Introduction to the Labouchère betting system

Gamdom offers you plenty of amazing crypto betting games from slots to table games. Allow us to introduce to you the Labouchère betting system to help improve your chance of winning. It’s an advanced technique that is best used in 50-50 bets but with ever-changing stake size.

The Labouchère betting system was developed in the 1800s by Henry Du Pré Labouchère. He was an English politician, publisher, and theatre owner. Betting is only one of his hobbies, but he is also famous in the field for his strategic betting.

The Labouchère betting system is designed to optimize the payout and mitigate potential losses from a game with 50-50 chances. It’s most popular for roulette, which you can find at Gamdom’s bitcoin casino page and originals. Outside betting options include the following:

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• Red/Black
• 1-18/19-36
• Odd/Even

The strategy involves placing any kind of bet or at any option. You may use this strategy on 2:1 and 4:1 bets but it’s not advised to do so. Bets besides 1:1 have inconsistent hit rates and the labouchère system is designed for 50-50 odds. However, it is possible to use it on more volatile games if you like taking risks. Only play games that you have mastered using the Labouchère betting system.

How to use the Labouchère betting system

The Labouchère betting system can be broken down into five simple stages. The objectives behind each one are straightforward but the formulae to some steps are difficult to remember. If you are going to use a strategy to play crypto games, then you have to know every detail. You should also know how to compute quickly on the fly because the Labouchère system is reactive to situations.

Step 1: Set a goal of your overall profit

The first step to any betting strategy is to declare how much money you aim to win in one session. Most gamblers make it 1:1 of the money that they are willing to stake overall. If you want to win 7mBTC (milliBitcoins), then you have to stake 7mBTC as your budget for the day. Alternatively, you may prepare a bigger budget than what you planned to earn if you don’t mind long sessions.

Step 2: Take a pen and paper or use a notepad app

Take a pen and paper then write down your goal. They will be used to track your bets for every round. If it’s your first time using this system, then it’s best to play electronic table games. It’s allowed in land casinos but it’s still going to feel awkward so this strategy is best used in games where you can play at your own pace.

Step 3: Divide your bets into 7 or more

The first is to divide your goal into seven where the quotient becomes 1x or 1 betting unit. Distribute 1x across 7 betting units so the whole set is equal to your budget. The number of units can be different among bettors as some prefer playing up to 10 tries. It minimizes the stakes per round but it’s a safer strategy, especially for Gamdom’s crypto games.

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Step 4: Choose a bet

The Labouchère system only affects the size of your wager, not the type of bet that you should make. This puts it in contrast to other modern betting systems that encourage changing options to chase luck. Labouchère is more about preparing for what’s to come no matter what it may be. 

It is also thanks to the Labouchère system’s structure that made it applicable to other games. You can find gamblers using it on baccarat, blackjack, Andar Bahar, or Gamdom’s HiLo. It is only thanks to the founder’s fondness for the roulette that made the strategy synonymous with it.

Step 5: Add the first and last unit to find your bet size

Remember that one betting unit is equal to the quotient of your goal divided by 7 or the number of units that you chose. Lay them down in sequence such as 1x-1x-1x-1x-1x-1x-1x. The Labouchère system dictates your stake in every round by adding the first and last units. If your goal is 7mBTC, then one unit is equal to 7mBTC, making your stake on the first round being 2mBTC.

If you win the bet: Cross out the first and last units until there is none left

Your goal is to eliminate all of the units that you have established. Start from both ends of the sequence then begin working your way until the end. This formula works great whether you have an odd number of units or even. If there are no more pairs of units, then you just have to stake equal to the last one. Remember to write your progress on your pen and paper or notepad application. It is easy to get lost in this formula if you can’t memorize your progress.

If you lose the bet: Add your loss at the end of the sequence

Labouchère’s formula is most notable for what you must do after losing. Increase the number in the sequence by adding the number of units you lost at the end. For example, if you lost on your first round as illustrated in ‘step 5’, then your sequence becomes 1x-1x-1x-1x-1x-1x-1x-2x. You now have 8 sets in a sequence and your next bet becomes 3x (3mBTC). Losing this one will further extend your sequence to 1x-1x-1x-1x-1x-1x-1x-2x-3x.

This formula can hasten your playing session if it’s not your lucky day. However, it's structured like this because betting the amount you lost can immediately win them back. Labouchère’s system is designed to help you win your goal exactly as you declared it. The reason that it is only advisable for 50-50 wins is to avoid an endless loop of wins and losses.

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Variations of the Labouchère betting system

Variations of the Labouchère system are mostly overhauling how the unit distribution works. The most popular of which is based on the player’s whim. You decide how you plan your stake size per round. It can be progressive, regressive, or random as long as the sum of the whole is equal to your goal. Some divide each unit, multiply them, or even make them zero such as 1x-0-0.5x-2x-0.5x-2x-1x = 7x.

Johnson Progression

The Johnson Progression follows step 3’s distribution steps but with a major difference in favour of a safer wager for first-time gamblers. Every unit from the start is equal to 0 but the end is 1x like 0-0-0-0-0-0-1x. It still follows step 5’s if-then formula but with roughly the same bet each round. This is the perfect strategy for casual gaming at Gamdom if it’s your first time.

Reverse Labouchère

The Labouchère system is designed to increase your bets every time you lose but the Reverse Labouchère makes you bet more when you win. All it takes is a small change in step 5 to make it work. Add your bet at the end of the sequence when you win and cross out the first and last units when you lose. It increases the amount you win and lessens the stakes that you lose.

Split Sequence

The Split Sequence is not necessarily a new variation. It still follows the exact same five-step formula above but it expands on it if you find yourself on a losing streak. Labouchère’s betting structure can be hard to manage for players who don’t mind playing with a huge budget.

Its idea is to divide your sequence into smaller sequences. The split can happen anywhere in the sequence based on your judgement. You could halve each unit so you can have two sequences where each sum is equal to half of your goal.

Alternatively, you could simply divide the whole sequence into several smaller sets of units. You don’t have to worry about exploring these bets with Gamdom’s original roulette with a high hit rate.

Disadvantage of the Labouchère betting system

The main disadvantage of the Labouchère betting system is that it is specifically designed for fiat betting at a land-based casino. British pound sterling, euro, and United States dollars can be divided into cents. This means that Ethereum (ETH) and Litecoin (LTC) are not great options for this betting strategy.

Thankfully, you can bet with milliBitcoins (mBTC) rather than full Bitcoins (BTC) at a Bitcoin casino. Play crypto games using mBTC or other supported cryptocurrencies using the Labouchère betting system. If you need suggestions, then Gamdom’s original games are the best ones to start from. Alternatively, you can explore live and table games at the slots/casino platform.

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Words: Clarence Clarke