Handicapping
- If you are seeking information on the evolutionary theory proposed by Israeli biologist Amotz Zahavi, please see Handicap theory.
Handicapping is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning and the various methods by which the advantage is calculated. In principle, a more experienced player is disadvantaged in order to make it possible for a less experienced player to participate in the game or sport whilst maintaining fairness.
Handicapping is used often in scoring many games and competitive sports, including Go, Golf, Bowling, Polo, Yacht Racing, and Track and Field events and serve to foster wagering on Horse Racing events. Often, races, contests or tournaments where this practice is competitively employed are known as Handicaps.
The term Handicap derives from an obsolete custom of placing a note conveying the forfeiture of a game in the cap of the opponent.