Let’s face it. Improving at poker in 2024 can be tough.

A lot of modern poker study methods come down to little more than memorizing solver-generated strategies and charts. This has proven effective for many, but it’s undeniably boring for most players.

But poker coach Uri Peleg* has come up with a different approach that emphasizes creativity and flexibility.

*Uri has coached numerous players who went on to win millions on the felt, including current top pro Barak Wisbrod.

This new approach is meant for players who want to win, but don’t want to spend countless hours studying solvers.

For today’s article, I have pulled 3 unique insights from Uri’s latest strategy video. He plays a short session of online poker, demonstrating the Poker Blueprint approach.

Each takeaway will be centered around a hand history from his session.

Note: World-class coach Uri Peleg is back with a brand-new course for players who want to get better at poker, but have no interest in solvers. “The Poker Blueprint” teaches a holistic, intuitive approach to poker that cuts through all the noise. Pre-register to get a free bonus during launch week!

Important Background

Before getting into the hands and takeaways, you should understand the main principle of Uri’s Poker Blueprint strategy.

Always start by considering what pot size your hand wants. Then, try to navigate to that pot size as the hand progresses.

Uri will refer to “the pot size your hand wants” throughout these hands and the Poker Blueprint course. 

Takeaway #1: Take people out of their comfort zone with creative lines

Your opponents might be well-studied in the most common situations in poker. So a key way to beat them can be to take them out of their comfort zone with creative lines and bet sizings. Take a look at this hand that Uri played at 200NL:

Preflop: Uri is dealt Ac 7c in the Cutoff
Uri raises 2bb. Big Blind calls.

Flop (4.5bb): Kh Jc 8d
Big Blind checks. Uri checks.

Turn (4.5bb): 9s
Big Blind checks. Uri bets 3.4bb. Big Blind calls.

River (11.3bb): Jh
Big Blind checks. Uri bets 16.9bb. Big Blind folds.

Uri checks the flop because his hand is pretty weak and doesn’t want to play a large pot.

He then turns his hand into a bluff on the turn since the opponent showed weakness by checking. Now check out Uri’s thoughts on his decision to bet the river with a 150% pot sizing:

The Jh river is not the most intuitive card to keep blasting on. And this is a spot where his ability to read the story is very, very important.

So generally speaking, when the pot is too big for your hand, it’s a potential bluff candidate. And you can choose to bluff in all sorts of routes. If I start by going bet-bet-bet, the pressure on him is just to not overfold to direct aggression. And that’s one of the things that people are most practiced at, even if they probably still do overfold.

By going check-bet-bet, I’m putting pressure on him to defend correctly with a range that he’s much less practiced in playing. And when people are in these spots where they’re winging it, a lot of the time, they kind of give their hand away. So by checking twice, a lot of people will not have enough strong hands in their range.

He had a chance to be aggressive once I checked back and he didn’t go for it. So I can attack. That’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull. This is a spot that many, many people are messing up consistently.

But given that I bet big on the turn, how can I still bet big on the Jh river? Would I bet a Jx on the turn this big? Am I saying that I have a straight or Pocket Nines? Would I still bet Pocket Aces on the river or a good Kx? All these questions should have been in your head. Also how often does he donk bet his Jx on the river? Because if he donk bets all his Jx, I can keep betting my Kx.

The truth is, to me, until someone proves themselves at these lower limits, I’m like: You look weak. I’m putting on pressure.

Takeaway #2: When you bet the river, know what you are representing

Learning to tell a consistent story is extremely important, especially when bluffing. Take a look at this hand and accompanying analysis from Uri at 200NL:

Preflop: Uri is dealt 8s 7d in the Big Blind
Lojack raises 2bb. Uri calls.

Flop (4.5bb): Js 9d 2h
Uri checks. Lojack bets 1.8bb. Uri calls.

Turn (8.1bb): Ad
Uri checks. Lojack checks.

