Handicap and Over/Under odds, European Handicap is also a popular type of odds. Unlike Over/Under odds, when analyzing European Handicap odds, you only need to focus on the match result, not the number of goals scored.
European Handicap, also known as Win-Draw-Win or 1X2 odds, is denoted as 1X2 on the odds board.
When analyzing European Handicap odds, the bookmaker will provide three odds corresponding to the home team winning, drawing, and losing. You need to choose one of the three outcomes and place your bet. The higher the odds, the lower the probability that the bookmaker assigns to that outcome. If your selection is correct after the match, you win the bet.
Odd/Even odds:
Odd/Even, also known as Odd/Even or Odd/Even odds, is a type of odds where you bet on the total number of goals scored in the match. If you believe that the total number of goals will be an even number, you choose Odd; if you believe it will be an odd number, you choose Even. Odd/Even odds are often confused with Over/Under odds, but they are two different types of odds with different interpretations.
Corner Kick odds:
Corner Kick odds are one of the popular types of odds favored by many players. With these odds, the bookmaker provides a number corresponding to the total number of corner kicks from both teams. If you believe that there will be more corner kicks in the match, you choose Over; if you think there will be fewer corner kicks, you choose Under.
The method of analyzing Corner Kick odds is similar to analyzing Over/Under odds. However, instead of analyzing the number of goals scored, you need to analyze the number of corner kicks from both teams. Pay close attention to the playing style and attacking style of both teams when analyzing Corner Kick odds.
Yellow Card odds:
The method of reading Yellow Card odds is similar to Corner Kick odds. However, you need to analyze and predict the number of yellow cards that both teams will receive in the match. If you believe that the total number of yellow cards will be less than the bookmaker's prediction, you choose Under; if you think it will be higher, you choose Over.
Additionally, when discussing methods of reading football odds, you can also explore some other popular types of odds, such as:
- Handicap betting: This is where you bet on who will start the game.
- Accumulator betting: Betting on multiple types of odds (can be in different matches).
- Correct score betting: Betting based on the score at halftime/full time.
Guide to placing the most accurate bets
Bookmakers will provide a comprehensive odds table detailing the match scores along with the corresponding betting odds. For example, if a player bets on [1-0] for the home team to win with odds of [6.5], and the match score ends exactly [1-0], the player will receive the winning amount equal to the amount of the bet multiplied by 6.5.Note: The higher the betting odds, the lower the chance of winning, so players need to be vigilant in choosing the right betting option.
