The Labouchere strategy, also known as the Cancelation system or the Split Martingale strategy, is a very popular but complex negative progression betting system used in roulette.
It requires a good amount of practice and, therefore, isn’t recommended for those who are new to complex betting strategies. In simple terms, it allows you to decide how much you want to bet and how long you want to play. To better understand how this betting strategy works, we need to dive a little deeper into the subject.
WHAT IS THE LABOUCHERE SYSTEM?
The Labouchere system was developed by Henry Labouchere and was designed to be used on even-money wagers like Red/Black, Odd/Even and Low/High (1-18/19-36). Other bets, like Straight Up or Split, are not suited for this betting system. However, it can be used in other games with even-money odds, like craps and baccarat.
The Labouchere betting system is a negative progression betting system that requires you to increase stakes after placing a losing bet, similar to the Martingale system. The key difference here, however, is that you don’t try to recover all your previous losses in a single win but focus on multiple separate wins to do so.
This betting system aims to establish a winning goal and break it down into a manageable sequence of numbers. This initial sequence will be your betting line or betting pattern, where the numbers tell you how much to bet in a given round.
HOW DOES THE LABOUCHERE ROULETTE BETTING STRATEGY WORK?
To better understand how the Labouchere system works, let’s take the following example.
Say you’d like to potentially win €10. You can form a simple sequence, like 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1, or adjust it as you see fit. A sequence of 1-2-3-2-1-1 will work just as well, so let’s use this one!
- The first and last numbers are used to determine the value of your bet and are crossed out as you win. Losses will be added at the end of the sequence. In our example, your first bet would be €2, as it is the sum of the first digit (one) and the last (one).
- If you win this round, these two digits will be crossed out and dropped from the original sequence. Now, you’re working with 2-3-2-1, which means that your next bet is €3.
- Repeat the process until all of the numbers have been eliminated from your initial betting sequence.
- Once you have no more numbers left, you should either stop betting or create a new sequence and continue.
This is for the case where you win; however, the Labouchere strategy requires you to play differently if you hit a losing streak:
- If you go with the same sequence of 1-2-3-2-1-1 and lose your first bet of €2, instead of removing the numbers from your original sequence of numbers, you need to add your bet to the end of the sequence.
- In this case, the sequence now becomes 1-2-3-2-1-1-2. If the outcomes of the following spins are also losing bets, you will be extending the sequence further.
- The sequence will continue until all numbers have been eliminated through wins, which is when you reach your original goal and can begin a new sequence or take a break from playing.
This strategy is an excellent choice for casino players who look to improve their bankroll management and play responsibly. By setting a concrete goal and breaking it down into small, manageable steps, you can possibly achieve greater control over the game. You can also create a sequence of your choice depending on how much you want to try to win. The longer the number sequence is, the more time it will take to complete it — and the greater the risks.
HOW TO USE THE LABOUCHERE BETTING SYSTEM
Now that you have an idea of how this negative progression system works, let’s take a look at the Labouchere betting system in practise with this quick table:
Take the sequence: 1-4-5-3-2 for a total value of €15
| Bet | Sequence | Outcome | Result | Profit |
| € 3 | 1-4-5-3-2 | Lose | -€ 3 | -€ 3 |
| € 4 | 1-4-5-3-2-3 | Lose | -€ 4 | -€ 7 |
| € 5 | 1-4-5-3-2-3-4 | Win | + €5 | -€ 2 |
| € 7 | 4-5-3-2-3 | Lose | -€ 7 | -€ 9 |
| € 11 | 4-5-3-2-3-7 | Win | + €11 | + €2 |
Remember, the sequence will go on until you’ve crossed out all the numbers in the sequence, but you get the main idea.
PROS AND CONS OF THE LABOUCHERE STRATEGY
Like many other negative progression systems, the Labouchere system has a few benefits as well as downfalls.
When it comes to online gambling, there is no perfect strategy or method of betting that will guarantee that you’ll beat the house edge and win more money. Betting systems are simply designed to give you the best odds of winning instead of walking into a game blind, so this is not to say that strategies are not helpful.
Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using the Labouchere system:
ADVANTAGES
- Allows you to customise the sequence based on how much you want to win.
- You can also customise the Labouchere betting system based on the amount of time you want to play roulette.
- When using this betting system, your winning bets don’t necessarily need to outnumber your losing bets. The Labouchere system banks on the probability of breaking even and making a small profit on 1:1 even-money bets.
- The safest sequence to try out is 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1, known as the Johnson progression.
- Players can split the sequence as many times as they wish to avoid a long losing streak.
DISADVANTAGES
- The Labouchere system is relatively complex and not ideal for beginners.
- It requires you to be very careful when it comes to bankroll management.
- The sequence can get rather long if you hit a losing streak. Eventually, you may struggle to keep up with the losses, especially if you don’t have a huge bankroll.
- If you set a larger goal, a longer sequence of numbers poses greater risks. Consider splitting it into smaller sequences and tackling them in several, shorter sessions.
