Labouchere Roulette Strategy: Complete Guide with Math & Calculator (2026)

Picture this: you're at the roulette table with $500. Instead of flat-betting Red and hoping for the best, you write down a sequence of numbers on a napkin — 1-2-3-2-1 — and know exactly what to bet on every single spin. Win or lose, your next move is already decided. No emotions. No guesswork.

That's the Labouchere roulette strategy in action, and as of 2026 it remains one of the most structured approaches to even-money roulette betting. Unlike the Martingale's brutal doubling or flat betting's slow grind, Labouchere gives you a roadmap — a sequence that, when completed, guarantees a specific profit.

The catch? The sequence doesn't always complete. And when it doesn't, the losses can pile up fast. In this guide, you'll get the exact math, Monte Carlo simulation data comparing European vs American roulette, four Labouchere variations no competitor covers, and a free calculator to test any scenario.

TL;DR — Labouchere Roulette Quick Reference

Key Numbers for Even-Money Roulette Bets

Bottom line: You'll complete the Labouchere sequence most of the time — but the sessions that bust cost more than the profits from successful ones. That's exactly how the house edge works. Understanding this is the difference between enjoying the system and going broke.

What Is the Labouchere Roulette Strategy?

The Labouchere system — also called the cancellation system or split Martingale — is a negative progression betting strategy. You write down a sequence of numbers that add up to your profit target, and you bet the sum of the first and last numbers. Wins shrink the sequence; losses grow it.

For roulette specifically, it works on even-money bets: Red/Black, Odd/Even, or High/Low (1-18 / 19-36). These bets pay 1:1 and have a win probability of 48.65% on European roulette.

For a deep dive into how the system works across all gambling contexts, see our full Labouchere betting system guide. This article focuses specifically on roulette application — the math, the simulations, and the four variations that matter at the wheel.

Origin: From Victorian Politics to the Casino Floor

Henry Labouchere was a 19th-century British politician and publisher — not a gambler by trade. Yet his name became synonymous with one of gambling's most elegant systems. The irony? Labouchere likely borrowed the concept from earlier French mathematicians who studied probability at roulette.

The system gained traction in Monte Carlo's golden era because it solved a real problem: how to pursue a specific profit target without the catastrophic risk of doubling bets like Martingale. By the mid-20th century, it was a staple in every serious roulette player's toolkit.

How It Differs from Martingale and Fibonacci in Roulette

All three are negative progression systems — you increase bets after losses. But the growth rate is wildly different:

Labouchere grows slower than Martingale but faster than Fibonacci betting system. The tradeoff: recovery takes more wins, but you're far less likely to hit table limits or drain your bankroll from a single bad streak. Check how all these systems compare in our Martingale simulator.

How the Labouchere System Works at the Roulette Table

Step 1: Choose Your Even-Money Bet

Pick one of the three even-money bet types at the roulette table:

• Red or Black — 18 numbers each
• Odd or Even — 18 numbers each
• High (19-36) or Low (1-18) — 18 numbers each

All three have identical probabilities: 18/37 = 48.65% on European roulette. There's no mathematical advantage to any of them. Pick whichever feels comfortable and stick with it — or switch every spin. It genuinely doesn't matter.

Step 2: Set Your Profit Target and Create a Sequence

Your profit target = the sum of all numbers in your sequence. Common starting sequences for roulette:

Flatter sequences (like 10-10-10-10-10) keep bet sizes more consistent. Pyramid sequences (like 5-10-20-10-5) start small and grow toward the center — these are generally safer because your first bets are low.

Step 3: Calculate Your First Bet (First + Last)

Take the first number and the last number in your sequence. Add them. That's your bet.

For the sequence 1-2-3-2-1:

• First number: 1
• Last number: 1
• Your bet: $1 +$1 = $2

If only one number remains, that number IS your bet.

Step 4: After a Win — Cross Out Both Ends

You won $2 on your first bet. Cross out the first and last numbers:

1-2-3-2-1 → remaining: 2-3-2

Next bet: first (2) + last (2) = $4

Each win removes two numbers from your sequence — you're getting closer to your profit target. When all numbers are crossed out, you've won exactly $9 (the sum of your original sequence).

Step 5: After a Loss — Add the Bet to the End

You lost $4. Add that amount to the end of your sequence:

2-3-2-4 → remaining: 2-3-2-4

Next bet: first (2) + last (4) = $6

Notice how losses grow the sequence, making future bets larger. This is the core tension of Labouchere — wins shrink by 2 numbers, but losses only grow by 1. You need roughly 33% wins in a session to complete the sequence (not 50%), because each win cancels two numbers while each loss adds one.

