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Labouchère — Bet the sum of the list ends; cross off on wins, extend on losses.
AdvancedRisk: HighCancellation systems

Strategy guide

Labouchère Strategy

Bet the sum of the list ends; cross off on wins, extend on losses.

Best for: Disciplined players who like written bookkeeping on even-money bets and clear session targets

Overview

Labouchère (the cancellation system) starts with a short list of positive numbers that add up to your intended unit profit—for example 1-2-3 aiming for 6 units.

Each bet equals the first number plus the last number still on the line (or the single remaining number). A win crosses those ends off. A loss appends the stake just lost to the end of the line.

When the list is empty, the written target is booked if you finished without hitting a stop. When the list grows, required bets and stress rise quickly—list design matters as much as the rule.

Like every stake system, Labouchère does not change spin odds. European even-money house edge is about 2.70% (about 1.35% only with La Partage/En Prison); American double-zero even-money is about 5.26%.

It rewards careful tracking and hard stop rules; it punishes long cold streaks and sloppy arithmetic.

Labouchère — Bet the sum of the list ends; cross off on wins, extend on losses.
Mood of the Labouchère approach — atmosphere for this system.

Visual progression

Labouchère list growth risk (illustrative list length)
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How it works

  1. Decide a unit size and a modest opening list whose numbers sum to the profit you would accept for one completed line (keep early lists short).
  2. Write the list on paper or a notes app—do not rely on memory once more than a few numbers remain.
  3. Bet (first + last) units on one even-money outcome. If only one number is left, bet that number alone.
  4. On a win, erase the first and last numbers you just used. On a loss, write the amount of that bet (in units) at the end of the list.
  5. Repeat until the list is empty (target reached), or until the next required bet would break your bankroll rule or the table maximum.
  6. Never lengthen the list with “bonus” numbers mid-session to chase a bigger target after a rough start.
  7. Prefer single-zero tables when available; lower edge does not make cancellation profitable, but it reduces the long-run drain per dollar wagered.
  8. End the line on purpose if bookkeeping gets messy—resetting with a smaller list is cleaner than guessing which numbers still count.

List 1-2-3 (unit $5, target 6 units = $30), European black

  1. Opening list: 1-2-3. First bet = 1+3 = 4 units = $20.
  2. Spin 1: bet $20 — lose. Append 4. List becomes 1-2-3-4. Running net −$20.
  3. Spin 2: bet 1+4 = 5 units = $25 — win $25. Cross off 1 and 4. List becomes 2-3. Running net +$5.
  4. Spin 3: bet 2+3 = 5 units = $25 — win $25. Cross off 2 and 3. List empty. Running net +$30.
  5. Target of 6 units ($30) is booked. A different win/loss order can demand much larger mid-line bets before the list clears.
  6. If spin 2 had lost instead, the list would have grown to 1-2-3-4-5 and the next bet would be 1+5 = 6 units ($30), showing how fast exposure climbs.

Pros

  • Profit target is explicit in the opening list sum
  • Flexible: conservative lines stay small; aggressive lines chase more with more risk
  • Satisfying structure for players who like tracking outcomes on paper
  • Can finish a line with mixed wins and losses if stakes remain available
  • Clear stop condition when the list empties or the next bet is illegal under your rules

Cons

  • Losing runs lengthen the list and inflate bets faster than many players expect
  • Bookkeeping errors are common under time pressure
  • More complex than flat betting, D’Alembert, or simple Paroli
  • Table limits or bankroll caps can strand a long list with large open risk
  • Negative expectation per spin is unchanged by cancellation bookkeeping

Bankroll & table limits

  • Fund the line for a worse path than your example—assume several losses early and check the peak (first+last) bet against cash and table max.
  • Shorter lists with small integers (for example 1-1-1-1) cut blow-up risk; long ascending lists raise both target and tail risk.
  • A practical rule of thumb: if the next cancellation bet would exceed a fixed fraction of remaining session funds (for example 10–15%), abandon the line rather than “just one more.”
  • Keep unit size tiny relative to total bankroll; Labouchère’s variance lives in list length, not only in the first bet.

Full bankroll guide →

Common mistakes

  • Opening with an ambitious list (large sum) and discovering mid-line that the required bet already hits the table max
  • Forgetting to append the full lost stake after a loss, or crossing off the wrong numbers after a win
  • Adding extra numbers after a bad run to “make back more,” which is a new system, not Labouchère
  • Using inside bets or multi-bet layouts so the 1:1 cancellation math no longer matches the line

FAQ

What opening list is best?

There is no best list. Smaller, shorter lists reduce the chance of a blow-up; larger lists aim for bigger completed targets with steeper drawdowns. Start educational lines very small.

Does clearing the list mean I beat the house?

It means that particular line’s unit target was reached. Over many lines the house edge on each dollar bet still applies—about 2.70% European even-money, about 5.26% American.

What if only one number remains?

Bet that single number of units. A win clears the list; a loss appends that amount and you continue with the new ends.

Is Labouchère the same as the Split Martingale?

You will see that nickname in older books. It refers to the same family of cancellation / Labouchère line play, not a different mathematical edge.

Should I use it on American wheels?

You can, but double-zero even-money carries a higher house edge (~5.26%). The list rules work the same; the long-run cost per spin is worse than on single-zero layouts.

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