Labouchere System

The Labouche Betting System

The Labouchere betting system is a mathematically sound numbers game – until you reach the table’s limits or run through your bankroll. When either of those events happen, the results are disasterous.

The concept behind the Labouchere betting straegy is that you work through one complete set of numbers and then collect your winnings. So, you write a sequence of numbers down on paper: 1 2 3 4 5 6. When you bet you use the first and last numbers in the sequence. Your first bet using the numbers above would be $1 + $6 = $7. You would bet $7, and if the bet won you would cross out the numbers you’ve already used (1 and 6). Your next bet would be the sum of the new first and last digits (2 and 5). Your second bet would be $7 again. If the second bet wins again, you would repeat the process, cross off 2 and 5, and bid 3 and 4. Once again, the bid would be $7. At the end, you would be $21 dollars up, and successful.

On the other hand, if your bet loses you add the total to the end of the number series, and then bet again. In the example above, if you lost the first bet, the new number series would be 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Your next bet under the Labouchere betting system would be 1 + 7, or $8. The pitfall here is that if you have a long string of losses, you can have a very long number series – and no money left to bet with. Like all betting systems, the Labouchere system has its definite limits.

There are many names for this kind of “negative progressive system,” so beware. It might also be called “Crossout,” “Cancellation,” or more exotically, the “Split Martingale” betting system. Be very careful if you choose to use it.

Martingale Betting System | Paroli Betting System | Labouchere Betting System