Overview of the Labouchere System
The Labouchere is one of the most complex betting systems among all betting markets and can be great for the more experienced Punter. This guide breaks down how it works.
Labouchere Guide
The Labouchere betting system is also called American Progression, Cancellation system, and the Split Martingale. Labouchere betting falls under the category of negative progression, where losing bets imply an increase in stake. As you can see, the Labouchere betting system is counterintuitive when it comes to normal betting rules. However, this betting system works because it has proven its effectiveness for a long time. Let us find out more about what this system is and how it works.
How the Labouchere betting system works
Henry Labouchere (1831 – 1912), an avid roulette player, devised the Labouchere system. It was created for application in roulette, particularly for even money outer bets like red or black, odd or even, and so on. However, it's possible to use this system with any even-money wager, among other casino games like blackjack and baccarat. Sports betting is also a possibility.
The initial step in using the technique is to jot down a series of numbers. Theoretically, you can accomplish this in whatever order you like, but you'll need to invest some thinking into it.
For the purposes of this explanation, we'll take the numbers 1-2-3.
The overall sum of the digits in the specified sequence equals the maximum returns for each round of this system. It's $6 in this scenario.
Your bet should be equal to the amount of the first and last numbers in your sequence every time you wager. In the case of the example given, you will bet $4 (1 + 3).
Once you win your wager, the last and first numbers are removed from the series. So you'd strike off the 1 and the 3 from this sequence.
If you end up losing, you just add the staked amount to the end of the number sequence. So if you lose your initial bet with this sequence, you'll have to add a 4.
After each wager, all the above guidelines are applicable. If you succeed, you get to tick digits off your list. If you fail, you have to add a number to the ending. You always bet the whole sum of the first and last numbers in successive wagers.
The only time this rule does not apply is when you are left with just one number. After that, you simply bet that sum. If you win that bet, the cycle ends and you must start over with the original series. When employing 1-2-3, you just need to win the first two bets to complete the cycle. You would have earned $4 and then lost $2, resulting in a total loss of $6. The sum of all the digits in the original series is this.
Example of the Labouchere system
Following up on the last example, if you end up losing the very first bet of $4, you will add a 4 to the end of the sequence of numbers, making it 1-2-3-4. As a result, the next wager would be $5 (1+4). If that were to win, the 1 and the 4 would be removed.
With a score of 2-3, the following stake would similarly be $5 (2+3). Let's suppose the following wager is a loser. The series now has to be completed with a 5.
The minimum bet is now $7. Strike off 2 and 5 if you win the next wager. The minimum bet is now $3. Victory signals the end of the cycle. The winning bets sum $15 ($5 + $7 + $3), whereas the losing bets sum $9 ($4 + $5). That's a total victory of $6, which is the total of the digits in the original series once more.
Does the Labouchere system work?
Like everything else in betting, whether the Labouchere system works for you or not will depend on your luck. The idea behind this system is to gain one huge profit to cancel previous losses. In many cases, it does work. But problems start arising once you are on a long losing streak. If you do not show restraint and keep employing the Labouchere method, you can end up losing all your bankroll. Proceed with caution if you are determined about using the Labouchere method.
Disadvantages of the Labouchere system
The primary disadvantage of the Labouchère system is that you can end up with massive losses if things don't go according to plan. Unless you are very careful with how you use it, you can also end up losing money. It is safe to say that the Labouchere is definitely not the safest approach to betting. Does it work for some people? Sure, it does. But that does not guarantee anything about whether it will work for you. Much like any other facet of gambling, the Labouchère system is fraught with risks.
Overview of the Reverse Labouchere betting system
The Reverse Labouchere system works in a similar way to the conventional Labouchere method. The Reverse Labouchere theory proposes that you can invert that situation. You will drop little amounts often, but if you still have multiple wins in a row, you have the potential to make a large profit.
The main allure of this strategy is that if you hit a few bets in a row, the volume of your wager can skyrocket. When you're winning, the aim is to keep playing at increasingly higher bets until you've won enough to cancel out all other losses from previous losing streaks. Obviously, there's no assurance that this could happen in the future.
Verdict on the Labouchere betting system
The Labouchere betting system is one of the most unusual betting techniques in existence. Primarily used in roulette, experienced players can also employ the technique in other games and even sports betting. But there are inherent risks in the Labouchere betting system, and every punter must be aware of them. We hope this guide gives you a basic idea of how the system works.