Labouchère strategy: The ultimate roulette plan?

The Labouchère Strategy has fascinated gamers for ages. Is it the holy grail for Roulette or a cleverly disguised bankruptcy? I'll show you the naked truth.

Last checked and updated: February 2026 by Sara Devegano

5 reasons why the Labouchère system is so damn fascinating

Bevor wir tief ins kalte Wasser springen, lass uns mal klären, warum dieses System so einen Sog entwickelt. Es ist kein stumpfes „Alles auf Rot“. Es ist… eleganter. Und genau das macht es so gefährlich verführerisch.

🎯 Targeted Play: You define a clear profit target. This feels like control, not blind gambling.
🧠 Es ist „intelligent“: You calculate, you cross out, you make notes. You feel a bit like a code breaker, not like a daddler.
📈 None Doubling necessary (mostly): Unlike the Martingale, where the stakes explode, the progression here is (initially) gentler.
🧘 Built-in discipline: The system forces you to stick to a plan. You can't just bet from your gut.
💸 The myth of profit: There is a persistent legend that it can be used for long-term win. (Spoiler: No. But more on that later.)

What the hell is the Labouchère strategy anyway?

Okay, Butter bei die Fische. Die Labouchère Strategie (manche nennen sie auch „Abstreichsystem“ oder „Split Martingale“) ist eine negative progression strategy. What does that mean? Quite simply: You increase your stakes when you lose, and (in this case) reduce it if you win. The aim is to achieve a predetermined profit with a series of winning bets.

It works only for bets with (almost) 50/50 odds. In roulette, these are your best friends:

Where do we play blackjack online?

My best Online casino experiences I have in the Playamo Casino made. In my opinion, there is the BEST SELECTION at tables with live dealers, where we train for the real casino. In contrast to many other online casinos, winnings are also paid out really quickly and reliably here. That's why I can definitely recommend Playamo!

Das Playamo Casino bietet zahlreiche Live-Blackjack-Tische und eine schnelle Auszahlung unserer Gewinne.

CLICK ON THE BUTTON NOW TO SECURE YOUR BONUS!

I could have won money anywhere else, but I have always had good experiences with the Playamo Casino made.

Red / Black
Even / Odd
Low (1-18) / High (19-36)

Forget about betting on 17 or other individual numbers. This is about the „simple odds“. Incidentally, the system was (allegedly) invented by Henry Labouchère, a British politician in the 19th century. Whether the man became rich with it or was just fighting boredom in the House of Lords is not known. My guess is the latter.

The core idea is enticing: you don't even need to win 50% of your bets to reach your target. When you win a bet, you cross out two numbers on your list. If you lose, you only add one added. That sounds like a deal with the devil that works out in your favour, doesn't it? Well.

The tough practice: How to play it (step-by-step)

Enough theory, now it's time to get serious. Grab a pen and paper. No, seriously. You need Pen and paper. Anyone who tries to do this in their head, especially after three beers in the casino, is already lost.

Target: Let's say you're modest. You want to win €10 (or units, pieces - call it what you will).

Step 1: Create the number series

Now divide your target win of 10 into any series of numbers. The sum of these numbers must equal 10.

You could keep it simple:

1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 1 (Langweilig, aber funktioniert)

Or something more structured:

1 – 2 – 3 – 4 (Ergibt 10)

Or:

2 – 2 – 3 – 3 (Ergibt auch 10)

Let's take the row for our example: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4

Step 2: The first use

Your Insert is always the sum of the first and last number in your series.

In our case: 1 + 4 = 5

Your first bet is therefore €5. You bet it on red.

Schritt 3: Der Ball rollt… Was nun?

Now there are two possibilities.

Scenario A: You WIN! 🥳

Congratulations! The croupier pushes €5 over to you. What are you going to do now?

You cross the first and last number off your list.

Deine Liste sah so aus: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Jetzt sieht sie so aus: 2 – 3

Your next bet? First + last number again: 2 + 3 = 5

You bet €5 on black.

Scenario B: You LOSE! 😭

Crap. The croupier takes your €5. What do you do now?

