Everything You Need to Know about the Labouchere System

Over the years, several betting systems have been designed to use in the game of Roulette. And one of them is the Labouchere System. The flexibility of the Labouchere system makes it a preferred choice for millions of Roulette players across the globe, though it’s somewhat difficult to get used to it. In this article, we take a detailed look at the basics and the working of the Labouchere System. Also, we list the pros and cons of using the system in Roulette games. Read on!

History of the Labouchere System

The Labouchere betting system was first proposed by a 19th-century British aristocrat named Henry Labouchere. Along with being a writer, politician and journalist, Labouchere was also an avid fan of casino gambling. He enjoyed playing Roulette the most and went on to devise an interesting betting system that now goes by his last name.

When compared to other betting strategies for live Roulette like Martingale and Fibonacci, the Labouchere system can be a bit difficult. But you can get comfortable with it by thoroughly understanding the system and practising it a few times.

The usage of the Labouchere System

The Labouchere System was designed for even money Roulette bets, such as even/odd and red/black. But these days, you can find its application in several online and mobile casino games that come with even money propositions, including Blackjack and Baccarat. You can find it being used in sports betting as well.

When using the Labouchere System, you first select a sequence of numbers and write it down. This can be any sequence of your choice, though you may need to factor in other things such as your available bankroll and betting style. To explain to you simply, we’ll use the following sequence as an example:

1 – 2 – 3

In Labouchere, the final potential payout is equal to the sum of the numbers in the sequence. In our example, it’s £6.

Every time you place a wager using this system, your bet size must be equal to the addition of the first and the last number in the sequence. Here, it would be £4 (£1 + £6).

Then, if you win your bet, you’d remove the first and the last number from the sequence. That way, only the number 2 will be left in the sequence. On the other hand, you’d include your current stake amount at the end of the sequence if you lose that bet. In that case, your sequence will turn out to be:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4

With each Roulette bet at the UK casino, you’d either cross off or add numbers to the sequence. If there’s only one number remaining in the sequence, then you’d wager that remaining amount. Upon crossing off all the numbers, your betting cycle will end, and you’ll start with a new sequence or the same one again.

Advantages of the Labouchere system

A great thing about the Labouchere System is that it doesn’t need you to win every spinning round. This is because it’s primarily used with even money wagers that come with almost 50/50 Roulette odds. So, even if you lose around half of your wagers, you still have the chance to achieve your target number.

In addition, the Labouchere System allows you to effectively manage your wager sizes. After all, you will be calculating your stake size for each upcoming Roulette bet at both online and live casinos. This means that if you follow the sequence until you’ve crossed off all the numbers, you have at your disposal.

Disadvantages of the Labouchere system

As with any other betting strategy, there are some downsides to the Labouchere system. While the system is designed to make up for your losses by winning large amounts, there is no guarantee that it will always happen. You could experience a long losing streak that can consume your bankroll.

As such, the Labouchere system isn’t always a good option for players with small bankrolls. All in all, if you’re a recreational player or don’t want to wager substantial amounts at times, it’s probably best to stay away from this betting system.

The Reverse Labouchere system

With time, the game of Roulette has witnessed several playing strategies. And one of them is the Reverse Labouchere system. As you’d guess, the Reverse Labouchere system is designed by making some tweaks to the original Labouchere betting strategy. When using the Reverse Labouchere system, players select a sequence of numbers they’re comfortable playing. Then, they place the first bet, which is the sum of the first and last number in the sequence.

After that, there are “reserve” gameplay rules in place. Here’s how it works:

• If a player wins, they include their bet amount at the end of the sequence. 
• Upon losing, they erase the first and last numbers in the sequence. 

With the Reverse Labouchere System, players won’t lose significant amounts on losing bets (when used correctly). And if lady luck is by your side and you win twice as many spinning rounds as you lose, you can walk away with substantial winnings.

Conclusion

Whether you play Roulette online or at a live casino, you’ll notice that the Labouchere system is one of the most commonly used Roulette strategies. The reason behind the popularity is that it provides players with a chance to make profits even if they experience more losing rounds than winning bets. But again, Roulette is a game of chance, and you never know how long a losing streak will last if you experience one. So, be sure to keep in mind the things we’ve mentioned in this article when using the Labouchere system.