How to Master Roulette with the Best Roulette Strategies
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Here we share some of our favourite tips and strategies to help you master the spinning wheel.
What is roulette?
Roulette is a popular casino game named after the French word meaning little wheel. Players, usually up to 8, will stand around the roulette table, where there will be a roulette wheel and a felt layout. The wheel is divided into 37 divisions representing the numbers 0 through to 36 and they alternate colours between black and red. The layout represents the possible bet options.
A croupier will spin the wheel in one direction and send a small ball spinning round inside in the opposite direction. As the ball slows it will come to a stop in one of the numbered divisions. The idea of the game is to predict where the ball will land after each spin. Players will bet by placing chips on the corresponding number or other bet options on the layout.
Before learning the rules or best strategies of Roulette you need to take some time to get familiar with the roulette playing table, understanding what everything is and some of the best places to play are essential in becoming a pro.
The below interactive roulette board will allow you to become fully accustom to everything before you play for real so that you look and feel like a master.
History of the game
There is much debate over the origins of this popular casino game, but there is one theory that takes favour. It is believed the first form of roulette was devised in 18th century France after French physicist Blaise Pascal introduced a primitive form of the roulette wheel in his bid to invent a perpetual motion machine.
Eventually concepts of other games were fused together using the wheel to create the game of roulette as we know it today. It has been played in its present form since as early as 1796 where it dominated the casinos of Paris.
By the turn of the 19th century, roulette had spread all over Europe and the US, where players were flocking to place bets on the resting place of a tiny ivory ball. The game continued to grow in popularity and by the 20th century many casinos dedicated their entire hall to the much-loved game.
Today, roulette still draws in big crowds in casinos all over the world. With such a dedicated following, it’s no wonder roulette was brought on to our computer screens allowing us to enjoy the game from the comfort of our own homes. Online casinos make it possible for players to play any type of game they wish and make the spinning wheel more accessible than ever.
Basic Rules
It is customary for players to place all bets before the croupier spins the wheel; however in some casinos players may bet up until the ball is about to drop into a numbered division. In any case, all betting stops when the croupier announces “no more bets”. In online roulette the player can decide when the wheel starts spinning.
Once the ball has settled, the croupier will place a marker on the layout on the corresponding number where the ball stopped. The dealer will then pay off all those who had bets on the winning number or combinations that include the winning number. All bets are then cleared from the table and the next round begins.
Depending on the type of Roulette game you play, different rules might apply. The most common additional rules are for French Roulette. These are the ‘La Partage’ and the ‘En Prison’ rules, which effectively halve the casino edge on even-money bets. So for example, a bet on Red on a single-zero roulette table with the La Partage rule or the En Prison rule has a 1.35% House edge.
En Prison rule
This applies to even-money bets only. When the ball lands on the zero division, the player can either take back half their bet or leave the bet (“in prison”) on the table ready for another roulette spin. In the latter option, if the ball ends on zero again, then the entire bet is lost.
La Partage
The La Partage rule is similar to the En Prison rule, only the player loses half the bet and is not given the option to leave the bet on the table for the next spin.
The two most popular types of roulette are American and European Roulette the main difference aside from rule changes (stated above) is the roulette wheel. In America Roulette the wheel has a Zero and a Double Zero slot, whereas a European Roulette wheel has only one Zero slot. As suggested by their names each type of Roulette is mainly played in the stated continent.
Betting Types
There are two categories of roulette bets: “outside” and “inside” bets. The former are more likely to produce a winner, whereas inside bets are riskier but can lead to bigger payouts. As mentioned before, all outside bets lose if the ball lands on zero.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are bets that are placed on any numbered section of the layout, including bets on lines and intersections. They typically involve up to six numbers only.
| Straight Up – A bet on one single number only | 35 to 1 |
| Split – betting splits two numbers | 17 to 1 |
| Street – Any three numbers horizontal (e.g. 1, 2, 3) | 11 to 1 |
| Corner – any four adjoining numbers in a block | 8 to 1 |
| Double Street/ Six Line – any six numbers in two rows | 5 to 1 |
Outside Bets
These bets do not involve specific numbers and are placed on the outside sections of the layout. Outside bets typically have smaller payouts but with better odds at winning.
