Roulette might be largely a game of chance, but if you play casino online games often, you’ll know that there’s always an element of planning or skill involved. It’s always a good idea to have a betting system and strategy in place when you play roulette online or at a casino.

Labouchère is a versatile strategy worth learning if you enjoy casino table games or playing at casinos online. The system can be applied to several betting games — not just roulette — while the fundamentals are easy enough to grasp when they’re explained well.

Experienced players use the Labouchère betting system as an advanced strategy for success because it allows bettors to manage their bankroll over multiple bets with a high degree of accuracy. However, the system can be somewhat complicated for new players to understand.

It may take some time to get used to the basics, but once you’ve figured out the system, you’ll see why discerning players consider it one of the more effective strategies.

The Basics of Labouchère

Labouchère, also called the split Martingale or cancellation system, was developed by Henry Labouchère, an English politician and keen roulette player, and is one of the top systems and strategies for online roulette games. Although the system is designed with roulette odds in mind — specifically, even money outside bets such as red or black and odd or even — it can be used in any game with even odds, such as blackjack and baccarat. 

Henry based the strategy on a negative progression system, which is the same system used in the Paroli betting system. According to this logic, your bet should increase every time you lose, and the amount per wager is based on a predetermined amount. Before their first bets are placed, players who use Labouchère already have a goal in mind of how much they want to win — and they’ll continue placing bets until they’ve achieved that goal. 

Unlike the Martingale betting system, Labouchère avoids the risks associated with placing one large wager to win back losses, effectively becoming a split Martingale instead. It shares several similarities with the Fibonacci system, with both systems requiring players to increase their bets according to a predetermined sequence. But they’re not quite the same, though. Labouchère allows you to adjust your bet progression in real time, giving you more flexibility with bankroll management.

How the System Works

The first step for anybody using the Labouchère system is deciding on a sequence of numbers. Because the process of elimination that follows can be a bit complicated to explain, it’s best to start with a simple string of numbers from one to five (1–2–3–4–5) to make it easier to understand.

Each number represents a specific betting amount, with the sum of the sequence equal to the total amount you’re willing to wager. To simplify things further, let the value of “1” equal $1 so that each number is represented in its $ value. In this example, then, the total value being wagered becomes $15 ($1+$2+$3+$4+$5).

To start things off, add the first number of the sequence to the last. This gives you your first bet of $6 (1+5). If you’re lucky enough to win this first bet, you remove the relevant numbers from the sequence (which means taking away the 1 and the 5) so that you’re left with 2–3–4. Every win means you’re getting closer to your goal, so the sequence is shortened to reflect that progress.

Continuing with this example, your next bet follows the pattern of the first, namely, the sum of the first and last numbers (2+4=6). If this bet results in a loss, add the $6 to ensure the loss is covered for your next bet, which means the sequence becomes 2–3–4–6.

Ideally, this process repeats until you’re left with one remaining number. The final number represents the stake for your last bet in the sequence. The difficulty lies in winning often enough for this process of elimination to work.

Pros and Cons

Roulette’s popularity has exploded thanks to the rise of online casino games. Players are constantly on the lookout for ways to gain an edge over their opponents, and because Labouchere is based on even odds, it can also be used effectively in online roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and craps.

The system’s flexibility is easily its greatest strength. The higher the return to player (RTP), the more effective it becomes. Playing live dealer casino games with a high RTP is the best way to use Labouchère. It gets more complicated when it comes to even-money bets and games of chance.

The most important element is your goal for the game. With a clear goal in mind, you have a set amount to wager, and the sequence doesn’t need to be completed for you to walk away with a profit. In fact, it’s possible to have more losses than wins and still have a satisfying payout.

The payout odds for roulette at casinos vary greatly, so it’s crucial to stick to even-money bets if you want the system to work as intended. Things can get a little more complicated when you’re losing wagers. There’s no guarantee that you won’t go on a lengthy losing streak. Even if you have a large bankroll, you have to know when to give up the chase.

Every spin of the roulette wheel is a fresh start in terms of odds. Some players mistakenly believe that previous spins impact future ones — a common mistake known as the gambler’s fallacy. Essentially, the notion that every spin is a fresh start refers to the fact that, if the wheel happens to hit red 20 times in a row, it doesn’t mean a black number is more likely to be hit on the 21st spin. 

With the rapid growth of online casino roulette, it’s become easier to place bets and play for extended periods of time. This makes it all the more important to control your bets and avoid pitfalls like the gambler’s fallacy. If you possess the discipline to stop playing when the bets get too high, Labouchère is a worthwhile strategy to keep your bankroll efficient because you can track your bets easily, and every new stake will cover the losses of the previous one.

General Betting Strategies

Whether you’re playing roulette, online poker, slots, or even taking part in online poker tournaments, it’s important to keep the following simple things in mind.

Don’t Get Carried Away

Never let your emotions get the best of you. Keep a level head and make sure you don’t chase your losses or get ahead of yourself on a winning streak.

Learn the Rules

If you want to be successful at any game, you need to learn how to play it. Spend some time studying the rules and etiquette before you play.

Manage Your Bankroll

Before you start playing a game, you should decide on a budget and make sure you stick to it. Decide on how much you can spend per game and per spin.

Manage Your Time

It’s easy to get sucked into playing for long hours, but it’s essential that you take regular breaks and set aside a reasonable amount of time to play. Gambling should not interfere with your everyday life.

Put Your Betting System to the Test With Borgata Online

If you enjoy playing online casino games, register with Borgata Online and see how far your strategies take you, whether that’s playing online roulette, live dealer casino games such as poker and blackjack, or sports betting for all major sports.