Roulette Cheat Sheet

Wheel & Layout

Bet Types & Odds

Betting Strategies

Tips & Tricks

Roulette Wheel Layout

Roulette

European vs American Wheel

European (Single Zero)

37 numbers (0-36)
House edge: 2.7%
Better odds for player

American (Double Zero)

38 numbers (0, 00, 1-36)
House edge: 5.26%
Worse odds for player

Wheel Number Sequence

European Wheel:

0-32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26

American Wheel:

0-28-9-26-30-11-7-20-32-17-5-22-34-15-3-24-36-13-1-00-27-10-25-29-12-8-19-31-18-6-21-33-16-4-23-35-14-2

Roulette Table Layout

1st 12

2nd 12

3rd 12

1-18

EVEN

RED

BLACK

ODD

19-36

Number Properties

Red Numbers:

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34, 36

Black Numbers:

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31, 33, 35

Even Numbers:

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36

Odd Numbers:

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35

1st Dozen (1-12):

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

2nd Dozen (13-24):

13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

3rd Dozen (25-36):

25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36

1st Column:

1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34

2nd Column:

2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35

3rd Column:

3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36

Inside Bets

Straight Up

Bet on a single number

35:1 Probability: 2.7%

Split

Bet on 2 adjacent numbers

17:1 Probability: 5.4%

Street

Bet on 3 numbers in a row

11:1 Probability: 8.1%

Corner

Bet on 4 numbers in a square

8:1 Probability: 10.8%

Top Line

Bet on 0, 00, 1, 2, 3

6:1 Probability: 13.2%

Six Line

Bet on 6 numbers (2 rows)

5:1 Probability: 16.2%

Outside Bets

1-12

Dozen

Bet on 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, 25-36)

2:1 Probability: 32.4%

2nd
Col

Column

Bet on 12 numbers in a column

2:1 Probability: 32.4%

RED

Red/Black

Bet on all red or all black numbers

1:1 Probability: 48.6%

EVEN

Even/Odd

Bet on all even or all odd numbers

1:1 Probability: 48.6%

1-18

High/Low

Bet on 1-18 (low) or 19-36 (high)

1:1 Probability: 48.6%

Special Rules

European Roulette Special Rules

La Partage Rule

If the ball lands on zero, players lose only half their even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, 1-18/19-36). Reduces house edge to 1.35%.

En Prison Rule

If the ball lands on zero, even-money bets are "imprisoned" for the next spin. If your bet wins on the next spin, you get your original bet back. Reduces house edge to 1.35%.

House Edge Comparison

European Roulette:

2.70% (1 in 37)

With La Partage/En Prison: 1.35%

American Roulette:

5.26% (2 in 38)

Top Line bet: 7.89% (worst bet)

Progressive Betting Systems

Martingale System

Double your bet after each loss, return to base bet after a win.

Example Sequence (Base bet: $10)

Lose $10 Bet $20 Lose $20 Bet $40 Lose $40 Bet $80 Win $80 Profit $10

Pros:

Simple to understand
Guarantees profit with unlimited bankroll
Works well in short sessions

Cons:

Requires large bankroll
Table limits prevent progression
Long losing streaks are devastating

D'Alembert System

Increase bet by one unit after a loss, decrease by one unit after a win.

Example Sequence (Base unit: $10)

Bet $10 Lose Bet $20 Win Bet $10 Lose Bet $20 Win

Pros:

Less aggressive than Martingale
Slower bankroll depletion
More controlled betting progression

Cons:

Doesn't guarantee profit
Losing streaks still problematic
Requires equal wins and losses to profit

Fibonacci System

Follow the Fibonacci sequence for bet sizes after losses, move back two steps after a win.

Fibonacci Sequence (Base unit: $10)

$10 $10 $20 $30 $50 $80 $130 $210

Pros:

Less steep progression than Martingale
Can profit even with more losses than wins
More sustainable for longer sessions

Cons:

Complex to track during play
Long losing streaks still problematic
Doesn't overcome house edge

Non-Progressive Systems

James Bond Strategy

A flat betting system covering 25 numbers with one spin.