River (8.1bb): 4d
Uri bets 22bb. Lojack folds.

It’s worth noting that Uri’s call preflop is probably a bit too loose depending on the rake (though he’s probably playing a bit looser to generate examples for the video).

He check-calls the flop with his gutshot straight draw and then faces a check-back on the turn. Here is how Uri decides to approach this river:

So like we said, we want to attack these discontinued aggression spots. You could go for all sorts of sizes here, but we want to tell a coherent story. And the story I’m going to tell is I have something really, really strong.

The thing with this spot is that there are a lot of hands that missed. It’s not easy for me to have an Ax. I can’t bet big with a Jx. So if I make a normal-sized bet, it’s very easy to call.

The thing you want to be thinking about here is the narrative of the hand. When you bet the river, which hand are you telling the other guy you have? You could tell him you have a Jx. But then the bet would need to be very small. And you could tell him you have an Ax and then the bet would be medium. But there are not many Ax hands you can have. And then the last option is you could tell him you have a flush or two pair.

In theory, your opponent should check-back some draws and strong Ax to make your life kind of tough. But unless they show you they can do that, this is a very tough bet to call. It puts a lot more pressure on people to know what’s going on. So just a way of attacking this discontinued aggression combined with thinking about the narrative and what hand I’m repping.

Takeaway #3: There are multiple ways to keep the pot size small with a mediocre hand

Just check-calling is not the only way to get to a cheap showdown with a marginal hand.

Preflop: Uri is dealt Ah Jd on the Button
Hijack raises 2bb. Uri calls.

Flop (5.5bb): Kh Jc 8d
Hijack bets 1.4bb. Uri raises 3.9bb. Hijack folds.

Take a look at Uri’s thoughts on his decision to check-raise small as a method to keep the pot size small:

How big a pot does Ace-Jack offsuit want? When my opponent bets 1.4bb, the answer is that I want a little bit more in the pot, but not very much. There are all sorts of ways you can accomplish that. One would be to call and one would actually be to raise small.

3.9bb is roughly the pot size my Ace-Jack is aiming at. So let’s see if they are capable of reacting to this ridiculously small raise. It doesn’t make sense. Why would I raise a flopped set so small? It’s a very weird size. But it’s very tough to react to this. Imagine you’re him. You have Pocket Tens, Pocket Nines, Pocket Queens, or Ace-Five suited. It’s very, very hard.

Did you catch part 1 of this series about the $74K+ Doug vs Mariano hand?

Check it out here if you haven’t.

Don’t Do This in Poker! Doug Polk vs Mariano High Stakes Analysis

Note: Want to win, but don’t want to spend countless hours becoming one with a solver? Pre-register for Uri Peleg’s Blueprint now! 

Contents

1. Introduction To Basic Roulette Strategy
2. What Is A Progressive Roulette Betting Strategy?
3. What Is A Non-Progressive Roulette Betting Strategy?
4. Why Most Roulette Strategies Might Not Work
5. The Most Successful Roulette Winners Revealed

Introduction To Basic Roulette Strategy

Roulette is one of the oldest and most popular casino table games. Dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, it’s certainly enchanted millions around the world through the years. Many players have tried to devise a methodology to ‘beat’ the game of roulette. After all, the game itself is simple enough, right? Guess the winning number of the next spin correctly and win lots of money. It sounds easy in theory, but in practice it’s nowhere near as straightforward.

As avid roulette fans ourselves, we’ve often wondered whether betting strategies existed that could tip the balance in favour of the player at the online roulette table. That’s why we’ve decided to review the most popular roulette strategies that players hang their hat on at the tables.

Why People Use Strategies To Play Roulette

Although roulette is purely a game of chance, the reality is that you could use a roulette strategy to improve your chances of winning and maximising your bankroll. But there’s never a guarantee. Some of these strategies are deemed aggressive, giving you a chance to reap a bigger reward, while others are considered more conservative, aimed at helping you amass smaller, more consistent payouts.

