Martingale One of the first betting systems most people learn, it's intuitively appealing, easy to use, and can cause many very quick wins. Here's how it works: Start off with a basic wager amount. Let's say $5, to start. If you lose, place a $10 bet on the next round. If you lose again place a $20 bet. Lose again, $40, and so on and so on. You double up every single time until you finally win, and then start off again at $5. Let's assume we happened to win the $40 hand. In the previous hands, we lost $35 ($5 + $10 + $20) dollars, on the $40 hand we won. Our total winnings are $40 - $35 = $5. It turns out that no matter how many times you double, as long as you can keep on doubling, you will eventually win and get your starting wager amount back. Pros Very high chance of winning your basic betting amount ($5 in the example above) Easy and simple to use Cons Complications arise for games like blackjack, where you may need to double or split. Casinos have betting limits that prevent you from doubling indefinitely. Depends on the table, this limit can be $100, $200, $500 or even $10,000. But eventually you will reach that limit. When you do, you could find yourself losing a lot of money. Overall Before you decide to use this sytem, consider the following very carefully. On an American roulette wheel, by betting on a single color, you have about a 47% chance of winning and 53% chance of losing. If you start your bet at $5, and the table has a maximum of $500, that leaves you with roughly a 1 in 100 chance of losing $635, with no further opportunities to double up. Given that at most online casinos, you can easily play 200 or more rounds of roulette in an hour, this method becomes a big loser. Avoid it at all costs. Grand Martingale Like the Martingale above, except that after each bet you not only double your principal amount of money, but you add a base unit (original bet amount) to it each and every time. Considering that the Martingale is such a loser, this method, which requires even more money, can only be considered worse. Avoid it. Mini Grand Martingale Like the Martingale above, except that after each bet you not only double your principal amount of money, but you add $1 to it each and every time. Considering that the Martingale is such a loser, this method, which requires even more money, can only be considered worse. Avoid it. Reverse Martingale or Parlay Similar to the Martingale, but everything is reversed. Start with some basic amount (let's say $5), and then double up after each win, up to some fixed amount. If you lose, start all over again at your basic amount. Pros Each progression through the betting sequence will limit your loss to your initial bet. So every time you complete a "sequence" of bets, you will only lose your initial amount or win a very large amount. As easy and simple to use as the Martingale Cons It can be difficult to have enough wins in a row to make any money through this method, and by the time you do have enough wins to get ahead, you may have already lost more than you win. Overall This is reasonably safe betting system. It doesn't carry the same level of stress that the Martingale carries, and if you stick to the system, since each sequence of bets only costs you $5 initially, you can get a lot of satisfaction out of it. Labouchere One of the more complicated and insidious betting systems. In this system you pick a series of numbers. For example, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8. When placing your bet, select the first and last number in the series and add them together. In this series you would chose 1 and 8, for a total of 9. You then place a $9 bet. If you win, you cross out the 1 and 8. The system becomes 2-3-4-5-6-7. On the other hand, if you lose youcross out the 1 and add the 9 to the back of the system. It then becomes 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9. Repeat the betting process for the new system. If you manage to cross out all of the numbers, start at the very beginning with a new sequence of numbers. Once again, this sytem is intuitively appealing. In order to end up ahead, you need to win half as many times as you lose. Given that on a standard roulette wheel you have around a 47:53 win:lose ratio, it becomes relatively easy to complete the sequence of numbers. However, a sequence can sometimes spiral out of control and you could end up losing a large amount of money. Pros Each progression through the betting sequence ends up with a decent chance of ending up ahead, meaning that you'll win more often than you lose Cons A relatively complicated system, you may need some practice with it before making use of it at a casino. Like the Martingale, the potential for loss is very high--probably the highest out of all betting systems mentioned here. Overall The potential for loss using the Labouchere is high. As was mentioned above, it can become very easy for a betting sequence to spiral out of control causing you to bet more than you're prepared to bet. Other Systems D'Alembert Start with an initial bet. Every time you lose, increase your bet by that initial amount. Every time you win, lower it by that intial amount. This is a progression system which tries to win back your losses in small steps instead of all at once like the Martingale. It was designed for use on the even chance bets on a roulette table but can be used on any even chance bets. Concept d’Alembert works under the assumption that over a period of time there will be an equal number of ‘reds’ and ‘blacks’. We start the session by placing one unit ($1, $5 or any other value) on