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Winning Roulette Strategies
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For casino rookies, the game of roulette can appear somewhat bewildering.
People rush frantically to stack chips without any discernible strategy on a
complex layout that includes betting areas for red or black and odd or even, as
well as rows, columns, and dozens of numbers, thirty six to be exact – not
counting the zeroes. The dealer, known as a “croupier” in casino parlance,
spins a small white ball, shouts “no more bets” and waits until the ball
bounces around inside the spinning wheel and finally comes to rest on one of
the numbers. Then, he will hastily clear away the losing wagers from the grid,
and pay out stacks of chips to the winners.
The actual amount of the payoff depends upon the size and the type of the bet
made. Even money bets, such as odd or even, have roughly a 50/50 chance of
winning – except for those pesky zeroes – and will be paid a sum equal to that
which was wagered. Other bets are less likely to win, and thus have a
correspondingly higher payout. A row of three numbers, such as 7,8,9 for
example will cover all three numbers and pay 11-1 should any of the three be
the lucky winning number. Should the little white ball land in the slot for
number 20, any fortunate gambler who placed a chip directly on that number will
be paid 35-1, or $35 for a $1 chip. Of course, there are many other possible
roulette wagers, which can be learned with minimal practice.
There are a number of roulette strategies and systems, which have been
developed over the years. Some minimize risk by placing the same
carefully-designed pattern repeatedly. Others, such as the Martingale system,
instruct bettors to “double up” after a loss. For example, bet $5 on red. If
this wager loses, bet $10, then $20, then $40, and so on. If you do the math,
you will discover that eventually no matter how many losses come first,
eventually a winning bet will return all previous losses plus $5. The theory is
that eventually red will win, the odds of black hitting 9 times in a row, for
example, are 512-1. Unfortunately, strings like this do sometimes occur, wiping
out most bettors.
Bottom line, no matter how the chips are distributed in a roulette game, the
house maintains a 5.26% advantage; this mathematical fact is immutable. There
are, however, some simple rules which can help: - Always play the European, or
“Single Zero” Roulette version if available. This game cuts the house’s edge
from 5.26% to 2.70% - Never play the five-number combination, 0, 00, 1, 2,
& 3. This bet carries an even higher 7.89% house advantage, making it the
worst bet on the table. - Don’t get carried away placing chips. Some players
put so many chips on the table trying to cover all possibilities, that even if
one does hit they still lose money. - Decide first whether your strategy is to
bet conservatively, in order to minimize losses and play for a while, or bet
aggressively in the hope of a big hit, and place your chips accordingly. -
Consider targeting one section of the wheel, such as 5,17,32,20,7,11,30,26, and
9. These numbers constitute one fourth of the wheel, and a dealer can
occasionally aim for and hit a certain section more frequently than would
statistically be expected. Though many will refute this, I’ve seen some dealers
hit one-quarter of the wheel with regularity, if they have the proper
incentive. If you win, tip your dealer well.
Roulette is a lively, entertaining game with plenty of social interaction
between dealers and players. Following the steps above may not guarantee
success, but it will shorten the odds, and hopefully keep you playing longer.
Good Luck.
By: Nathan Slaughter
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