The simplest way to play with The Labouchere system is simply to write down a set of numbers according to the nature of the game...
The Labouchere system is also known as the Negative Progression or the Cancellation System.It is a popular betting system played at most casinos in the world. Besides the basic game there are a number of variants that are similar to it played in casinos.
How Does The Labouchere System Work?
As mentioned above there are a number of variations to this game and its simplest form can be played by writing down a set of numbers say 1 2 3 4 5 6. It is not necessary for the number series to be short or long. You also do not have to make it in sequence. For example you can use 1 1 3 3 5 7. The selection of the above series of numbers depends of the nature of the game you are playing and the odds of the bet.
Each of these numbers represents the amount of chips or units to bet. The player needs to bet the first and last of the numbers selected. For instance, in the example taken above, 1 & 6 sums up to 7.
If the player wins these two numbers are crossed out and the next two end numbers are taken. In our example the next numbers that are taken are 2 & 5. If the player wins again the next two numbers i.e. 3 & 4 are taken and if he/she wins that also a “coup” or completed single game is made and the player requires starting all over again.
In case the player loses he/she adds that number to the end of the series chosen.For example if he/she loses the first bet of 7 (1+6). After this the number 7 is added to the end of the series so the list tends to look like this 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and the next bet of the player would be 8 units ( 1+7) If the player wins the first bet but loses the second 2 and 5 , the list of the series of numbers will become 2 3 4 5 7.
On analysis the player makes a “coup” or earns a profit when the number series is complete. There is however a negative aspect of this system and that is the player could end up betting huge sums of money even when the initial bet is very small.
Reverse Labouchere System – A Popular Variant Of The Basic System
The Reverse Labouchere System is a popular variant of the basic system that is played. This variant is more or less the same as the basic Labouchere System except that the sequence has been extended with a win and been shortened with a loss. This variant of the system permits players to determine their maximum losses while the basic system allows them to determine their highest potential gains.
There are some casinos that provide options to players to spilt their bets. This is generally done to keep bets below the table limit or to reduce the size of the players bet or both.