Labouchere Roulette Examples with Real Numbers

Short Sequence: $10 Goal on Red/Black

Starting sequence: 2-2-2-2-2 (target = $10)

Best case: 3 consecutive wins, 3 spins, +$10 profit. This happens (0.4865)^3 = 11.5% of the time.

Long Sequence: $50 Goal — Deeper Run

Starting sequence: 5-10-20-10-5 (target = $50)

Result: 4 wins, 3 losses (57% win rate), +$50 profit in 7 spins. Notice how bets escalated to$45 on spin 6 — the sequence demanded it.

Worst Case: 5 Consecutive Losses at the Roulette Table

Starting sequence: 1-2-3-2-1 (target = $9)

After just 5 losses, your sequence has grown from 5 to 9 numbers, your next bet is $7, and you're down$20 — more than twice your original $9 target. This is why bankroll management and stop-loss rules are non-negotiable.

The probability of 5 consecutive losses on European roulette: (1 - 0.4865)^5 = 3.6%. Not rare enough to ignore. Use our risk of ruin calculator to find your personal danger zone.

Labouchere Math: Probability and House Edge at Roulette

Win Rate Required to Break Even

Here's the fundamental problem with Labouchere at roulette. Each win crosses out 2 numbers while each loss adds 1. To complete a sequence, you need wins to outpace losses by a 1:2 ratio. Mathematically:

$\text{Min win rate} = \frac{1}{3} = 33.3\%$

That looks easy — European roulette gives you 48.65% wins, way above 33.3%. So why doesn't everyone win?

Because the dollar amounts matter, not just the count. Losses happen when bets are larger (the sequence has grown), and wins happen when bets could be any size. The house edge systematically pushes more losses into the sequence than a fair game would, slowly inflating the total wagered. Over many sessions, your total wagered × 2.70% = your expected loss.

Simulation Data: European vs American Roulette

We ran 10,000 Monte Carlo sessions for each roulette type to show you real performance data:

The difference between European and American roulette isn't subtle — it's dramatic. European completes sequences more often, busts less, and loses less per session. Always play European. Check the exact edge difference with our house edge calculator.

Expected Loss per Session by Bankroll Size

Why the House Edge Compounds with Labouchere

The house edge doesn't just take 2.70% of each bet — it compounds through the sequence structure. Here's why:

1. Losses inflate the sequence → bigger future bets
2. Bigger bets × house edge → larger expected losses per spin
3. Larger losses inflate the sequence further → even bigger bets
4. This feedback loop means total wagered grows faster than a flat-betting approach

In a fair game (50/50), Labouchere would break even. With roulette's 48.65% win rate, the system slowly bleeds money through this compounding effect. Our session simulator shows this pattern clearly across hundreds of spins.

Labouchere Roulette Strategy Calculator

Use this calculator to simulate Labouchere sessions on European or American roulette. Set your profit target, bankroll, choose a sequence style, and run hundreds of Monte Carlo sessions to see real completion rates, average profits, and worst-case scenarios.

Try different configurations: conservative sequences with large bankrolls produce the highest completion rates. Aggressive targets with thin bankrolls bust most of the time. The calculator reveals exactly where your comfort zone should be. For general bankroll planning, pair it with our bankroll growth calculator.

Labouchere Variations for Roulette

Reverse Labouchere (Anti-Labouchere)

The Reverse Labouchere flips the logic: add to the sequence after wins, cross out after losses. Instead of chasing losses, you're riding winning streaks.

How it works:

• Win: Add the bet amount to the end of the sequence
• Loss: Cross out the first and last numbers
• Stop: When the sequence is empty OR you hit your profit target

The Reverse Labouchere wins big during hot streaks but loses most sessions. It's a high-variance approach — think of it as the opposite risk profile. Over 100 sessions, you might lose 60-70 of them but the 30-40 winners produce large profits.

Best for: Players who want occasional big wins and can stomach frequent small losses.

Labouchere for Dozens and Columns (2:1 Payouts)

Standard Labouchere uses even-money bets (1:1). But you can adapt it for dozens (1-12, 13-24, 25-36) or columns, which pay 2:1:

• Win probability: 12/37 = 32.43% (European)
• After a win: Cross out 3 numbers (you won 2x your bet, so you cancel more)
• After a loss: Add the bet to the end (same as standard)

The tradeoff: you win less often (32% vs 49%), but each win removes 3 numbers instead of 2. Sequences complete faster when you win, but losing streaks are more devastating. This variation is riskier and requires 50% more bankroll.

