One of the oldest betting games in history, Roulette is more than a game of luck. It is a game of wits where you work out in your mind how to improve your odds against the house. It is an exciting game and no matter how seasoned the player, his heart still beats faster when the ball gets close to the lucky number – wondering if he had placed his bets right.
The Roulette wheel is separated into sections, and each has a specific color and a specific number. The European roulette has 37 pockets, and the American roulette has 38 pockets. The zero is green. 18 numbers are red, and 18 are black. The numbers are arranged in 3 columns, from 1 to 36. Above the columns the 0 and the 00 are located. To the left of the 3 columns you will find the various bets – red, black, odd, even and multiple numbers.
You can place any number of bets – you could choose a number or, a range of numbers. You could also choose a color, either red or black, or further, you may choose a number which is odd, or even. You cannot place a bet on both black and red, as these would make for conflicting bets. The croupier spins the wheel in one direction, and then he spins the ball in the opposite direction along a circular track, that is tilted and runs around the circumference of the wheel. Since the ball is moving in the opposite direction, it loses momentum and falls on the wheel and into one of the pockets. There are two kinds of bets:
• Roulette inside bets – these are bets placed on the figures that you see on the inner area i.e. on the numbers in the 3 columns. You place bets on a particular number, or set of numbers.
• Roulette outside bets – these are found on the outer area, to the left of the first column, and below the last column.
Roulette inside bets – these are:
• Roulette straight up bet – this is a simple bet placed directly on a single number from 1 to 37. You place your chips on the number you have chosen, and your chances at winning will be 35 to 1.
• Roulette split bet – in this bet, you choose two numbers that are adjacent on the roulette board. Put your chips on the border between them. The chances of winning are immense if either number shows up.
• Roulette Street bet – you choose three numbers which are next to each other, and place your chips on the outside line of these numbers. For example, if you choose 1, 2, & 3, then you place chips on the outside line of 3, or 1. Your rewards are 11 to 1.
• Roulette square bet – here, you have to put your chips in such a way that it is in the corner of 0 and 3. You stand to win 8 to 1, if the ball lands on any of the 4 numbers i.e. on 0 or 1or 2 or 3 or 4.
• Roulette corner bet – here you choose any four adjacent numbers that form a square. Place your chips in the middle where the four numbers convene. For example if you choose 8, 9, 11, & 12. You place your chips in the cross between these numbers. So, should the ball fall on any of these 4 numbers, you win 8 to 1.
According to Roulette rules, the sum of your bets should add up to the ‘board minimum’, i.e. if you are playing at a table where the minimum is $6, then you can gamble $1 on each of 6 figures, or $1 on one single number. You could even use a combination of both. Whatever permutation –combination you use, your bet should be $ 6or more.
Roulette outside bets – these are:
• Roulette low or high – to play this, you place your chips on the range of figures marked out on the board, there are 2 ranges marked – 1 to 18 and 19 to 36. This even money bet is calculated at i.e. 1 to 1.
• Roulette black or red – in this bet, you have to place your chips on the black or red diamond shape figures that you see on the board. Should you place your chips on the black diamond, then if the ball falls on any black number, you win the bet. The rewards are even i.e. 1 to 1.
• Roulette odd or even – there are 2 squares marked odd & even, on either side of the black and red diamonds. Place chips amidst either of these. You have 36 numbers to bet on, because the 0 does not count as either odd or even. Here again the rewards are even i.e. 1 to 1.
• Roulette columns – right below the last line of numbers are 3 squares with 2 to 1 written on them. Each is a part of the column above it, so if the ball falls on any of the numbers in that column, you win 2 to 1.
• Roulette dozens – you see the dozen bets placed along the length of the board, just next to the first column. You have 3 dozens -1 to 12, 13 to 24 and 25 to 36. On the board, these dozens are written as 1st 12, 2nd 12, and 3rd 12. The bet on these dozens rewards you 2 to 1.
Roulette rules state that each bet must be at least the minimum on the board. You cannot merge your bets. What this means is that if the minimum to be put on board is $6, and you are betting on black, and then again on odds, you will have to put $ 6 on both the bets separately.
