I want to begin this post by making it really clear that Roulette is a gambling game and, as such, it depends on luck (or the turn of a wheel, if you’re feeling poetic). Of course, the house edge can fluctuate depending on how you play, but your edge will never ever be 0%. If you can understand and accept that, then you’ll be a much happier player in the long term.
Warnings done and dusted, let’s discuss Roulette strategies and their effectiveness. Learning about each one will help you decide which work best with your playing style, and even whether or not they’re worth employing at all.
Martingale system
This is the most popular (and longest standing) of all the Roulette systems out there. It’s such a big deal that we’ve given it its own article, which you can read here. But if you’re looking for a fresh technique, then read on and we’ll give you the lowdown on what else is out there.
Reverse Martingale system
This is also called the Paroli system and, just like the Martingale system, it’s considered a steep progressive strategy. But what does this mean? Essentially it refers to a system that works well with outside bets where the probability of a favourable result sits close to 50%. The premise of this system is to allow you maximum opportunity to recoup your losses. On the negative side, luck’s intervention means you might very well run out of money a lot sooner than with some other systems. In short, it’s a good system to employ if you appear to be on a winning streak.
How does it work? Players increase their bet after a win. With each consecutive win, the bet increases a little bit more. To stop the system from turning around on you, you should only go a maximum of three decisions before decreasing your bet to its original amount. Here’s a practical example: Bet $10, if it’s a win your next bet should be $20, if you win again your bet $40. At this point the player should set all the profit aside, and begin again with the original $10 bet.
Fibonacci system
This system gets its title from the Fibonacci sequence. In this numerical pattern, each of the numbers in the sequence is a sum of two previous numbers. The Fibonacci sequence looks like this:
1 – 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 8 – 13 – 21 – 34 – 55 – 89 – 144 – 233 – 377 – 610 – 987
Confused as to how this could apply to Roulette? Read this next bit.
How does it work? The player starts by betting an amount corresponding to the first number in the sequence. Every time he loses, he moves to the next number in the sequence, betting the corresponding value. However, each time he wins, he moves two numbers backwards. If the player reaches the beginning of the sequence, he just keeps betting an amount corresponding to the first number.
All of the bets used in the Fibonacci strategy are even chance bets (offering 50/50 odds). That means that the player can choose to bet on red/black, even/odd or high/low. Many view this strategy as the most flawed of the lot.
Labouchere system
This system is also called the ‘cancellation system’ or the ‘split Martingale strategy’. It’s a negative progression system that was invented by Henry Labouchere. He created it specifically with Roulette in mind, unlike a couple of the other systems which are also applied to other casino games. The Labouchere system aims to win your losses back over the course of the game, therefore it’s ideally suited to players with big bankrolls.
How does it work? First off, you’ll need to set a goal for the amount of money that you want to win. Let’s take $100 as an example. Next, you’ll need to divide this figure up into smaller numbers which add up to the amount you want to win. For example, 10-20-10-10-10-20-10-5-5. There’s no specific way to divide up the number, or how many parts, that’s up to the player.
Next, you have to add up the rightmost and leftmost numbers, and bet that figure. In our case that first bet would attract a $15 bet. If you win the bet, you cross out each figure, and for the next round, use the new rightmost and leftmost figures. However, if you lose, you don’t cross out any numbers, and you add the amount that you bet onto the right side of your sequence.
James Bond system
Despite the suave name, this system is designed around a flat betting strategy. That means players must bet the same amount every round. In order to apply the James Bond system properly, players need at least $200 to gamble with. That’s because there’s some strict rules about how much money is put down, and where it’s placed.
How does it work? Once you have that $200 in hand, you need to bet $140 on high numbers (19-36), $50 on the six lower numbers (anything from 13 to 18) and a final $10 on 0 as insurance. If the ball stops on any number from 19 to 36 (both numbers included), you’ll make a profit of at least $80. If one of the six numbers come up (from 13 to 18), you’ll make a profit of $100. If you are lucky enough to see green and get a 0, you will make a whopping $160 profit.
D’Alembert system
If you’re not much of a risk taker then this low risk strategy is probably your best bet. It works with flat progression, meaning you never increase your bet size after a loss. It also follows a binary betting technique, to ensure that for every spin of the wheel, the player’s chances of winning or losing are 50/50. Over a long enough period of time, there’ll be points where you will have won more games than lost, and vice versa. The trick is to know when to get out, a hurdle that has tripped up many a Roulette player. If you have the bankroll to play for as long as it takes to make a tidy profit, don’t stick around in an attempt to make it bigger. Simply cash out, and walk away with the profits.
How does it work? For every loss, raise your bet and for every win, lower your bet. The idea with this system is that if you increase your bets with every loss, when you eventually win, you’ll win back your losses, since you’re always matching your potential future payouts with your increasing losses.
So, which is the best Roulette system?
When it comes to Roulette, there’s no perfect strategy. The element of luck is too strong, and no sequence of plays can truly ever outpace the random destination of the roulette ball. Of course you can choose to be smart about your bank roll. You can even select bets that expose you to the best odds. Ultimately, however, the best way to play is to choose the safest bets and enjoy the thrill of the game, regardless of the outcome. That’s a strategy you can get started on right here at SkyCity Online Casino.