Just by putting a roulette strategy in place it’s a good way of helping you feel in control of your decision-making at the tables. It’s a structure that you can stick to all the way, helping you to make sense of your staking and betting choices.

The Most Popular Roulette Strategies

The Martingale System

The Martingale roulette strategy requires you to double your next bet after a losing bet. The aim of the Martingale system is to claw back the losses from the previous spin and still bag a small profit by doubling down on the next spin – and winning it.

Let’s say that you place a €10 bet on the next spin being a ‘red’ number. If the result of the spin is either a black or green zero, you’ll double your stake to €20 on red for the next spin. Keep doubling your stake until you land a red number. Once you land a red, reduce your stake back to your original €10. Providing you have a big enough bankroll to absorb losses on black and zero, it could be possible to recoup your losses and leave the table a winner.

The Fibonacci System

Inspired by the Italian mathematician and his number sequencing from the 19th century, this system requires you to add the stakes of your previous two bets together for the next spin. It’s believed that betting this way can allow you to bag a profit even if you lose more bets than you win.

The Fibonacci sequence is easy: each number is the sum of the previous two:

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 91 and so on.

To bet on roulette using the Fibonacci system, you’ll have to keep track of your previous two bets and add them together for your next spin. If you normally wager €10 per round, start with €10 for your first two bets, then increase it to €20, followed by €30, €50, €80 and so on. Once you get a winning number, return to the initial €10 stake. The Fibonacci roulette strategy is a handy way to build your bankroll steadily without epic peaks and troughs.

The Reverse Martingale System

As the name suggests, this system is the opposite of the Martingale strategy. Instead of doubling your stake after a loss, the Reverse Martingale strategy requires you to halve it after a loss and double after a win, with the aim of capitalising on winning streaks and minimising damage during losing ones.

Let’s say you placed a €10 bet on red and it won. You’d then double your stake to €20 on red again. If it lands on red again, you would double your stake to €40. Let’s say the result of the next spin is black. You would then halve your stake for the next spin to €20.

The Labouchere System

The Labouchere system might be the most appropriate roulette strategy for players that consider the Martingale approach to be a bit risky for their playing style. The Labouchere system is somewhat complex in terms of its rules and is deployed by those that prefer placing outside bets on even-money outcomes such as Red/Black or Odd/Even.

First and foremost, you need to decide your target profit. For argument’s sake, let’s say this is €10. You’ll then need to create a sequence of numbers adding up to ten:

1-1-2-2-1-1-2

Every time you place a bet at the roulette table, your stake should equal the sum of the first and last number in your sequence. Using the sequence above, our first bet would be worth €3. If your bet wins, you cross off the first and last numbers from your sequence. If your bet loses, you add the amount you just staked to the end of your sequence:

1-1-2-2-1-1-2-3

This way, your next bet would be worth €4 (the sum of the first and last number in the sequence). The same rules apply after each bet, win or lose.

The James Bond System

This system was devised by the author of the 007 series, Ian Fleming. His somewhat risky approach mirrors that of James Bond himself, requiring wagers on the higher numbers on the wheel from 13 through to 36, with cover on the single zero for insurance.

This system is only suitable for European or French roulette tables that operate with only a single zero.

It also requires a minimum bankroll of €200, something you’ll want to consider carefully before embarking upon it. That’s because it starts with the following bets:

1. €140 bet on high numbers from 19 to 36
2. €50 bet on numbers 13 to 18
3. €10 bet on zero (your insurance bet)

If the ball lands in pockets numbered 19 to 36, you win €80 profit. If the ball lands on a pocket numbered 13 to 18, you win €100 profit. If the ball lands on the zero pocket you win €160. If the ball lands on a pocket numbered one to 12, you’ll lose the full €200.

The D’Alembert System

The D’Alembert strategy is another risk-averse approach to roulette betting systems. Instead of doubling or halving after losing or winning spins, you simply increase the size of your stake by one unit after a loss and decrease it by one unit after a win.