LABOUCHERE STRATEGY TIPS AND TRICKS
Are you thinking that the Labouchere system is a good fit for your betting style? Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind before placing your next bet:
SET AN END GOAL
Instead of setting any random sequence, decide on an end goal you’d like to work towards and then split that into a feasible sequence to make a profit equal to this goal. It is important that you have your bankroll in mind when setting a goal instead of randomly deciding on numbers, as you may end up having to bet high — sometimes too high.
START OUT WITH A SMALLER GOAL
The Labouchere system can get a little confusing and complex as you cancel numbers out or add numbers to the sequence. We always recommend starting with a smaller goal, to begin with until you learn the ropes and get the hang of the cancellation process.
SPLIT A LARGE GOAL INTO SMALLER SEQUENCES
Going off of our previous point, once you do learn the ropes and want to test out a large profit goal, we recommend splitting that goal into several smaller sequences as opposed to having one long one. The reason being is that you’ll end up playing several bets that may be too large for your bankroll to handle. As we’ve mentioned, larger sequences pose a greater risk, so it is best to stick to smaller sequences instead.
HAVE A GOOD BANKROLL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
Because this strategy focuses on placing more bets every time you lose, it is good to have a bankroll management strategy before placing your initial bet.
A bankroll management strategy helps safeguard your funds by setting bet limits and ensuring you don’t spend your cash all at once. Without it, especially when using the Labouchere system, you may have to drop out of the game before reaching your goal due to a lack of funds.
PRACTISE THE CANCELLATION SYSTEM FIRST
Practising in the demo mode is the best way to get a grip on how this system works.
When playing online casino games, you’ll notice that casinos also pack their collection with First-Person tables. These games feature a computer-generated roulette wheel instead of a live dealer, and because of this, they also come with a demo mode.
A demo mode is a free-play version of the game that allows you to place free bets using virtual funds. While you won’t be able to collect any of the winnings as every single bet you place will be a virtual one, the demo is perfect for giving the Labouchere a test run before diving into the real thing. Play for as long as you like, and once you’ve milked the demo for all its worth, load up a roulette game for real!
Bear in mind that, depending on your jurisdiction, you may be required to register an account. Otherwise, you can play the demo as a visitor.
TRY THE LABOUCHERE SYSTEM AT LV BET
The Labouchere system is an efficient and fun strategy that can help you map out your potential goal. As long as you manage your bankroll well and set reasonable goals, the Labouchere betting system can help you establish greater control of your gaming sessions.
This system works best with outside bets, and sometimes, there is a mistaken belief that this betting system will guarantee a win, but this is simply a gambler’s fallacy.
While there is no way to prevent any losses, you can minimise your risk with proper bankroll management.
If you’re tired of using the Labouchere system, there are many other negative progression systems out there that you can try, including the Fibonacci system, which is based on the Fibonacci sequence, and the Martingale system, also known as the American progression system. You can also try your hand at other betting strategies like the Paroli system or the D’Alambert strategy.
Just be sure to try these methods out at a secure online casino, and luckily for you, LV BET just so happens to be one of the best betting sites around. Play roulette, among other casino games, at LV BET and enjoy an unparalleled gaming experience. We even offer our sports betting fanatics an action-packed Sportsbook, as well as a TONNE of promotions to boost gameplay!
FAQ
DOES THE LABOUCHERE SYSTEM WORK?
Yes and no. When playing at a roulette table, you’ll be faced with many different bets to choose from, so you may find yourself stuck placing minor bets and getting no payoffs at all. A betting strategy, specifically the Labouchere system, can help boost your winning percentage on your next wager. That said, roulette is a game of chance, and so, winning is never a guarantee.
IS THE LABOUCHERE STRATEGY A NEGATIVE PROGRESSION SYSTEM?
Yes! The Labouchere strategy is characterised as a negative progression system. This is because negative systems require increasing your bet every time you lose and decreasing your bet every time you win. The idea is to offset your losses with frequent small wins.
IS THE LABOUCHERE SYSTEM A CANCELLATION SYSTEM?
Yes, Henry Labouchere created this strategy to be used as a cancellation technique. The Labouchere strategy involves forming a sequence of numbers and cancelling out those numbers every time you hit a winning bet. However, if your previous bet resulted in a loss, then that wager will be added to the sequence.
WHAT IS THE BEST LABOUCHERE SEQUENCE?
The best Labouchere sequence is a sequence that would let you bet on an average of 2% of your bankroll per bet. That said, it is recommended that newbies start out with 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1, known as the Johnson progression, as it is the safest sequence they could begin with. In any case, be sure to practise using your chosen sequence in the demo mode first.
WHAT IS THE REVERSE LABOUCHERE SYSTEM?
The reverse Labouchere system was designed to counteract the one major flaw of the original Labouchere strategy: you might end up depleting your bankroll very quickly. With the reverse Labouchere system, you will lose small amounts instead and have a chance of making a large profit. Take this example:
Suppose you have a sequence of 1-2-3-4. Your first bet of the cycle would be equal to the sum of the first and last numbers in that sequence. So, in this case, your first bet will be €5.
If you win, you must add that bet to the end of the sequence. If you lose, you must cancel out the first and last numbers.
CAN I USE THE LABOUCHERE SYSTEM ONLY AT A ROULETTE TABLE?
Nope! While this strategy was designed to work on roulette, you can use the Labouchere system on craps and baccarat tables too!