Do you think roulette is all about luck? This is not true. Indeed, to master roulette, you do not need as many skills as, say, in blackjack or poker, but there are enough tricky tricks here that will help increase the chances of winning.

By such techniques, we primarily mean betting strategies that should be followed during the game.

The idea is that by betting according to a predetermined plan and clearly reacting to each win or loss, the player is less exposed to serious losses and is insured against excessive wastefulness.

Martingale roulette strategy

Where to begin? The Martingale strategy is by far the most popular of all roulette strategies. Largely due to the fact that it is very easy to learn.

The Martingale strategy appeared much earlier than Las Vegas, James Bond, and even the formation of the United States of America – it has been known since at least the middle of the 18th century. Around the same time, roulette appeared in its modern form.

According to legend, the Martingale strategy became popular when a certain Mr. Martingale, the owner of a gambling house, encouraged players to use this strategy when playing at one of his tables. And, although this story has no evidence, the fact remains that this simple strategy quickly spread around the world.

Despite the fact that the Martingale system appeared much earlier than the Internet, it can be easily used in online casinos.

How the Martingale system works

The main idea of the Martingale system is that every time you lose, you need to double your bet. Follow this strategy, and when you finally win, all previous losses will be repaid. After that, return to the original bet size.

Traditionally, the Martingale strategy is used for bets where the player has more chances to win: red/black, 1-18/19-36, even/odd. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be used with other types of bets, just that you may need quite a few chips to end up winning.

By the way, another advantage of playing in an online casino is that playing for even money (red/black, etc.) online has significantly lower betting limits compared to a traditional casino.

In the example above, you can see how quickly even small bets grow: it only took three losses before the initial €1 bet turned into €8. If the bet didn’t play again, then 8€ would double to 16€ – the end of the game for players with a budget of 10€.

With this in mind, always remember that the smaller your initial bet, the more likely you are to stay in the game for an extended period of time.

Key Findings

Here are a few key points to keep in mind when you decide to put the Martingale strategy to the test:

Start small: remember that if you lose, you have to double your bet. As you can see from the example above, such a raise can quickly push you to the edge of your game budget, so don’t bet more than a few chips from the start.

While you can use the Martingale strategy for any type of bet, we recommend using it only for even bets: red/black, 1-18/19-36, even/odd.

Making big bets in the hope of big wins is a tempting idea, but remember that you can lose everything in a matter of minutes. Small stakes, in turn, allow you to gradually accumulate profits and enjoy the game for a long time.

Labouchere system in roulette

Unlike the Martingale, the Labouchere system is perfect for those who want to win a certain amount of money. It is also a suitable roulette strategy for conservative players or those with limited chips.

Named after its inventor, the British politician Henry Labouchere, the Labouchere system has remained consistently popular since its inception in the mid-19th century. It is known as a negative progression system, when bets increase after a loss, however, unlike the Martingale strategy, everything is not so simple here (at least at first glance).

Henry Labouchere often used this system in gambling houses in London. It should be noted right away that this is not the best strategy for players who want to win big. But it is well suited to patient players who prefer to spend several hours at the table, not minutes.

How does the Labouchere system work?

The Labouchere system only works with equal money bets: red/black, 1-18/19-36, even/odd. Be sure to keep this in mind while playing, as using this complex straight-up betting system can cause you to lose your bankroll quickly.

Choose any amount

If you want to stick to the Labouchere system, the first thing to do is decide on the amount you want to win. It can be any number, but it’s better to start with a smaller amount, as it won’t require too many risky bets.

Let’s say you stopped at the amount of 10 €. Now take a notebook and a pen and break this number into a series of numbers that add up to 10. For example, like this:

1 – 2 – 3 – 3 – 1

Write these numbers in any order. The main thing is that the total amount remains equal to the one you want to win.

Place your bets

The first bet is calculated by adding the two extreme numbers. In the example above it is 2 € (1+1). If the bet has played, congratulations! Cross out the first and last number in the sequence and play on:

2 – 3 – 3

What if you lose?

If the bet has not played, add the amount of the lost bet by the end of the sequence. In our example, the size of the next bet will be 3 € (1 + 2):

1 – 2 – 3 – 3 – 1 – 2

Okay, what’s next?

Repeat the cycle: add the amount of lost bets to the end of the sequence and cross out the numbers after winning – and so on until you have no numbers left. If this happens, then you have managed to achieve your goal and win the desired amount (in our example, this is 10 €).

Is it possible to lose?

The Labouchere system works great if you have a good chip pool. Let’s say if you want to repeat the example we described with a bankroll of 10 €, just three losses in a row will lead to bankruptcy.

With that in mind, it’s better to spread your bets over a large sequence of numbers rather than go all-in with one or two bets. If you have a limited number of chips in your hands, then it is better to choose a smaller target.

Key Findings

So here’s what to keep in mind the next time you sit down at the table:

The Labouchere system is a negative progression strategy: the stakes increase when you lose.

The system only works with equal money bets.

Start by choosing the amount you want to win. The fewer chips you have, the smaller the amount you should choose to avoid bankruptcy.

When you win, cross out the extreme numbers from the sequence. And when you lose, add the lost bet to the end.

When playing with the Labouchere system, take your time. Keep a pen and notepad close at hand to update the sequence of numbers and keep a close eye on your wins and losses.