one of the even chance bets (e.g. ‘red’), after a losing spin we increase the next bet by one unit and after a winning bet we decrease the next bet by one unit. So if we were betting on ‘red’ and the spins were - black, black, black, red, black, red, red, black, red, red, red - then the bets placed would be as follows (the numbers in brackets show the level of your bankroll after the spin): 1 (-1), 2 (-3), 3 (-6), 4 (-2), 3 (-5), 4 (-1), 3 (+2), 2 (+0), 3 (+3), 2 (+5), 1 (+6) This sequence would end with a win of $6. As you can see, as soon as the number of ‘reds’ is equal to the number of ‘blacks’ plus one then the sequence ends with a win. You may also notice that after the 7th, 9th and 10th spins we were also showing a profit, this is because the bets placed on winning spins are one unit greater than the previous losing spin. Having the possibility of a positive bankroll before the sequence is complete allows us to choose to cut the session short and take a smaller win rather than risking the chance of the session ending badly. The Catch Although the d’Alembert reduces the chances of a complete wipe-out of your bankroll when compared to the Martingale, the possibility is still there. A long sequence of consecutive losses or a period of time where ‘black’ occurs more often than ‘red’ will soon put the system in a position where it becomes almost impossible to recover. As always the house edge works on every spin, and so increasing your bets will eventually increase your losses. Blackjack Variation d’Alembert can be adapted for use on blackjack by following a couple of simple rules. When you have a stand off the next bet remains the same. If you lose a double or split you must step up your bet by one unit for every stake lost e.g. if your current bet is 5 units and you double the hand and lose then your next bet would be 7. If you win a double or split you must step down your bet by one unit for every stake won e.g. if you had won the hand in the previous example then your next bet would be 3 units. If you get ‘blackjack’ then you can either count this as a bonus and step down your next bet by one unit as usual or you can step down your next bet by two units. note. stepping down by 2 units may sometimes end a session with a slight loss, but it gives a greater chance of completing a session. Using d’Alembert with blackjack usually gives more chances to cut a session short and collect a small win because off the extra winnings gained when doubling and splitting. Of course you must use the correct basic strategy or this type of progression will become very costly. Conclusion d’Alembert gives you two bonuses over the Martingale, firstly you do not increase your bets as rapidly which gives you the chance to stop a session and accept a small to medium loss. Secondly, you can find that your bankroll is positive before a session is complete, this give you the option to cut short a session with a small win. The downside is that a session can last for many spins, so you should always give yourself time to run through a full session. The main problem is that which is related to all progressive systems - you will win little and often but when you lose it will probably wipe out all previous winnings and eat into your main bankroll. As with all progressive systems you must be very careful when you use them, the d’Alembert is not as dangerous as the Martingale but it can still be the cause of very large losses. Up and Down Like the D'Alambert, only reversed. Every time you win, increase your bet by your initial amount. Every time you lose, lower it by the same amount. Dahl's Progression Place your bets according to the following sequence: 5-5-7-7-10-10-15-15-25-25-35-35-50. Once you reach the top of the sequence, continue to bet 50. If you should happen to lose at any point, restart the sequence. (quit and revert any time you are even or when ahead by a comfortable margin - personal choice) 2 in 5 Place your bets according to the following sequence: 5-7-12-15-25. As soon as you win two bets in the series, or if you should happen to lose at 25, restart the series. 31 Place your bets using the following sequence: 1-1-1-4-8-16. Progress to the next number in the series if you lose. If you should win, however, double (parlay) this amount and bet again. If you should win again, restart the series. If you should lose, move up to the next number in the progression. Once you lose at 16, start the sequence over. Fibonacci Similar to the D'alembert, except instead of doubling or halving your bet each time, move up and down based on the following sequence: 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21-34-55-89-144-... Like the D'alembert, should you lose, move to the next number in the series. Should win you, fall back one number (or stay at that number then revert to base bet). EXAMPLE: a progression of 4 losses and two wins (LLLLWW) leaves us at -1 -1 -2 -3 +5 +3 = +1, where we have lost twice as many bets as we have won, but still pocketed 1 unit, simply because we have won two bets in a row. In a similar series where we do not win two in a row, but only 2 of 3 (LLLLWLW) we again restart the series, but this time out profit picture will be -1 -1 -2 -3 +5 -3 +5 = 0, where our 2 of 3 wins has neutralized the progression, and we start again at 1 unit. And suppose we decided to play a 12-step Fibonacci, with our top bet being 144 units. Our total risk, which is the complete and utter loss of an entire series, is 376 units, or 1 +1 +2 +3 +5 +8 +13 +21 +34 +55 +89 +144 = 376. We can lose eleven bets in a row, (LLLLLLLLLLLWLW), lose a