Labouchere Casino Betting Strategy
The Labouchere system, also called the split Martingale or cancellation system, is one of the world's best-known betting systems.
The system takes its name from Henry Labouchère, an English politician and keen roulette player of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. For a simple progressive betting approach, you could consider the classic Martingale or Reverse Martingale systems. Players willing to learn a more complex gambling strategy may find the Labouchere system worth exploring.
How the Labouchere Strategy Works
Like the Martingale, the Labouchere strategy is a negative progression system. Unlike the Martingale, it doesn’t aim to recover previous losses with a single bet. Instead, it seeks to recoup them through a series of wins during a session.
The Labouchere strategy can be used for any even-money proposition, including baccarat and blackjack, though it is most commonly associated with roulette. It is particularly linked to outside bets such as odd or even and red or black.
The Labouchere strategy has clear limitations, but its supporters believe it can generate a profit even when fewer bets win than lose. This is a claimed result, not a guarantee; avoiding a long losing streak is essential to the system’s intended success.
The Labouchere Strategy: Step-by-Step
Start by setting a realistic amount you’d like to win. Break that target into smaller numbers whose sum equals the same total. For instance, a $100 target could be split into 10-10-20-10-10-10-20-5-5. Put the amounts in any order you choose.
Add the first and last numbers in the sequence to determine your wager. In this example, $10 plus $5 makes a $15 bet. If it wins, cross out both numbers. If it loses, keep the sequence as it is and add the wager amount to the end.
With the same example, a win would leave you with this sequence:
10-10-20-10-10-10-20-5-5
A loss would instead change the sequence to:
10-10-20-10-10-10-20-5-5-15.
Keep going until every number has been crossed off. Completing the sequence is intended to bring you to the target amount you chose at the start. If you don’t reach it, you can continue playing until you choose to stop or run out of bankroll.
You can also use the Labouchere strategy for a larger target. In this example, the player is aiming to win $1,000.
The player sets up this sequence: 100, 200, 100, 100, 200, 200, 50, 50.
In the opening round, the player bets $150 (100+50) on red and loses. They add 150 to the end of the sequence, making it: 100, 200, 100, 100, 200, 200, 50, 50, 150.
The next bet is $250 (100+150) on red, and it wins. The player crosses out 100 and 150, leaving: 200, 100, 100, 200, 200, 50, 50.
The player then bets $250 (200+50) on red and wins. Crossing off 200 and 50 leaves this sequence: 100, 100, 200, 200, 50.
Next, the player bets $150 (100+50) on red and loses, so they add 150 to the end. The sequence is now: 100, 100, 200, 200, 50, 150.
The player wagers $250 (100+150) on red and wins. Crossing out 100 and 150 leaves: 100, 200, 200, 50.
The next bet is $150 on red, and it wins. The sequence left is now 200, 200.
For the final round, the player bets $400 (200+200) on red and wins. The sequence is complete, reaching the $1,000 target.
Drawbacks of the Labouchere Strategy
The Labouchere strategy is designed for even-money bets, such as red/black, even/odd, or 1-18/19-36. You can apply it to inside bets too, but that can carry substantially more risk. Consider bets with odds near 50% to give yourself a better chance of winning a wager.
A long run of losses is one of the strategy’s biggest challenges. As the sequence grows, crossing off all the required numbers can become harder and harder. The casino still has an edge, and roulette is a game of chance no matter which betting system you use.
Since a losing streak can make the sequence grow, the Labouchere strategy may not suit players with a small bankroll. Beginners and anyone unwilling to risk losing all their money may want to steer clear of this system.
Benefits of the Labouchere Strategy
With patience and a bankroll sufficient to cover the wagers, the Labouchere strategy may end with the amount the player set out to win. The sequence is flexible, too: changing its numbers lets the player adjust how much risk to take.
Another appeal is that you don’t need to win every wager to reach your target. In theory, a player could lose more bets than they win and still come out ahead. That outcome is possible, not guaranteed.
Newcomers to the strategy and players who aren’t high rollers can start with the game’s minimum bet. Potential winnings will be lower, but modest wagers can help them learn how the system works while leaving open the possibility of ending with more than they started with.