Let’s say you normally bet with €10 stakes. If you win your first bet, increase your second wager by one unit to €11. If you win your second bet, increase your third wager by one unit to €12. If your third bet loses, decrease your fourth wager by one unit to €11.

What Is A Progressive Roulette Betting Strategy?

Given the sheer volume of roulette strategies available, it’s important to be able to categorise them. The best way is to categorise them as either progressive or non-progressive betting systems. Let’s explore what we mean by a progressive roulette betting strategy.

Progressive approaches to roulette betting are designed to have an element of stake progression after each spin. What do we mean by stake progression? Increasing or decreasing the size of your stake depending on the outcome of the previous spin. The Martingale system is one of the easiest examples of a progressive roulette betting strategy. That’s because this system simply asks that you scale up your stake after a loss and scale it down after a win.

There are pitfalls to progressive betting systems such as the Martingale system. First, it’s a very risky approach. Although you might be playing the percentages or probabilities, the reality is that it’s possible to experience a spate of consecutive losses. If you start from betting a single unit per spin, after just six losing spins, you could find yourself staking as much as 32 units to try and win it all back. That’s why both the Martingale and Reverse Martingale systems are known as ‘steep’ progressive strategies, and not recommended for roulette newbies.

The Reverse Martingale system, also known as the Paroli system, is also deemed a progressive betting strategy. The difference being that you’re required to double your stake size after every winning spin rather than losing spin, to try and maximise any possible ‘hot’ winning streaks. This makes the Paroli system a ‘positive’ progressive system too. That’s because the strategy is designed to keep losses to a minimum during losing runs. Meanwhile the original Martingale system is a ‘negative’ progressive approach, given that it involves doubling your stakes as you lose based on the theory that you’ll land a winning spin eventually.

Progressive roulette strategies could be useful if you plan on placing even-money bets. These have a probability of as close to 50% as possible and are the quickest and easiest way to compensate for all your previous losses.

The D’Alembert system, which increases and decreases stakes by a single unit after winning and losing spins, is more of a ‘flat’ progressive strategy. This approach is better suited to those who prefer placing inside bets, perhaps on specific numbers or clusters of numbers. Your strike rate may not be as high as it could be with outside bets, but when you do land a winner, you may even rake in more money than what you’ve lost overall.

What Is A Non-Progressive Roulette Betting Strategy?

A non-progressive approach to your roulette betting means that you don’t stick to increasing and decreasing your stake based on wins or losses. Instead, you simply choose to keep your stake the same throughout your entire gaming session.

A good example of a non-progressive roulette system would be to bet on neighbouring numbers on the roulette wheel. For instance, you might choose to bet on a cluster of four or five numbers adjacent to one another on the wheel. This way, if the roulette ball does drop the way of your chosen numbers, you’re more likely to land it in one of your selected pockets even if the ball bounces around.

Of course, the most typical forms of non-progressive betting would be to change the numbers and outside bets you bet on with each spin, randomising the outcome of your betting with little to no strategy.

Why Most Roulette Betting Strategies Might Not Work

A roulette strategy cannot help you ‘beat’ the game or any other random casino game for that matter. Whenever a casino game has a house edge factored in, each bet that a player makes will always have that edge attached; it is inescapable.

The benefit of some roulette strategies is that they might be able to prolong your bankroll or even allow you to prosper during ‘hot’ short-term winning streaks.

Worry not though, just because a casino has an edge on every bet you can make at the roulette table doesn’t mean you cannot win at times. Winning at roulette is all about chance – the strategies you can employ are designed to limit the damage of the house edge to your bankroll. A tip might be to look out for French roulette games that offer the En Prison or La Partage rule on even-money outside bets. These help to lower the house edge further so that you only lose half your stake when the single zero lands. Some tables will even allow your stake to ride on the next spin free of charge.