Split Labouchere

Split Labouchere divides your main sequence into two shorter sequences that you play alternately:

• Sequence A: 1-2-3 (target $6)
• Sequence B: 2-3-2 (target $7)
• Total target: $13

Alternate between A and B on each spin. If one sequence busts, continue with the other. This spreads risk across two independent tracks — a bad run on one doesn't automatically destroy the other.

Best for: Players who want lower variance without reducing their profit target.

Mini Labouchere (Low-Bankroll Version)

For players with small bankrolls ($50-$100), the Mini Labouchere uses tiny sequences:

• Sequence: 1-1-1 (target $3) or 1-1-1-1 (target$4)
• Starting bet: $2 (first + last)
• Maximum reasonable bet: ~$8-10 after a bad streak

Mini Labouchere keeps bets within table minimums at most casinos while still providing structure. You won't win life-changing money, but you won't go broke in 5 minutes either. For more on managing small bankrolls, see our staking plan calculator.

Labouchere vs Other Roulette Strategies

vs Martingale: Controlled Growth vs Exponential Risk

Martingale wins more often but when it loses, the damage is severe. Labouchere distributes risk more evenly across sessions. Learn more with our loss recovery calculator.

vs D'Alembert: Similar Philosophy, Different Execution

Both D'Alembert and Labouchere are negative progression systems that grow bets after losses. The difference:

• D'Alembert adds a fixed unit after each loss and subtracts after each win. Simple but slow.
• Labouchere uses a sequence, making bet sizes variable and progress toward a target trackable.

D'Alembert is easier to execute at the table. Labouchere offers more control over your exact profit target. For a full strategy comparison, try our win probability tool.

vs Fibonacci: Sequence-Based Rivals

Both use number sequences, but Fibonacci's is fixed (1-1-2-3-5-8-13...) while Labouchere's is customizable. Fibonacci grows slower than Martingale but faster than most Labouchere configurations. After 8 losses:

• Fibonacci bet: $34
• Labouchere bet (1-2-3-2-1 start): ~$15-25

Labouchere gives you more control. Fibonacci is simpler to remember. Both lose to the house edge long-term. Compare exact numbers in our Kelly criterion calculator — it shows why no negative progression system has positive expected value.

vs Oscar's Grind: Patience vs Structure

Oscar's Grind increases bets by one unit after a win (not a loss) and aims to profit exactly 1 unit per cycle. It's the tortoise to Labouchere's hare:

• Oscar's Grind: Very slow, very safe, very boring. Wins 1 unit per cycle.
• Labouchere: Faster, riskier, customizable. Wins your chosen target per cycle.

Big Comparison Table

Pros and Cons of Labouchere at the Roulette Table

Advantages

1. Clear profit target — you know exactly how much you're trying to win before you place a single bet
2. Controlled bet growth — bets grow linearly, not exponentially like Martingale
3. Customizable risk — choose your own sequence to match your bankroll and comfort level
4. Structured discipline — every bet is calculated, no emotional decisions
5. Works with any even-money bet — Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low — all identical math

Disadvantages and Honest Warnings

1. Still net-negative — the house edge guarantees long-term losses regardless of the system
2. Losing streaks inflate bets — 5-7 consecutive losses can push bets uncomfortably high
3. Requires tracking — you need a pen and paper (or our calculator above) to follow the sequence
4. Table limits can block completion — if max bet < your required next bet, you're stuck
5. False confidence — winning 85% of sessions feels like a winning strategy, but the 15% busts eat those profits
6. Not suitable for American roulette — the 5.26% edge makes completion rates significantly worse

If you want to see how your current roulette approach stacks up against expected losses, run the numbers in our session simulator. And for understanding how streaks affect your bankroll, see our analysis of blackjack losing streak odds — the psychology is identical even though the game is different.

Best Roulette Games for the Labouchere System in 2026

European Single-Zero vs American Double-Zero

This one isn't close:

Always play European roulette. The difference isn't marginal — American roulette nearly doubles your expected loss. Every $1,000 you wager costs$27 on European vs $53 on American. Over a 50-spin session wagering$20/spin, that's a $27 vs$53 expected loss.

If the casino offers French roulette with La Partage (returns half your even-money bet when zero hits), the edge drops to 1.35% — half the standard European rate. This is the absolute best table for Labouchere.

Live Dealer Roulette: Table Limits That Matter

Labouchere can push your bets high during losing streaks. Table limits matter:

For Labouchere, you want the highest max/min ratio possible. Online tables are ideal because they allow small starting bets with high ceilings — exactly what the system needs during extended losing streaks.

For a different approach to structured roulette betting, compare with the Paroli roulette strategy (positive progression), the 24+8 roulette strategy (coverage system), or the $150 roulette strategy (high-stakes coverage).