total of 232 units in a row, then win 144, lose 89, win 144 for a total loss of 33 units, less than 10% of our session money. The odds against losing 11 bets in a row are the same as winning 11 bets in a row, 2047 to 1. And the odds against losing our whole series of 12 bets are 4095 to 1. You could use this system 365 days a year and expect 11 losses in a row every 5 ½ years, and a loss of a total series once every 11 years The problem with the Fibonacci is not safety, therefore, but the fact that approximately half of your wins will come at the very first level of 1 unit, making it a boring albeit profitable grind. In order to counteract this situation, some gamblers will begin their progression at the 4th or 5th level, and alternately move up or down as they win or lose, depending on their temperament and goals. EXAMPLE: We begin with 5 units and win. We then move up the progression and win 8 units. We have won a total of 13 units and completed our Fibonacci objective of two wins in a row. Now we reduce our bet to 3 units, locking in a profit of 10 units if we lose it. But if we win that 3 units bet, our next is 5 units. The variations are practically limitless, and the safety level is very high. The Fibonacci is a great system for the recreational gambler, the grind player who wants a few enjoyable hours gambling without jeopardizing his mortgage, and the pro who wants to ease into his game before he gets serious. To use the Fibonacci properly, a player must first memorize the progression, and then practice at home flipping a coin, until the bets are made automatically. It is a perfect system for all the even-chance games like Craps, Baccarat and Roulette, and can be easily modified into a money-management system for Blackjack and sports betting. It is also acknowledged as an excellent system for partners betting opposite each other. However you decide to employ this versatile progression, you will find fewer more powerful ways to win with as little risk. O'Hare Straddle Take out a very large short-term loan from any source that's available. Use all of it on a single wager save for enough to purchase a ticket to South America. If you win, pay back your debt and enjoy. If you lose, quickly flee the country with the money you saved for your plane ticket. 1-3-2-6 A very simple, straightforward betting system. Place bets based on the following progression: 1-3-2-6. If you should happen to lose, start over again at 1. Paroli Very similar to a reverse of the "Super Martingale". Reinvest your winnings plus add your original bet to the amount. For example, bet $5. If you win, bet $10+$5 = $15. If you should win again bet $30 + $5 = $35. If you should win yet again bet $70 + $5 = $75. Regression System This system is designed for use on even chance bets. Concept The idea behind the regression system is that every session starts with a wining bet and then builds on this foundation. You start by placing a 2 unit bet and if this wins you then reduce your next bet to 1 unit. By doing this your bankroll after the first winning bet will have increased by one unit whether or not you win the next bet. After your initial win you then increase the bet after every win by one unit, this means that you will not take a profit on the second win but after a number of consecutive wins you will start to rake in large amounts. To compare how this system works against a series of flat bets I have set up a table that shows how your bankroll would fare if playing with $5 units Winning Sequence Regression Flat Bet L -$10 -$10 W,L +$5 +$0 W,W,L +$5 +$10 W,W,W,L +$10 +$20 W,W,W,W,L +$20 +$30 W,W,W,W,W,L +$35 +$40 W,W,W,W,W,W,L +$55 +$50 W,W,W,W,W,W,W,L +$80 +$60 W,W,W,W,W,W,W,W,L +$110 +$70 W,W,W,W,W,W,W,W,W,L +$145 +$80 W,W,W,W,W,W,W,W,W,W,L +$185 +$90 From this table we can see that the regression system needs to get a series of at least six consecutive wins in order to show a larger profit than flat betting. Sessions between two and five wins show a smaller profit, but the big advantage of this system is that you can ride out a losing streak (or even show a small profit if the streak is not too severe), and still make a killing when the luck turns your way. The Catch There isn’t much of a catch to this system. You are trading off medium run wins for wins of one run and wins of 6+ runs. Remember that the house edge will be working on all bets and not just your initial bet, and that when your bets get very large you are playing with your money and NOT the casinos. Blackjack This system can be used effectively on blackjack, but remember that you may need extra money to double or split the cards. If the casino you are playing at allows multiple splits with doubles then a very promising win can turn bad very quickly. Always use the correct basic blackjack strategy but if the stakes are getting too high then it may be wise not to split or double. You may even decide to take insurance if the bet is very large (something you should not normally do) and it’s the difference between a losing day and a winning day. (note. Over the long run you will be better sticking to basic blackjack strategy). Conclusion This system can be very effective if you have the patience to wait for the long runs. You can have some great pay off's and still be picking up small bets through the bad times to keep your bankroll topped up. It’s very nice when you start out on a series of bets knowing that your bankroll has increased, but equally unpleasant when you see a $100 bet lose. Although it will not alter the long term edge the casino has, this system can be very useful - Learn it!