The Most Successful Roulette Winners Revealed

• Charles Wells
  One of the biggest roulette winners of all-time dates back to the late 19th century. A man named Charles Wells took to the streets of Monte Carlo and visited its now world-famous casino to enjoy a session of roulette. He would end up going on a ludicrous winning streak of 23 wins out of 30 spins, winning almost one million francs in a single evening. Wells wasn’t content with that win and returned to try his luck many months later. Sure enough, he managed to win over a million francs second time round. Despite the casino’s suspicions, it was discovered that Wells had won yet again through pure luck.
   
• Ashley Revell
  British man Ashley Revell sold his life possessions to accrue a stake worth US$135,000 to place on a single wager at the roulette table in Las Vegas. He flew out to Nevada and many journalists and cameramen were present as he entered the Strip to double his stake and come away with US$270,000 that would eventually be used to establish an online poker room.
   
• Chris Boyd
  Fellow Brit Chris also took the decision to try and win big at the roulette tables of Las Vegas. Boyd saved up US$220,000 over the course of three years to place a bet at Binion’s Horseshoe Club in Downtown Las Vegas. He placed all of his stake on an even-money red and, sure enough, it landed on red seven.
   
• Sir Philip Green
  Retail tycoon Sir Philip Green set foot into Les Ambassadeurs casino back in 2004 and left at the end of the evening some €2 million richer. Mr Green placed a string of straight bets and even-money outside bets, eventually taking the London casino for a seven-figure sum. It’s those with bottomless pockets of cash like Mr Green that the casinos are wary of most.

Put These Strategies To The Test And Play Roulette Online At LiveRoulette

Our live dealer roulette tables combine the very best aspects of a land-based roulette game with a state-of-the-art, digital experience. With no more need for computer-generated visuals for video roulette, you can play roulette online with us on our Canadian online casino and watch a real table and wheel via a high-definition video feed in real time. Join today to discover how live roulette puts you at the heart of the game!

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Contents

Moving On from Roulette Basic Strategy
Who Should Use Advanced Roulette Strategy?
How To Win at Roulette: Why Things Don’t Always Work Out
Advanced Roulette Strategy – The Top Non-Standard Roulette Tips
Dealer Signature
Wheel Bias Analysis
Visual Ballistics
How To Win At Roulette: Other Advanced Strategies

Live And Online Roulette Tips

In the world of casino games, roulette sits somewhere between online slots and blackjack. If the latter involves a decent amount of skill and the other does not, then roulette is a mixture of both. You place your bets as strategically as you like, but the wheel in motion decides the outcome.

However, if you’ve ever read anything about live or online roulette, you’ll know there are various betting techniques that some believe improve your results.

No roulette strategy can ever be 100% effective. However, there are some advantages to roulette betting strategies such as the Martingale. Again, there isn’t a single tip we can offer that will help you influence the outcome of a game. But you may be able to get an edge if you’re willing to think outside of the box.

In this guide, we’re going to take you outside of the proverbial box and offer some advanced roulette tips that have been used in casinos all over the world, though they won’t necessarily work in a live game. We’ve put together some of the most popular advanced online and live roulette techniques

Moving On From Basic Roulette Strategy

The main benefit of basic roulette strategy is structure. By following a set betting pattern, you have more control over those bets. For example, if you use the Martingale technique, you know that you must double your bets following a loss and reset after a win.

The idea behind these systems is that they follow a set pattern, giving you some direction or goal. Neither can swing the odds in your favour, but that’s not the point: basic roulette strategy and betting techniques are designed to mitigate risk, so you stand a better chance of riding the natural ups and downs of the game.

When it comes to advanced roulette strategy, things are slightly different. In general, you’re looking for some sort of anomaly or bias that you could exploit to get ahead. In practice, the chances of spotting a trait you can exploit are extremely slim. Even if you do, it’s not easy to take advantage of.

Who Should Use Advanced Roulette Strategy?

