If you look at the roulette table top, you’ll see that it’s laid out in a very particular way. Although the numbers 1–36 around the wheel are not sequential (and this matters if you’re using another strategy known as the touch-and-go roulette system), they’re set out in 12 rows and three columns, with the zero (and double zero in American roulette tables) located at the top. At the bottom of each column is a separate box marked “2 to 1.”
Along the one long side of the number grid are two boxes that divide the numbers in 1–18 and 19–36. On the other long side are three more boxes, this time dividing the numbers into blocks of 12 (the “dozens”). On the same side, on the outside of the grid, are four more boxes, one each for the red, black, odd, and even numbers. All these columns, dozens, and boxes are roulette outside bets.
Players place various roulette bet types by putting their chips on the individual number or numbers of their choice on one or two of the dozen zones in one or two of the “2 to 1” boxes; alternatively, they can take a 50/50 chance on the color, or on odds and evens. These are collectively known as outside bets in roulette. Adventurous players without any real roulette betting strategy may scatter their chips around on a combination of these.
What Are Dozens and Columns?
The “dozens” refer to the three boxes, one each for a bet on the ball landing on any number between 1–12, 13–24, or 25–36. Straightforward enough, but this begs the question of what a column bet is in roulette?
There are three columns, with the numbers in column one being 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34; column two being 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, and 35, while the final column contains 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36.
That’s six boxes or six bet positions, each one representing 12 numbers, which, taking the zero or double zero into consideration, is just less than one-third of the wheel.
Applying the Dozens and Columns Strategy
Since the odds are the same whether you play columns or dozens, they’re treated the same here. As far as roulette tactics go, playing the dozens and columns roulette system is one up from the beginner’s safe 50/50 red or black, odd or even bets. Most people start there, and as they get the feel of the game, they may become more adventurous. Covering two, rather than just a single dozen or column, will maximize your chances of a win. Although placing a bet on all three dozens or columns simultaneously is allowed, it makes no betting sense as this strategy will always result in a loss. A roulette betting guide will help you better understand the different bets, including dozens and columns.
Making It Work
What do the dozens pay in roulette? What do the columns pay? The answer is the same. Placing your chips in any of the six boxes — three for the columns and three for the dozens — has odds of +200, with the odds of winning a comfortable 31.58 percent. There are entire tables of formulas and bet sequences to apply when, following a bet on any one of the six boxes, you lose.
Using columns in roulette (or a dozen bet in roulette) is not particularly favorable on its own. It shows modest profits if you win, as laid out in a roulette payout sheet. Losses, however, will soon add up if you try to recoup losses on previous bets.
The problem is that if you choose to play the dozens or columns by placing a bet on a single box, you’re only covering a fraction of the numbers on the wheel. So, the next option is to double up and cover two of each. A roulette dozens bet payout is still +200, as is a columns bet, but you’re now covering two-thirds of the numbers, so your wins will be more frequent than if you play a single column or dozen.
Beating the Odds
When it comes down to it, there’s no shortage of roulette systems and strategies out there. Players can find anything from the mathematically sound all the way to the wacky, with most of the latter offering some variation of the gambler’s fallacy.
Some players spend a lot of time watching the spins, trying either to find a pattern or to choose a number or set of numbers that haven’t come up in a while. Some players try the Andrucci betting system, which can be applied to many casino games because it seeks to make sense of fundamentally unpredictable things.
Roulette strategies like the Martingale system or d’Alembert system focus on averaging out wins and losses. The Fibonacci system takes this a step further with more complex mathematical principles. But when it comes to having a roulette dozens strategy or a column strategy in place, there’s no guarantee that either will work.
The bottom line is that roulette is a game of chance, and very little skill can be brought to bear on your gameplay. The best strategy for players to adopt when it comes to online casino games whose outcomes are determined by random number generators (RNGs) or chance is to set loss limits for themselves, practice good roulette bankroll management, and remember it’s all about having fun. While mathematical principles may make some people feel more secure about their bets, it would be a mistake to believe that they can be used effectively in roulette.
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