Strategy Lab
Simulate thousands of hands. Compare betting systems side by side. The math never lies β but it helps to see it for yourself before you sit down at a real table.
The Seven Systems, Explained
Flat Betting β The Baseline
Bet the same amount every hand, regardless of outcome. No adjustment, no system, no excitement. This is the theoretically cleanest approach because it exposes you only to the house edge (1.06% on Banker) with no amplification of variance.
Advantages
- Lowest variance
- Maximum playing time per bankroll
- Easy to execute under pressure
Disadvantages
- No mechanism to "recover" losses
- Slow to build a meaningful profit
- Can feel passive in the heat of play
Martingale β The Temptation
Double your bet after every loss. When you finally win, you recover all previous losses and gain one unit of profit. The logic is seductive. The math is merciless.
Example sequence (base bet $10):
The problem: a losing streak of 8 hands requires a bet of $1,280. A streak of 10 requires $5,120. Most tables have maximum bet limits of $500β$1,000. The system is theoretically sound only with infinite bankroll and no table limits β neither of which exists.
Advantages
- Guarantees recovery from any single loss
- Works perfectly in short sessions
- Simple to execute
Disadvantages
- Catastrophic on 7+ loss streaks
- Hits table limits fast
- Requires huge bankroll for safety
- Most dangerous system for ruin
Paroli β Riding Winning Streaks
The opposite of Martingale. Double your bet after each win. After three consecutive wins (or any loss), return to the base bet. The idea: maximize gains during hot streaks while risking only winnings, not original bankroll.
Example sequence (base bet $10):
Advantages
- Low risk to original bankroll
- Can produce large gains on streaks
- Easy to control losses
Disadvantages
- Depends on streak occurrence
- Ineffective in choppy games
- Still can't overcome house edge
Fibonacci β The Sequence
Use the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34β¦) to determine bet sizes. Move one step forward on a loss, two steps back on a win. Slower than Martingale, but still reaches dangerous levels on long losing runs.
Advantages
- Slower escalation than Martingale
- Some protection in medium-length sessions
Disadvantages
- Still dangerous on long losing streaks
- Complex to track under pressure
- Requires disciplined record-keeping
D'Alembert β Gentle Progression
Increase bet by one unit after a loss, decrease by one unit after a win. The premise: wins and losses will eventually balance. They won't β but this is one of the least dangerous negative progressions.
Advantages
- Slow escalation β safer than Martingale
- Recovers slowly but doesn't crash
Disadvantages
- Assumes a balanced distribution
- Long losing runs still escalate
1-3-2-6 System
Bet in the sequence 1, 3, 2, 6 units. Progress on a win, reset on a loss. If you complete the full four-step sequence, you profit 12 units. If you lose at any point, you reset. The risk is capped at 2 units.
Full cycle (base bet $10):
Advantages
- Maximum loss capped at 2 units
- Large gain possible on 4-win streaks
Disadvantages
- Requires 4 consecutive wins for full cycle
- Can feel frustrating to reset near the end
Oscar's Grind β The Patient Approach
Aim to make exactly one unit of profit per "cycle." Increase bet by one unit after a win but only if it won't exceed the target. Keep the same bet after a loss. Slow, methodical, and designed for patience.
Advantages
- Very low risk of catastrophic loss
- Designed for disciplined, conservative play
Disadvantages
- Very slow profit accumulation
- Can be tedious in practice
- Long cycles possible in choppy games