It should be obvious but advanced roulette tips should only be used by experts. If you’ve been playing for a while, you may be able to consider these tactics. If, however, you’re new to playing roulette online or live, it’s best to stick with the basics. In fact, the best thing you can do is learn about the game’s structure, devise a system that suits your own preferences and go with that.

At the end of the day, roulette, like the online slots other casino games in our Vegas hub, is about having fun. If you spend too much time worrying about how to win at roulette or roulette cheats, you’ll miss the experience.

How To Win at Roulette: Why Things Don’t Always Work Out

No roulette strategy is guaranteed to work, even if you follow the guidelines to a tee. Therefore, when you’re reading through the tips below, keep in mind that success isn’t assured.

Advanced Roulette Strategy – The Top Non-Standard Roulette Tips

If you’re confident you understand the basics of roulette online and you want to expand your horizons, advanced strategy might be for you. In the following sections, you’ll learn more about advanced roulette strategies, what they are and how they could help you.

Dealer Signature

If you play roulette inside a casino or online via a web stream, you can try using the Dealer Signature strategy. Before we get into the nuances of this roulette strategy, let’s talk about the main idea. Dealers are humans and, because of that, they often slip into set patterns.

Unlike the random number generators (RNGs) that control automated online roulette games, live tables are managed by real people. So there could be times when a dealer makes certain moves repeatedly without realising it. If you accept that this strategy is plausible, it’s accepted in roulette circles that a dealer will develop what’s called a “signature” (habit) after 1,000 spins.

To test this theory, you’d need to watch the dealer for an extended period. Eventually, you may pick out some habits that could allow you to predict where the ball may land. Naturally, you’re not going to predict the exact number. However, if you can spot patterns in the following areas, you may be able to build up an idea of what section/area of the wheel the ball is going to land.

Dealer Signature patterns could include:

• Where do they drop the ball?
• How fast do they drop it?
• At what angle do they drop it?

If – and it’s a big if – you can spot patterns in these areas, you may be able to predict where the ball is going to land. However, even if you do notice certain habits, it’s still tough to guess where the ball will stop as there are many other factors involved in addition to the dealer.

Wheel Bias Analysis

When you play roulette online, the outcome is controlled by a random number generator (RNG). These algorithms are also used in online slots, blackjack, and any other digital casino game. In simple terms, RNGs use complex mathematical equations to create random results. For you as a player, this means there are no distinguishable patterns or biases. To put it another way, everything is 100% fair and random, 100% of the time.

In centuries gone by, this may not have always been the case in some of the world’s smaller land-based casinos. Although a biased wheel is extremely rare in live venues today, it’s something that can happen due to a defect. Whether a wheel is slightly worn on one side or its internal mechanics have been compromised, roulette wheels have been known to develop a bias.

The idea of a biased wheel has been around for more than a century, but one of the first investigations into the phenomenon came courtesy of Joseph Jagger. The English engineer predicted that, theoretically, it was possible for wheels to develop a bias. Using his knowledge of engineering and how certain mechanisms can break down over time, he decided to test his theory in the 19th century. With the help of six croupiers, he was able to analyse results from a roulette table inside the Beaux Arts Casino, Monte Carlo.

Historical Analysis Leads To Modern Reliability

After thousands of spins, Jagger spotted patterns that didn’t tally up with the odds. In other words, certain numbers appeared more than they mathematically should have. With the ball drifting more towards a certain section of the wheel, Jagger agreed that a bias had developed. From this, the idea of biased roulette wheels became better understood by the mainstream.

In practice, strict gaming rules are in place to ensure roulette wheels inside a live casino aren’t biased. Constant checks are performed and, if any defects are spotted, the wheel is removed. However, in the 19th century, the checks weren’t always as strict. Fortunately, things have changed. What’s more, we now have online roulette. Playing online eliminates the possibility of a bias wheel by default. Because games are powered by RNGs, you never have to worry that a fault has developed, and the numbers aren’t spinning in randomly as they should.

