|
|
|
Approaching the game of roulette intelligently is a rare event. Although it's
known worldwide for its sophistication, most of the people who bet on roulette
do so because it's simple to know what you're betting on, and to know if you've
won. No mystery, no taking anybody's word for anything, no crazy roulette systems
and strategies to try, just good old fashioned betting. So people take advantage
of the fact that it's a simple game at face value, and often just bet on the outside
bets for a while as alternate entertainment from whichever game they play predominantly.
Knowing how you can play roulette better is more about being familiar with the
game conditions than it is about knowing one bet from another. In the extremely
opposite vein from craps, roulette offers the same house edge on all but one of
its bets, and in American roulette that house edge stands at 5.26%. The first
thing you'll want to do in development of a roulette strategy is seek out a good
roulette table. If you're unaware of the difference between American and European
roulette, it's really quite simple. On an American roulette wheel there are two
green pockets, one a zero, the other double-zero. European roulette on the other
hand has only one green pocket, and no double-zero. Since the added pocket on
an American roulette wheel makes it harder to hit any red or black numbers it
has an effect on the house edge. Without the double-zero the house edge in European
roulette drops right down to 2.7%.
So if you're not in Europe, and can't find a single zero wheel anywhere (check
out our page on single zero roulette wheel locations), your next best bet is looking
for the surrender rule. In many Atlantic city casinos, surrender is an addition
to the roulette set which substantially increases the players chances on certain
bets. Ask at the table before you play to see if this rule is in effect. The change
to house edge only applies to outside even money bets (including red/black, even/odd,
high/low). When the ball lands on a zero or double zero and you have placed an
outside even money bet, surrender dictates that you receive half of your even
money bet back. Since we know it's the extra green pockets that thwart our chances
in the first place, any rule that lessens their blow can certainly help us. The
house edge on outside even money bets when surrender is in effect is only 2.63%.
European roulette games may add an extra punch that's good to keep an eye out
for. If a rule called 'en prison' is active at the table, our outside even money
bets are given an even better chance. Say your placing a bet on Red and the ball
falls in the dreaded 0 pocket. If En prison is offered, the bet will not be swept
away after the rest of the bets, but it wont be returned to you either; the bet
is said to be 'in prison' and remains on the board to have it's fate decided on
the next spin. If on the next spin the bet 'wins' (a red # comes up), your money
is returned to you as was, with no extra winnings. If the number next spin is
a loss for your imprisoned bet, it gets swept away. If 0 comes up again, the bet
remains in prison (this last rule varies from table to table, sometimes the bet
remains for two zeros, sometimes it is taken away). With this rule in effect the
house edge on outside even money bets drops right down to 1.35%. So your roulette
strategy should include a keen eye for the 'surrender' rule, any European tables
you can find (there are some online too), the 'en prison' rule, and always remember
which bets these rules are beneficial to, as they often don't cover inside bets.
Guides & Strategies - Home | Blackjack
| Craps | Roulette | Slots
| Video Poker
|
|
|
|
|
|