Bet Distribution (Total: $200)

$140 on High numbers (19-36)
$50 on Six Line (13-18)
$10 on 0 (insurance)

Outcomes:

If 19-36 hits (18 numbers): Win $80
If 13-18 hits (6 numbers): Win $100
If 0 hits (1 number): Win $160
If 1-12 hits (12 numbers): Lose $200

Pros:

Covers 25 of 37 numbers
No progression required
Can be used for short sessions

Cons:

Requires larger bankroll
Still has negative expectation
Big loss if 1-12 hits

3-2 System

Bet on two dozens with different amounts to secure small profit.

Bet Distribution (Total: $50)

$30 on first dozen (1-12)
$20 on second dozen (13-24)

Outcomes:

If 1-12 hits: Win $30 (2:1) = $60, profit $10
If 13-24 hits: Win $20 (2:1) = $40, loss $10
If 25-36 or 0 hits: Lose $50

Pros:

Covers 24 of 37 numbers
Simple to implement
Small profit on first dozen hits

Cons:

Small loss on second dozen hits
Big loss if third dozen or 0 hits
Still has negative expectation

Constant Bet Strategy

Bet the same amount on the same bet type consistently.

Example Approach

Decide on a fixed bet amount (e.g., $10)
Choose a bet type (e.g., Red/Black, Even/Odd)
Stick with it regardless of wins or losses
Set win/loss limits and time constraints

Pros:

Simple to implement
Better bankroll management
Predictable losses over time
No emotional decision making

Cons:

Doesn't capitalize on winning streaks
Still has negative expectation
Can be boring for some players

Bankroll Management

Setting Limits

Session Bankroll: Only bring what you can afford to lose
Win Goal: Set a target profit (e.g., 50% of bankroll)
Loss Limit: Decide when to walk away (e.g., 50% of bankroll)
Time Limit: Set a fixed playing time regardless of results

Bet Sizing

Conservative: Bet 1-2% of your bankroll per spin
Moderate: Bet 3-5% of your bankroll per spin
Aggressive: Bet 6-10% of your bankroll per spin
Adjust bet size based on results and comfort level

Money Management Rules

Never chase losses with bigger bets
Take breaks after big wins or losses
Keep track of your wins and losses
Separate gambling money from everyday funds
Consider taking profits off the table periodically

Roulette Myths Debunked

Myth: Numbers are "due" to hit

Truth: Each spin is independent. Previous results don't affect future spins.

Myth: Betting systems can beat the house

Truth: No betting system can overcome the house edge in the long run.

Myth: Watching for dealer signatures/patterns

Truth: Modern wheels and procedures make exploiting dealer patterns virtually impossible.

Myth: Hot and cold numbers exist

Truth: Statistical variance creates the illusion of patterns, but each spin remains random.

Casino Etiquette & Tips

Table Etiquette

Wait until the dealer removes the dolly before placing new bets
Don't touch chips after the dealer calls "no more bets"
Use roulette chips (different color for each player)
Ask the dealer to place complicated bets if unsure
Tip the dealer occasionally, especially after wins

Smart Play Tips

Always play European (single-zero) roulette when available
Look for tables with La Partage or En Prison rules
Avoid the five-number bet in American roulette (highest house edge)
Take advantage of casino comps and promotions
Practice free online before playing with real money

Responsible Gambling

Only gamble with money you can afford to lose
Never borrow money to gamble
Set time and money limits before playing
Don't chase losses or play under emotional distress
Remember that roulette is entertainment, not income
Take regular breaks to maintain perspective

Expected Value Calculator

European Roulette (Single Zero)

For every $100 bet:

Expected loss: $2.70
With La Partage: $1.35

American Roulette (Double Zero)

For every $100 bet:

Expected loss: $5.26
Top Line bet: $7.89

Expected Loss Formula

Expected Loss = Total Bet × House Edge

Example: $500 bet on Red in European Roulette

$500 × 0.027 = $13.50 expected loss