Visual Ballistics

For a roulette strategy based on scientific principles, this is the one to use. Taking a concept from physics and applying it to a game of chance, this technique requires you to predict where the ball is going to land by calculating certain variables. Just as scientists can predict where a ball is going to land based on its weight, how hard someone has thrown it, the air density and other factors, theory is that it’s be possible to do the same in roulette.

When the wheel is spun and the ball is released, there’s a certain amount of inertia that has to be used up. When the ball has slowed to a sufficient speed, it will drop into a number. If you’re able to calculate the speed of the wheel, the speed of the ball and when it was first dropped, you may have a chance of predicting where it’s going to land with more accuracy.

As you’d expect, the calculations aren’t going to be 100%, far from it. We don’t have lasers for eyes, so we can’t log the exact speed of the ball or the moment it was dropped and where. You may be able to make estimates though. If you can, there’s a slim chance you can work out which section of the wheel the ball is likely to stop, based on all the variables in play.

How To Win at Roulette: Other Advanced Strategies

If the trio of techniques outlined above seem too complex or too farfetched, here’s a quick rundown of some other advanced strategies you might want to try:

Oscar’s Grind: With this system, you’re aiming for a series of small wins. To start, you divide your chips into two equal piles of 12. From here, you bet on 1-12 with your first stack and 25-36 with your second. Assuming a number in the second 12 doesn’t hit, you’ll make an 11-unit profit.

The Lucky 7 System: If you’ve got a large bankroll, this system can give you an 18.93% chance of winning. In simple terms, you need to select seven numbers and bet on each of them straight up. If you win, you stick to betting the same amount. If you lose, you increase your bet according to a set chart.

The important thing to note here is this can be an expensive strategy and should only be used by someone with the appropriate funds. In general, you’ll need at least €3,000 to try this technique if you’re betting €1 per number. This is to ensure you’re able to cope with an extended losing run. Indeed, there may be times when you go through 20 spins and don’t win (if you reach this point, you stop for the session). Therefore, you need a bankroll that can handle those swings.

In reality, if the system requires that much of a financial buffer, you actually need a lot more money in your bankroll. Whichever roulette betting technique you’re using, however much you’re staking, you always need a surplus. If the potential costs of this strategy are €3,000, you should have at least €6,000. You need to ensure that you can comfortably afford the ups and downs. This is known as bankroll management and is all part of a responsible gambling approach.

To start, you need to stake €1 per number for a total outlay of €7. When you win, you stick at the current level. If you lose, you increase the bet per number according to the table below. The reason the bets increase as they do is to ensure that, if you win, your profit will outweigh the amount you’ve wagered to that point.

As you can see, the stake per number gradually increases. Again, this is to ensure you make a profit any time one of your numbers comes in.

Using These Online Roulette Tips Wisely

The techniques listed here are both complex. Even though they are based on sound principles, the principles aren’t always in play. For example, if you can spot a biased wheel, there’s a strong chance you can predict where the ball is going to land, but wheels don’t usually have a bias. And, if they do, they’re taken out of service. So, while it’s great to know these techniques, it’s important to understand that they’re not always practical.

To test out any of these tips or simply have fun playing roulette online, join LiveRoulette!

Blackjack, also known as Twenty-One, is a hugely popular card game, dating all the way back to the 17th century. And of course, in 2019, there are plenty of exciting live versions to try out. But first, you’ve got to get basic blackjack strategy down.

In this bite-sized blackjack strategy guide, you’ll learn all you need to know to get started on our Canadian online casino, in as little as five minutes! 

Splitting A Pair

Splitting
pairs is one of the more better-known blackjack basic strategies, and it was
first introduced to help players bring down the casino’s house advantage a notch or two. However,
splitting pairs is usually not always
used very effectively, so let’s see how to make this blackjack strategy
work for you.