You delete NOTHING. Instead, you add the lost stake (€5) TO THE END of your list.

Deine Liste sah so aus: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4

Jetzt sieht sie so aus: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

Your next bet? First + last number again: 1 + 5 = 6

You bet €6 on red.

Step 4: The endgame

You repeat the whole thing. Bluntly. Mechanically. Like a robot.

With every win: Delete the first and last number.
With every loss: Write the lost stake at the end of the list.

Your goal is achieved when all numbers on your list crossed out are. At that moment, you've made exactly your target profit (in our case, €10). Then you get up, go to the bar, buy yourself a drink and feel like a genius. Or... you start a new list. (That's the dangerous part).

What happens if there is only one number left (e.g. 3)? Then your stake is simply this number. If you win, the list is empty. If you lose, you add the loss (3) and the list is empty again. 3.

Ein brutales Beispiel: Wenn die Serie reißt…

That all sounded okay now, didn't it? Controlled. Feasible. Now I'll show you why I hate and love this system at the same time. It's a ride on the razor's edge.

Let's imagine a run of bad luck. We start again with 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 (target €10).

Stake: 5 € (1+4). LOST.
- List: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
Stake: 6 € (1+5). LOST.
- List: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6
Stake: 7 € (1+6). LOST. (Langsam wird’s ungemütlich)
- List: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Stake: 8 € (1+7). LOST. (Das gibt’s doch nicht!)
- List: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
Stake: 9 € (1+8). WON! (Phew!)
- List: 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Stake: 9 € (2+7). LOST. (Argh!)
- List: 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 9
Stake: 11 € (2+9). LOST.
- List: 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 9 - 11

Let's pause for a moment.

Your original goal was to win €10.

Nach nur zwei Gewinnen und sechs Verlusten sieht deine Liste jetzt so aus: 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 9 – 11.

Your next bet would be €2 + 11 = €13.

And the sum of the numbers on your list (i.e. your new profit target, just to get to zero) is... €47!

You are now risking €13 to win €10 and have already left a lot of money on the table.

My personal Hell's journey:
I once sat in a small Casino, I felt invincible with my €20 target list. After a nasty run of eight losses, my list was as long as my arm and my next bet was over €150. For a €20 target! I left it, crumpled up the list and left. That was the best investment of the evening.

My personal toolbox: pen, paper and strong nerves

Wenn du das wirklich durchziehen willst, brauchst du ein paar Dinge. Und ich meine nicht „Glück“, das ist sowieso nicht planbar.

Pen and paper: Indispensable. Take a small notepad that fits in your pocket. In the online casino, a notepad window will do. Cross out the numbers clear through. Nothing is worse than getting lost in your own list.
Eine „flache“ Liste: Don't make the mistake of starting with 5 - 5. This is also 10, but your first bet is directly 10. If you lose, the next bet is 15. Better start with lots of small numbers like 1 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 1. This makes the progression much, much slower and more bearable. It takes longer, but your heart will thank you for it.
Tough bankroll management: Define before, wie viel du maximal zu verlieren bereit bist. Nennen wir es dein „Total-Loss-Limit“. Wenn deine Liste so lang wird, dass der nächste Einsatz dieses Limit (or your total loss reaches it), STOP. Accept the loss.
The right casino: Find a table with a high table limit and a low Minimum bet. This gives your progression more room to rise before you hit the ceiling (the table limit).

Labouchère vs. Martingale: The duel of the giants (and why both lose)

Ah, der Klassiker. Welches System ist „besser“? Es ist, als würde man fragen, ob man lieber von einem Hai oder einem Krokodil gefressen werden möchte. Das Ergebnis ist dasselbe, der Weg dahin ist nur unterschiedlich.

The Martingale system is the brutal thug:

You bet €1. Lose? You bet €2. Lose? You bet €4. Lose? You bet €8.
It's simple. Idiot-proof to understand.
A losing streak of 7-8 losses (which is absolutely normal!) almost brings you to each Table limit and ruins you. The increase is exponential.

