Roulette players who want to structure their bets rather than placing chips chaotically on the table often turn to betting systems such as the 1-3-2-6 Casino Strategy. This is one of the simplest ways to manage stake size in games like roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and craps.
Most casino players have probably used, or at least heard of, betting strategies such as the Martingale, the D’Alembert, or the Paroli. In fact, gamblers have employed dozens of strategies, systems, and techniques over the past decades and centuries with one major goal: to beat the casino and leave the table victorious. We all know a story or two about a player who, through a complicated strategy and some cunning, managed to beat the house and win a lot of money in the process.
Many gambling fans, including seasoned blackjack, roulette, or baccarat players, wonder whether such successful casino systems exist or whether they are just a marketing trick for selling more books and guides on the subject. Professional players know, however, that most betting systems do not work, at least not in the long run, and that no strategy can change the casino edge ingrained in every game. What betting systems such as the 1-3-2-6 pattern can do, however, is help gamblers optimize the value of their play and manage their bankroll in a smarter way.
How the 1-3-2-6 Strategy Works
The name of the strategy suggests it may involve a complicated mathematical pattern, but in fact, it is simply a sequence of bets placed consecutively during short winning streaks. The 1-3-2-6 strategy is a positive betting progression; with it, players increase the size of their stakes only after a win. After a loss, they stop the progression and return to the beginning. If they win four times in a row, they also stop and start over.
These are the basic rules on which the system is built, and they remain the same regardless of the game we play. Another important thing to remember is that this strategy works only with even-money bets. In roulette, these are black/red, even/odd, and high/low. Although the chances that the ball will land on red or black are not perfectly even (48.65% in single-zero roulette), the payout is.
Before players can apply the 1-3-2-6 strategy, they need to determine their base stake, the amount they will start with. We will refer to it as a “unit,” and the 1-3-2-6 sequence therefore consists of 1 unit, 3 units, 2 units, and 6 units. This initial stake can be any amount players find appropriate, depending on their bankroll and the table limits. The value of a single unit should not exceed a few percent of your bankroll; for instance, if your entire bankroll is $200, your basic betting unit should be no more than $10 (5%). Online casinos allow bets as low as $1 per spin, which is suitable for players with little experience.
To start the 1-3-2-6 progression, players place a 1-unit wager on their preferred even-money bet, and if it wins, they continue with a 3-unit wager. If the first bet loses, they cancel the progression and continue with flat bets until they win. Let’s see how the strategy works in the following example:
| Spin | Bet (In Units) | Outcome | Payout | Profit/Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Win | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | 3 | Win | 6 | 4 |
| 3 | 2 | Win | 4 | 6 |
| 4 | 6 | Win | 12 | 12 |
| Total Bet Amount: 12 units | Total Payout: 24 units | Net Profit: 12 units |
The example makes it clear that if players follow all four steps of the progression, their net profit at the end will be exactly 12 units. For the sequence to be profitable, players need to win the first two bets, or all four in a row. After the second spin of the wheel, they have a profit of 4 units, and even if they lose the next 2-unit bet, they still end with 2 units in gains. The fourth step is a double-or-nothing situation: if the 6-unit bet wins, the net profit doubles to 12 units, but if it loses, it wipes out the winnings generated so far.
1-3-2-6 Roulette Strategy Gameplay
The Concept of the 1-3-2-6 Casino Strategy
Players who decide to apply the 1-3-2-6 system to roulette can place their chips on any of the even-money bet fields and keep wagering on the same sector throughout the session. They can also switch between red and black on each spin, or bet on two reds followed by two blacks. Contrary to popular belief, consistency is irrelevant here, and the so-called Law of Averages does not apply. The Law of Averages is the erroneous belief that future events will change in such a manner that they “balance any past deviation from a presumed average.”
