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 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.
Players place their bets 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. 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. 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 beginners’ safe 50/50 red or black, odd or even bets. Most people start there, and when they begin to get the feel of the game, 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.
Making It Work
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. The numbers are not particularly favorable and show modest profits if you win. Losses, however, will soon add up if you try to recoup losses on previous bets.
Of course, 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. The numbers soon escalate, as you need to multiply your bet by three each time you suffer a loss — so your sequence now looks like this: 1, 3, 9, 27, 81, 243. On the upside, because you’re now covering two-thirds of the numbers, your wins will be more frequent than if you play a single column or dozen.
Beating the Odds
When it comes to strategies for roulette, there’s no shortage of systems and strategies out there. Players can find anything from the mathematically sound all the way to the whacky, 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 things that are fundamentally unpredictable.
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 and to 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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