THE LABOUCHERE BETTING SYSTEM EXPLAINED

Should you use the Labouchere system or not? Well, really understanding how the Labouchere strategy works would definitely help you reach a conclusion, wouldn’t it? That is precisely what we’ll be helping you with in this post!

Join us as we examine how the Labouchere betting system works, how it functions in roulette, what its pros and cons are, and where you could put this betting strategy to good use.

What is the Labouchere roulette strategy?

Invented by Henry Labouchere, the Labouchere strategy is a negative progression system that has several other names to it, including the Split Martingale system and the Cancellation system.

This system can be used in several casino games, but the most popular choice is undoubtedly roulette. With so many even-money bets, an avid gambler has several options to choose from; for example, the Odd/Even bets, Red/Black bets and the Low/High bets. We’ll discuss this in greater detail later on. Before that, let’s delve into how the Labouchere system works.

How does the Labouchere betting system work?

The main idea behind the Labouchere system is to establish how much you want to win; for example, €10, break the number down into several numbers and sort them into a sequence of your liking. Using this example, let’s say that our winning goal (€10) will be broken into 1-2-3-2-1-1.

The first and last numbers of the sequence are used to determine your bet. To stick to the example above, your first bet should be €2, consisting of the first number (1) and the last (1).

If the player wins, the two digits will be crossed out and dropped from the original sequence. The new sequence will therefore be 2-3-2-1, making your next bet €3 (2+1).

The best-case scenario would be that you’ll winning bets continue until the initial sequence is completely crossed out, at which point, you can opt for a new sequence or stop the bets altogether.

If you lose, things get somewhat hairy. Let’s go back to our very own sequence of 1-2-3-2-1-1, for example. Should we lose our first bet (€2), we must add it to the end of the sequence, making it 1-2-3-2-1-1-2. If the next bet is a losing bet as well, you’ll have to add the second bet to the end of the sequence again. Yes, the sequence can get pretty long if you suffer consecutive losses while using the Labouchere system.

The Labouchere roulette system charts – examples of use

The best way to understand the Labouchere betting system is to try it for yourself. The second best way to do that is by using visuals. Have a look at the chart below to see how the Labouchere betting system is used while suffering a mixture of wins and losses.

CHART

A long losing streak is very much a possibility when playing roulette, and that includes playing roulette with the Labouchere betting strategy in place. Keep this in mind before taking a stab at the game this way.

Furthermore, just like any other roulette strategy out there, using the Labouchere betting system doesn’t guarantee a win. Luck is roulette’s dominant factor, be it American roulette, European roulette or French roulette.

Variations of the Labouchere betting system

There are several variations of the Labouchere betting system, including:

• Reverse Labouchere system
• Reverse Labouchere with stop loss
• Reverse Labouchere on two Dozens or two Columns
• Reverse Labouchere on two Dozens and two Columns
• The Johnson Progression (whose sequence is 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1)

For the purpose of this section, we’ll focus on the first one.

The Reverse Labouchere system

Seeing how losing streaks can make the traditional Labouchere system so damaging to your bankroll, the Reverse Labouchere system helps counteract that very flaw.

Let’s take an example and say that our sequence is 1-3-1-2. The betting system is similar to the Labouchere strategy, in that your first bet will be the sum of the first and last numbers (1 and 2). That would make our initial bet valued at €3.

Here’s the difference: if you win, you must add that number to the end of the sequence, making it look like this, 1-3-1-2-3. If you lose your bet, however, this betting system states that you should cross out the first and last numbers. This way, the sequence becomes shorter the more you lose.

How to use the Labouchere roulette strategy while playing roulette

If you’re intent on using the Labouchere system but are a bit confused about the step-by-step process of it all, you don’t have to look any further. Follow these steps below in order to not lose focus on your bets.

1. Establish your winning goal. Although everyone will want to win large sums, it is best to respect your bankroll and tailor your expectations accordingly. Keep table limits in mind as well.
2. Split your desired win total into several numbers and list them in a sequence. There doesn’t have to be any special order to said sequence.
3. Place your bet by combining the first and last number in the sequence you’ve created above. For example, if your winning goal is €20 and your sequence is 1-4-3-5-2-4-1, your first bet must be €2 (1 + 1).
4. The bet placed in the next round depends on the outcome of the first one. If you’ve won, cross off the numbers used to combine your bet (in our example, these numbers would be 1 and 1). If you lose, add the size of your bet (2) to the end of the sequence.
5. Your third bet (and every bet from now onwards) will work the same way.

What are the pros and cons of the Labouchere roulette system?

Negative progression systems usually have their fair share of pros and cons, but then again, so do all the betting systems ever created. Before you start playing any casino game with the Labouchere system in place, it’s good to know its advantages and drawbacks, so here’s a quick rundown of both.

Advantages

• The Labouchere system is extremely flexible and can be tailored to suit all bankroll sizes.
• The Labouchere system aims to help you break even while keeping account of every single win and loss.
• The Labouchere system allows players to tailor their sequence depending on their desired playtime. Players who wish to play for a short amount of time can opt for a short sequence, whereas players in it for the long haul can choose a long sequence.

Disadvantages

• Should you wish to use the Labouchere system, make sure to brush up on your math!
• A losing streak will render the Labouchere system very complicated, making your chances to potentially win more money than you’ve lost extremely low.
• The Labouchere system isn’t ideal for beginners. If you’re new to using a betting strategy for casino games, some good recommendations are the Fibonacci system, the Paroli system and the Martingale strategy.

All in all, there is certainly no perfect betting system — be it a positive progression system or negative progression systems — which means that you can forget about beating the casino’s house edge.

If you are about to play roulette, you should know that its inherent house edge can soar up to 5.25% at American roulette tables, whereas European tables have a house edge of far less.

In any case, no other roulette strategies have the potential of erasing the house edge; all they do is reduce it as much as possible.

Types of roulette bets that can be used with the Labouchere system

The bets you should be looking at when using the Labouchere system are any that have even odds; that is, even-money bets.

Roulette is the perfect game to try the Labouchere system with since several bets offer even odds, including the the Odd/Even bets, Red/Black bets and the Low/High bets. Here’s a brief explanation of what each bet entails.

ODD/EVEN BET

As the name suggests, this bet hopes that the number ends up being odd (if the bet is on Odd) or even (if the bet is on Even). The probability of this bet paying is 46.37%, making it very suitable for strategies like the Labouchere system.

RED/BLACK BET

As the name suggests, this bet hopes that the number ends up being red (if the bet is on red) or black (if the bet is on black). The probability of this bet paying is 46.37%, making it very suitable for strategies like the Labouchere system.

LOW/HIGH BET

As the name suggests, this bet hopes that the number ends up being anywhere between 1 and 18 (if the bet is Low) or between 19 and 36 (if the bet is on High). The probability of this bet paying is 46.37%, making it very suitable for strategies like the Labouchere system.

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