In roulette, an equal number of reds and blacks is expected only in the long run, and such balance is possible only theoretically. The same is true for winning and losing streaks, and for the idea that wins must follow consecutive losses. Interestingly, this principle underpins the 1-3-2-6 system and many other casino betting strategies. For the system to succeed, wins must occur consecutively. The idea is that the ultimate profit of 12 units is enough to compensate for previous losses. We can see this in the following example, but this time the units are shown in monetary value, with 1 unit worth $5:
| Spin | Bet | Outcome | Payout | Profit/Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5 | Win | $10 | $5 |
| 2 | $15 | Win | $30 | $20 |
| 3 | $10 | Lose | $0 | $10 |
| 4 | $5 | Lose | $0 | $5 |
| 5 | $5 | Lose | $0 | $0 |
| 6 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$5 |
| 7 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$10 |
| 8 | $5 | Win | $10 | -$5 |
| 9 | $15 | Win | $30 | $10 |
| 10 | $10 | Win | $20 | $20 |
| 11 | $30 | Win | $60 | $50 |
| Total Bet Amount: $110 | Total Payout: $160 | Net Profit: $50 |
As we can see, the system can offset the losses caused by a streak of five defeats and still generate respectable winnings, 10 units in this case. Another essential point to remember is that the 1-3-2-6 strategy limits losses to only 2 units per session. This situation occurs only in the second step of the progression, when we have won 1 unit and are wagering 3 units. If this bet loses, we finish with 2 units in losses.
Risks to Consider when Using the 1-3-2-6 Strategy
Just like any other betting method, the 1-3-2-6 strategy carries certain risks and may turn out to be detrimental in particular circumstances. The main risk, of course, is experiencing a prolonged losing streak. This system does not allow you to recover easily from large losses, especially when we consider that four consecutive wins are unlikely to occur frequently. More importantly, you cannot predict when, or whether, they will occur at all.
The other obvious risk is that the system can gradually erode the player’s bankroll amid quickly alternating wins and losses. After several unsuccessful progressions, the net loss could be significant and practically impossible to recover. In the example below, you can see how risky the 1-3-2-6 system can be:
| Spin | Bet | Outcome | Payout | Profit/Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5 | Win | $10 | $5 |
| 2 | $15 | Lose | $0 | -$10 |
| 3 | $5 | Win | $10 | -$5 |
| 4 | $15 | Lose | $0 | -$20 |
| 5 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$25 |
| 6 | $5 | Win | $10 | -$20 |
| 7 | $15 | Lose | $0 | -$35 |
| 8 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$40 |
| 9 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$45 |
| 10 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$50 |
| 11 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$55 |
| 12 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$60 |
| 13 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$65 |
| 14 | $5 | Win | $10 | -$60 |
| 15 | $15 | Win | $30 | -$45 |
| 16 | $10 | Win | $20 | -$35 |
| 17 | $30 | Win | $60 | -$5 |
| Total Bet Amount: $155 | Total Payout: $150 | Net Loss: $5 |
Advantages and Disadvantages
There are several pros and cons of the 1-3-2-6 betting system that players should consider before they use it for roulette or any other casino game. Obviously, the strategy is extremely simple and easy to learn, so even beginners can use it without the need to write down sequences of numbers or keep track of wins and losses.
Another useful feature of this system is that you cannot reach the table’s maximum betting limit while using it. In contrast, more aggressive strategies can increase bet size so rapidly that you hit the limit in just a few spins of the wheel. Remember, the 1-3-2-6 system yields a profit only after two or four consecutive wins, and while four wins in a row may not be very likely, two consecutive wins are certainly common.
The biggest advantage of this system, however, is that while being relatively safe and conservative, it can award players with up to 12 times their initial stake. Moreover, this happens in just four spins of the wheel. The strategy, however, requires ideal circumstances, namely a winning streak, which may not occur in more than a hundred spins because of the game’s randomness.
Additional Advantages and DisadvantagesOf course, the system has one major disadvantage: it cannot recover lost funds after a long losing streak. In fact, this is a weakness most betting systems share, along with the fact that none of them can turn the odds in players’ favor. No matter how good a system is, the casino will eventually win because of the built-in house advantage of 2.70% in European and 5.26% in American roulette.
Conclusion
Adopting the 1-3-2-6 casino strategy into your roulette routine can be both profitable and entertaining. The simplicity of the system and its relative safety make it ideal for less-experienced players who would not be comfortable using a riskier approach such as the classic Martingale. It is also a flexible strategy, as you can stop the progression after the third winning bet and avoid the double-or-nothing risk.
If used correctly and with lower stakes, the system can generate good profits, especially if the player enjoys a few winning streaks in a single session. It will not save you from losing streaks or overcome the house edge, however, so use it carefully. While the potential winnings of 12 times the base stake are appealing, the system is more likely to generate profits of only 2 units.