The Labouchère system is the cunning strategist:

The stakes rise more slowly, more linearly (at least initially).
It's more flexible. You can customise your list.
It is psychologically more demanding (you have to do maths and write).
Eine Pechsträhne macht dich auch kaputt, aber es dauert länger und fühlt sich „kontrollierter“ an.

Here is a small comparison:

Feature	Martingale	Labouchère
Destination	Gain 1 unit per cycle	Predefined target (e.g. 10 units)
Progression	Exponential (x2)	Linear (sum of 2 numbers)
Complexity	Very simple	High (pen & paper required)
Risk	Extremely high, fast	High, but slower build-up
„Gefühl“	Panic & adrenaline	Control & Strategy
The enemy	Table limit & losing streak	Table limit & long Bad luck

In the end, it doesn't matter. Both systems change nothing on House advantage. The zero (or double zero in American roulette) is the mathematical nail in the coffin for each System.

The maths behind it: Why it (almost) feels logical

Why is the system so tempting? Because the logic seems watertight at first glance.

Each win cancels two numbers.

Each loss only adds one number.

This means that as long as you win more than 1/3 of your bets (i.e. 34% or more), your list will be at some point become shorter. Sounds great, doesn't it? With a 50/50 chance (which we almost have), we should easily be over 34%.

The problem is the Height of the stakes. The one number that you add in the event of a loss is the sum of the two outside numbers. It is often greater than the two numbers that you delete when you win.

Example:

List: 5 - 10 - 5
Stake: €10. If you win, you cross out 5 and 5.
Einsatz: 10 €. Verlierst du, schreibst du 10 dazu. Liste: 5 – 10 – 5 – 10. Nächster Einsatz: 15 €.Die Einsätze wachsen. Und wenn sie wachsen, wächst auch die Zahl, die du im Verlustfall hinten dranhängst. Es ist eine Spirale.

The ugly truth: where the system is guaranteed to fail

I have to be honest here. I love the Thrill of this system. It feels like work, like a plan. But I'm also a realist. The Labouchère system doesn't work in the long term. Point. And here's why:

The bloody zero (house advantage):There are 37 numbers on a European roulette table (1-36 plus the 0). You bet on red (18 numbers). Your chance is not 50% (18/36), but 18/37 (approx. 48.6%). If the zero falls, all simple numbers lose Opportunities. This small difference of 1.4% (or 2.7% house edge) is how the casino pays its lights. The system completely ignores the zero.
Das Tischlimit:Jedes Casino hat ein Tischlimit. Sagen wir, 5 € Minimum und 500 € Maximum. Du fängst klein an. Aber nach der Pechsträhne von oben (Liste: 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 9 – 11) ist dein nächster Einsatz 13 €. Verlierst du weiter, landest du unweigerlich bei Einsätzen von 100 €, 200 €, 300 €. Und irgendwann sagt der Croupier: „Sorry, 500 € ist Maximum.“ Dein System ist geplatzt. Du kannst deinen Verlust nicht mehr reinholen, selbst wenn du wolltest.
The infinite bankroll:All betting systems work on paper if you assume two things: Infinite time and infinite money. You don't have either. Your bankroll is finite. And at some point there will be a losing streak that is longer than your bankroll is deep. This is not an opinion, this is mathematical certainty (the „Gambler's Ruin“).

The system is a tool to short term to have fun and maybe, with a bit of luck, win a pre-defined prize. It is none Cash machine.

Variants for cowards and crazy people: Reverse Labouchère & Co.

Sure, the gaming community is creative. If a system doesn't work, you just turn it round!

The Reverse Labouchère (for the brave)

As the name says: you make everything vice versa.

You start with your list (e.g. 1 - 2 - 3 - 4).
Stake: First + last number (€5).
At GEWINN: You write the profit (5 €) at the end of the list! (List becomes: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5)
With VERLUST: You cross out the first and last number! (List becomes: 2 - 3)

The goal? One Lucky streak and to play with the bank's money. This is a positive Progression. You raise when you win. The advantage: Your Losses are severely limited (you only lose your original list), but your profits can theoretically explode. Sounds great, doesn't it? Problem: you need a winning streak. And most of the time you just lose your initial list.

