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Leading Systems on Playing Roulette

A study of the most popular systems used at roulette over the years will show the variety of betting which takes place.

Simplest is the doubling-up system known as the martingale. It is usually employed on the even-money bets.

Suppose the player wishes to back the odd numbers in a French casino. He will start by placing one chip on impair. If it wins, the punter wins one chip and that is the end of that series.

If it loses, he next places two chips on impair. Another loss and he bets on four chips, another loss and he stakes eight chips, and so on, doubling the stake after each loss.

Suppose an odd number wins after four losses. The gambler wins 16 chips and on his four losing bets, he has lost 1+2+4+8=15 chips.

At the end of the series, he is therefore 1 chip ahead, and he begins again with a stake of 1 chip.

For instance, he might begin backing red after four successive blacks, or odd after four successive evens.

It is said that the martingale system cannot lose, and indeed if the bettor had sufficient funds to double his stake ad infinitum it could not, were it not for one thing.

Casino proprietors, knowing the danger, impose minimum and maximum limits to the stake.

A usual maximum is 500 times the minimum. On a losing sequence, the punter's stake will rise in the progression 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256.

After nine losers (and a loss of 511 chips), his next stake, 512, is not allowed, being over the maximum, so the system becomes inoperable. The probability of a sequence on nine losers is roughly 1/450.

So, over a long run, the gambler will expect that for approximately every 450 successful series, which will net him 450 chips, he will encounter a series which will lose him 511 chips.

On an American double-zero wheel, he will have approximately only 320 winning series to every losing one.

It is quite possible, of course, that two gamblers, one backing red and one backing black, and both using the martingale system, will each make a profit over several hours' play on the same wheel.

It is only when a long losing sequence occurs on either color that the advantage swings back to the bank.

The martingale is unattractive to most gamblers (apart for its expected loss), as they are prepared to suffer a long series of small losses provided that occasionally they can enjoy a big win.

Many prefer the reverse martingale. A gambler using this system and backing red, might place one chip on red and if it wins, leave it and his winnings on the table.

He might decide to do this until such time as he achieves a sequence of, say, nine winners when he will collect 512 chips as his winnings. Each time a black wins he will replace his one-chip stake.

The probability of a sequence of nine wins is roughly 1/580. So, over a long run, the gambler will expect to lose about 580 series, costing him 580 chips, for every series which wins 511 chips.

On an American double-zero wheel, he will have about 835 losing sequences for every nine-win sequence.

roulette casino game

	Leading Systems on Playing Roulette A study of the most popular systems used at roulette over the years will show the variety of betting which takes place. Simplest is the doubling-up system known as the martingale. It is usually employed on the even-money bets. Suppose the player wishes to back the odd numbers in a French casino. He will start by placing one chip on impair. If it wins, the punter wins one chip and that is the end of that series. If it loses, he next places two chips on impair. Another loss and he bets on four chips, another loss and he stakes eight chips, and so on, doubling the stake after each loss. Suppose an odd number wins after four losses. The gambler wins 16 chips and on his four losing bets, he has lost 1+2+4+8=15 chips. At the end of the series, he is therefore 1 chip ahead, and he begins again with a stake of 1 chip. For instance, he might begin backing red after four successive blacks, or odd after four successive evens. It is said that the martingale system cannot lose, and indeed if the bettor had sufficient funds to double his stake ad infinitum it could not, were it not for one thing. Casino proprietors, knowing the danger, impose minimum and maximum limits to the stake. A usual maximum is 500 times the minimum. On a losing sequence, the punter's stake will rise in the progression 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256. After nine losers (and a loss of 511 chips), his next stake, 512, is not allowed, being over the maximum, so the system becomes inoperable. The probability of a sequence on nine losers is roughly 1/450. So, over a long run, the gambler will expect that for approximately every 450 successful series, which will net him 450 chips, he will encounter a series which will lose him 511 chips. On an American double-zero wheel, he will have approximately only 320 winning series to every losing one. It is quite possible, of course, that two gamblers, one backing red and one backing black, and both using the martingale system, will each make a profit over several hours' play on the same wheel. It is only when a long losing sequence occurs on either color that the advantage swings back to the bank. The martingale is unattractive to most gamblers (apart for its expected loss), as they are prepared to suffer a long series of small losses provided that occasionally they can enjoy a big win. Many prefer the reverse martingale. A gambler using this system and backing red, might place one chip on red and if it wins, leave it and his winnings on the table. He might decide to do this until such time as he achieves a sequence of, say, nine winners when he will collect 512 chips as his winnings. Each time a black wins he will replace his one-chip stake. The probability of a sequence of nine wins is roughly 1/580. So, over a long run, the gambler will expect to lose about 580 series, costing him 580 chips, for every series which wins 511 chips. On an American double-zero wheel, he will have about 835 losing sequences for every nine-win sequence.