You can split
a pair when you have a hand with two cards of the same value, such as a 2 of
Hearts and a 2 of Clubs. You split the pair by placing an equal chip right next to the original wager. Don’t put your additional chip on top – that means you want to double up (more on that later). Placing your chip
adjacent to the original lets the dealer know that you want to split your hand.

So which hands should you split? Not all cards are equal. For instance, it’s recommended to split a pair of aces (totalling 11) as splitting will give you a much two chances to land two stronger hands. It’s also a good idea to split eights, to potentially improve a hand of 16. Never split a pair of 10 though, as by splitting you might be sacrificing a really good hand. Low numbers aren’t recommended to split either.   Why is splitting such a useful blackjack strategy? Because with this strategy you could transform a weak hand into a winning one with one wager or one click, and potentially win more money.

Doubling Down – Hard And Soft Hands

Do you need a
good blackjack basic strategy to help you break even or even possibly win when
your odds are not looking good? Then
doubling down is the blackjack strategy you need.

Doubling down is when you’re given the opportunity to double your initial wager, however, you will then only be able to draw one more card. To double, simply place an equal chip on top of your first wager. Some casinos will have different rules on when you can double down: you can usually double down on any two cards but some casinos may only allow it when you draw a hand of 10 or 11. So, when should you double down? You usually should double down when you have the hard 8, 9, 10, and 11 cards. A hard hand is a hand that doesn’t include an ace.

But what happens when your hand includes an ace (known as a soft hand)? If your hand includes an ace and an eight card or higher, it doesn’t make much sense to double.

The Rule Of Nine

An easy way to decide whether you should double down or not on a soft hand can be summarised below:

• If your
  dealer’s up-card and your non-ace card add up to nine or more, then double
  down.
• If the sum
  of the dealer’s card and your non-ace add up to less than nine, then you can
  hit.
• Never
  double down when the dealer holds a seven or higher.
• Never
  double down when the dealer holds an ace either.

Surrendering A Hand

The blackjack
strategy of surrendering a hand can be confusing, due to its misleading name.
When you surrender a hand, it doesn’t
mean that you’re surrendering the
game, and can be a highly useful strategy.

So, how does
it work? After having a look at your two-card hand as well as the dealer’s
up-card, and the cards just aren’t looking so good, you can apply this method and surrender half of your wager. The dealer will then take half of
your wager, as well as your two cards and will place them in the discard pile.

You might be
asking why this blackjack strategy is so great if you’re losing half your wager? You’re
losing 50% of your wager instead of potentially losing all of it, so you can
retain half your stake for the next hand. 

Hitting And Standing

Our last blackjack strategy for today is
a summary of hitting and standing.
This is the bread and butter of playing a
game of blackjack, whether online, live or at the casino.

When you hit, you’re asking the dealer for another card and when you stand, it means that you’re happy with cards you’ve been dealt and don’t want any additional cards.

So, when should you hit and when should you stand?

Well, this all depends on what your dealer’s holding:

• If the
  dealer has an ace, they have a high chance of hitting a 10 value card (10,
  Jack, Queen or King), so you should aim to have a hand of 17 or over.
• If the
  dealer has a 10 card, they still have a strong chance of hitting 20. So we
  recommend you hit until 17 or higher to give yourself the strongest hand you
  can.
• If your
  dealer has between seven and nine, at least they won’t be able to hit a
  Blackjack with their third card, but they can still get a high hand.  Hit until 17.
• If your
  dealer has a card worth four up to six, you could potentially stand on anything
  above 12.
• If your
  dealer has a two, you can hit up to a value of nine, but it’s wise to stand on
  a hand of 13.

And there you go, the four key components of blackjack basic strategy to help you polish up your skills. Why not try out the strategies you’ve learned by playing on LiveRoulette’s range of 15 live blackjack games, such as Exclusive Blackjack, Blackjack Party, and Infinite Blackjack, and show off your know-how?

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