The Johnson System (Modified)

Some people modify the list. They add zeros (1 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 3) to artificially depress the stakes. Or they Share a large loss over several numbers (instead of adding €20, they add 5 - 5 - 5 - 5). This makes the list longer, but the stakes smaller. It is cosmetic. It doesn't change the core problem, it just disguises it.

Interactive check: Are you the type for the Labouchère system?

Nicht jedes System ist für jeden. Bist du ein „Labouchère-Spieler“? Mach den Schnell-Check:

[ ] Ich kann simpelste Addition im Kopf, auch wenn’s laut ist.
[ ] I have no problem using a pen and paper in the casino (or a mobile phone notebook).
[ ] I am patient by nature and can stubbornly follow a plan.
[ ] Wenn ich verliere, werde ich nicht panisch oder emotional („Jetzt erst recht!“).
[ ] I can accept a total loss and leave the table.
[Joking question] [ ] I see a certain poetry in numbers.

If you have ticked 4 or more boxes (except for the joke question), could you have the necessary discipline for the system. If not - don't. Play Martingale instead or (even better) just bet on your lucky number and hope for the best.

Pros & cons: My brutally honest assessment after years

Having played the system dozens of times, online and live, here is my unvarnished opinion:

PRO (What I like about it):

The feeling of control: It's the opposite of chaos gambling. You have a plan, a goal, a method. That calms you down immensely.
Flexibility: You determine your goal and your list yourself. You can be ultra-conservative (1-1-1...) or aggressive (5-10-5) play.
No immediate explosion: Anders als beim Martingale verlierst du nicht nach 5 Runden dein Haus. Der Niedergang ist langsamer, ein „managed decline“.
The intellectual appeal: Es macht einfach… Spaß. Das Streichen, das Rechnen. Es ist ein Spiel im Spiel.

KONTRA (What drives me to white heat):

It is deceptive: It whispers in your ear that you have an advantage. You don't. Never.
Streaks of bad luck are death: A series of 6-8 losses (which happens!) inflates your stakes and your list to absurd heights. Your €10 target suddenly requires a stake of €80. The ratio is broken.
The table limit death: At some point will you reach the limit. The system collapses and you have a massive, irrecoverable loss.
The zero: It comes. And when she comes, she laughs at you, because she is not part of your system and counts as a normal loss that extends your list.

Is the whole thing even legal? A word about the grey area

Yes, of course it's legal. You can bet however you like. You can also count, take notes or do a rain dance. No casino will kick you out for playing the Labouchère system.

ButCasinos don't like system players. They like them not at all. Warum? Weil Systemspieler diszipliniert sind. Sie jagen keinen großen Jackpots hinterher, sie versuchen, kleine, stetige Gewinne zu machen. Sie „grinden“. Das ist schlecht fürs Geschäft.

So if you're sitting at the table and scribbling manically on your notepad, the croupier or floor manager may be watching you a little more closely. Not because you're doing something illegal, but because they want to check whether you might be a card counter at the table. Blackjack who has lost his way. In roulette, however, they don't usually care - they know that the bank will win in the end anyway.

FAQ: Your most burning questions about the Labouchère

Here are the questions I am asked time and again. Short and sweet.

Does the Labouchère strategy really work to make money?

No. In the short term, you may be lucky and achieve your goal. In the long term, you will always lose due to the house advantage (the zero) and the table limit. It's a system for entertainment and discipline, not a cash machine.

What is the main difference to the Martingale system?

Martingale doubles the stake after each loss (exponential). Labouchère adds the loss to the list (linear progression). Labouchère is slower, more flexible, but just as susceptible to bankruptcy in the event of a losing streak.

Do I need a lot of money (bankroll) for the Labouchère system?

Yes, more than you think. As the stakes increase quickly during a losing streak (albeit more slowly than with Martingale), you need a solid cushion. You should have at least 50 times your Target profit as a bankroll, better to have 100 times that amount to cushion a few dents.

What do I do when the zero comes?

