The odds are you’ve heard of the Labouchere system if you’re a gambler. This system is called the split martingale, American progression, and Cancellation system. Unlike the martingale system, it is a negative progressive betting system, where you double your stake after losing while aiming to win. In this system, you try to recover your losses with several wagers. If you have a good bankroll, you may win back the money you lost in the long run as long as the stake increases.
The system was first proposed by Henry Labouchere ( 1831-1912), but this strategy was designed specifically for roulette. It was used for even money bets like red or black, odd or even, etc. However, this system has now been incorporated into blackjack, baccarat, and sports betting, yet to applied in spin and win real cash casinos.
How to Use Labouchere Betting System
The labouchere system is pretty easy to use, you only need to follow the guidelines, and you will be good to go.
Step 1
Select a set of numbers. You can arrange these numbers in any order you like, but it’s better to keep things straightforward, as in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Step 2
The sum of the first and last numbers in the sequence will always equal your wager. As in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. 1 + 8 = 9 will be your first wager.
Step 3
You add a number to the sequence if you lose. Examples are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Your next wager in this scenario will be 1 + 9 = 10.
Step 4
You eliminate the outer numbers if you triumph. as in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. In this case, Your subsequent wager will be 2 + 8 = 10.
Step 5
the end of the sequence. If you keep winning, there will ultimately be just one number left. The series will end if you wager that much.
Example 1
If you lose your $4 initial wager, you would add four to the end of the number sequence, making it 1-2-3-4. Therefore, $5 (1+4) would be the following wager. You would take away the one and the four if that had won.
With 2-3 remaining, the bet for the following wager would also be $5 (2+3). Say the following wager is unsuccessful. The sequence now needs to include a five.
The necessary bet is now $7. The two and the five must be crossed off if you win the following wager.
Now $3 is the required stake. If you succeed there, the cycle is over. The winning wagers total $15 ($5 + $5), whereas the losing wagers total $9 ($4 + $5). That amounts to a $6 overall victory, the same as the total numbers in the initial sequence. Learn also some blackjack winning strategies.
The Pros of This System
1. It’s Manageable for Most Players
The system is easy to use because you always know what your wagers are doing. You don’t need to calculate the gain or loss; just keep track of the number of previous losses and subsequent triumphs that lead you to win again. If you want to make it simpler, write down the number sequence on paper and do some calculations.
2. It’s Neat and Well Organized
The system is very neat and well-organized. You don’t have to take note of hand histories because you can enter your first wager and the number you lost into a spreadsheet. The key is determining the most recent win and where it led to, then knowing where to confirm your next bet.
3. Its Simple to Understand
Most players can grasp the basics of labouchere betting system easily. In addition, if you’re a blackjack player, you can also benefit from it. Blackjack is one of the games where it is best to view the hand histories and learn how to develop and improve your game so that you can win more, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it yourself. The best strategy is to discuss your results and hand histories with a local casino manager to find out what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong.
4. You May Win More Money in the long run
Your gains will increase if you show discipline and restraint when wagering while continuing to bet responsibly.
Cons of the Labouchere Betting Strategy
1. It Requires a Strong Bankroll
This may not be a problem for those who have enough money and have already won from the system. But it is a problem for the less experienced blackjack players trying to win big. If you lack the necessary money, this might be a good way to start and eventually make your initial losses back as long as you keep doing so. However, if your losses continue so much that you can’t afford to bet again, these losses might not be recouped.
2. You May Not Win Through a Single Bet
It’s unlikely for the first few consecutive bets to win. The Labouchere system requires you to take several wagers before you can win back your money. Theoretically, if you continue betting regularly, you will eventually have enough money so that it is possible to reclaim all of your previous losses in just one bet after a string of successive wins.
3. You May Lose Much More Money than You Win
This is probably the biggest disadvantage of this system. If you have a small bankroll, your losses will be higher than your winning. In addition, if you lose so much that you can’t afford to bet again, the losses may not be recouped with each bet.
Conclusion
The Labouchere system is an effective way to bet because it has a low risk and the potential to win more. You may not need to do a lot of calculations, keep track of your bets and ensure you have enough money in your bankroll to continue playing. Nevertheless, make sure you carefully choose the numbers. The underlying probability of winning should be an important factor in determining which number sequence would win at least 50% of the time.
With a little practice, you can use this system easily and effectively and become a pro gambler.