| Red or Black – A bet on any red or any black numbers | Even |
| Odds or Evens – A bet that the number will be of the chosen type | Even |
| 1-18 or 9-36 – A bet on whether the number will be in either range | Even |
| Dozens – Wagers on the first 12 numbers, second 12, or third 12 | 2 to 1 |
| Columns – Wagers on any of the three columns on the grid | 2 to 1 |
Best Strategies
As with all casino games, there are no strategies that guarantee you a win and we do not encourage you to use any strategies that may be too complicated or may require you to stake over and above what you can afford to lose (for more information please see http://responsiblegambling.coral.co.uk/ and https://help.coral.co.uk/s/article/Promotional-Terms-and-Conditions). There are however several systems with varying risk levels that you can do to help you play. Here we have compiled some of the more popular strategies to help you find a roulette strategy that is right for you.
Low-risk strategy
Martingale – With the Martingale you double your lost bets until you hit a win, effectively meaning you always recoup your lost bets. It is most commonly used on Red or Black but it can be applied all over the table. Although, in theory this is a win-win strategy, you will need to have a very large budget. A lengthy losing streak can rack up your bet fast. For example, lose a £5 bet on Black 13 times in a row and your next bet would be a staggering £40,960 just to cover your losses.
La Bouchere – The La Bouchere is a progressive roulette strategy that requires a little more thought and calculation. You start with deciding on a number you hope to win and divide that amount into 5 lots. For example, £20 could be divided into ‘3 4 6 4 3’. You then add the first and last number of that sequence, and bet the total amount. In this example you would bet £6. If you win, you then cancel the first and last numbers off the list, leaving you with ‘4 6 4’ Then repeat the method with the new first and last numbers. Should that bet win, you are left with ‘6’, to which you would stake £6 on an even bet. If you win that too, then you have completed the system and should have won £20.
Oscar’s Grind – This is a low risk strategy for even money bets, essentially meaning it requires a lot of time and patience for only a small profit. This system splits your pot into strings. A string ends when you’re in profit. You start a string with a £1 and keep placing the same bet until you eventually hit a win. If you are down in profit, you then raise the bet to £2. If you carry on hitting losses you will raise the bet to £3 once you hit a win. The aim is to make a £1 profit after each sting, and that’s it.
Flat betting – Flat betting is easy to implement as technically there’s no real strategy to follow. You simply bet a set amount on every spin. You’re likely to make a profit in a session, but lose in the long run. This is a strategy that is best for newcomers who know when to walk away.
Medium-risk strategy
Paroli – This is a medium risk strategy where you have a high chance of winning big. The system gets you out of a winning run before you lose your earnings. If you lose your first bet then you maintain that stake for the next bet. If you win, you double your stake. As soon as you lose, you go back to your starting bet. Similarly, to minimise the risk, if you win three bets on the bounce, then you go back to your original starting bet.
Cover the Table – Utilise this strategy to try and guarantee a win on every spin. Simply put, you cover a wide selection of grid numbers on the roulette table to increase your odds of win the spin. However, bear in mind, when you win, you win small, and when you lose, you lose big. If you’re playing for fun then this is a good method but it’s not tactical or useful when playing for money.
High-risk strategy
Reverse Martingale – This is a reverse technique of the Martingale system. You simply double your bets after each win, and stop betting after each loss. The important thing here is to know when to walk away whilst you’re on a winning streak as your wins won’t go on forever. It’s high risk, but it can pay out well.
D’Alembert – This is a high-risk strategy but the odds of winning larger amounts are in your favour. As an example for this system, you would start with an even bet, staking £5. If you win the game, you would then keep the stake the same. If you lose, you have to increase the stake by the original amount (in this case, £5). However, when you win, you reduce your bet by the original stake. Theoretically, you should win the same amount of stake money as you lose, resulting in a profit at the end of the game.
Reverse D’Alembert – High risk but gives you the chance of being very profitable. Simply put, the reverse D’Alembert dictates you double your bet each game you win, and halve your bet when you lose. This is played on even money bets such as Red/Black. Although simple in theory, players should be cautious doubling stakes.
Top tips when playing