Die Null ist ein ganz normaler Verlust (es sei denn, du spielst „La Partage“ oder „En Prison“ Rules, but that's another topic). You lose your bet (e.g. on red) and write the lost amount at the end of your list. The system does not collapse, but the zero gnaws away at your advantage.

Can I also play the system online?

Yes, absolutely. It's even easier online because you can use your notepad on the side without anyone looking at you funny. But pay attention to the speed of the Tables (Live dealers are better than RNG machines) and the table limits.

Was ist die „beste“ Zahlenreihe für den Start?

Die „sicherste“ ist eine lange, flache Reihe, z.B. 10x die „1“ (1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1) for a €10 target. Your stake is always €2. If you lose, it's €3, then €4. This is very defensive. Aggressive lists like 5-5 (start 10 €) or 2-3-5 (start €7) escalate much faster.

How do I stop?

You stop when one of two things happens: 1. your list is completely crossed out (goal achieved!). Take the winnings and leave. 2. your previously set maximum The loss limit has been reached (e.g. €150). Stop, accept the loss and leave. Discipline is everything.

Can the system be used for other games?

Yes, it theoretically works on all bets with approx. 50/50 odds. You could use it on Baccarat (on player or bank) or in craps (pass/don't pass). It is not suitable for blackjack, where decisions (hit/stand/double) are more important.

Warum heißt es „Abstreichsystem“?

It's simple: because the core of the strategy is to physically move the numbers on your list when you win. to be cancelled. This is the most satisfying part of the whole system!

Is the Reverse Labouchère better?

„Besser“ ist relativ. Es ist different. The normal labouchère is an attempt to „safely“ recover losses (which fails). The reverse labouchère is an attempt to maximise profits (which is less likely to succeed, but costs less capital). Personally, I think the reverse system is better for the fun factor, as you are playing with the bank's money.

Glossary: Gambler slang for show-offs

So that you don't look like a beginner at the table.

Bankroll: Your entire gambling capital for the evening/month. When that's gone, you go home.
Progression: A strategy in which the stakes are increased (or decreased) according to a certain pattern.
Negative Progression: Increase inserts after a Loss (e.g. Martingale, Labouchère).
Positive Progression: Increase inserts after a Profit (e.g. Paroli, Reverse Labouchère).
House advantage: The mathematical advantage that the casino always has. In European roulette (one zero), this is 2.7%.
Simple opportunities: Roulette bets that are almost 50/50 (red/black, even/odd, 1-18/19-36).
Croupier: The bank employee who runs the game, throws the ball and collects your chips (unfortunately).
RNG: Random Number Generator. The software that is used for online slots or automatic Roulette tables determines the results.

What's next? (If you're not broke yet)

If you enjoyed the Labouchère but realise it's not the holy grail, there's more food for your strategic mind:

The Paroli SystemThe (almost) risk-free positive progression?
Martingale in depth check: Why you REALLY shouldn't do it.
The D’Alembert System: Die Pyramide für Vorsichtige.
Fibonacci roulette: With the law of nature against the bank?
Bankroll Management: The only strategy that really works.

My conclusion: A nice toy, not a tool

So, let's get straight to the point. After all these years, all the lists, all the heart attack moments: I still use the Labouchère system. But I no longer use it to win. I use it to round off my evening structure.

It's the perfect system for a controlled evening. You set yourself a small target (€15-20) and take a fixed bankroll (€100). Then you play the system. Either you reach your target - great, you've won €20 for drinks. Or you lose your €100 - okay, that was your budget for the evening. The system prevents you from blowing it all in an hour or getting greedy. It turns blind gambling into a methodical game.

It is an intellectual game of patience against the relentless maths. And the maths usually wins. But the way there, the crossing out of the numbers, the feeling of almost having cracked the code - that's what makes it so appealing.

Go in, have fun, but don't think you're smarter than the casino.

🧠 It's a matter of the head: The system is more of a psychological A tool for discipline rather than a mathematical miracle cure.
💀 Death is certain: Every Labouchère list will eventually run up against a table limit or an empty bankroll. The only question is, when.
🎉 The fun factor: Used correctly, with mini targets and clear loss limits, it maximises the playing time and the thrill for your money.