Paroli & 1-3-2-6 Systems

Paroli

The paroli betting system is also called the reverse martingale system, because bets are doubled after each successive win. In martingale, bets are doubled after successive losses. With the paroli system players begin each round betting one unit. After any win the previous bet is doubled. After a loss the bet returns to the base bet.

As with the parlay system, it is important to set stop-losses on wins. So, for example you may decide that after three or four successive wins you will revert to your base bet level. This insures that you are not risking too much of your bankroll when the inevitable loss breaks a winning streak.

As with many of the other positive progression systems that have been covered elsewhere on this site, paroli relies on hitting winning streaks. These streaks cannot be predicted by the player and can come to an end as soon as they have started. While short-term wins are certainly possible with the paroli system, in the long run no betting system is a ‘sure thing’. Utilising any system necessarily puts your bankroll at risk. For this reason we always advocate strict money and bankroll management. Using a betting strategy involving win and loss limits is essential in blackjack and especially if you are utilising any betting system.

It is important to decide before sitting at the table how many successive wins you will accept before returning to base betting. I would advise no more than five successive wins before returning to the base bet. In blackjack after each successive win, you are more likely to lose the next hand, so don’t take too many risks with your profits.

The 1-3-2-6 system

The 1-3-2-6 system is a spin-off of the paroli system and relies on hitting a string of four winning hands. The player flat bets one unit until a win. After this first win the next bet is three times this initial unit. If they win again the next bet drops to two times the initial flat bet unit. Finally, if they have won three times in succession then the fourth bet will be raised to six times the base unit.

As an example a player at a five dollar table begins with $5 bet. After a win this increases then to $15. Another win and the next bet will be $10 (2x$5). Finally the fourth bet is $30 (6x$5). After this bet the series is complete and the play returns to the base bet of $5. Any loss during the series breaks the pattern and play returns to the $5 level. Presuming the fourth bet wins, the player will make $60 profit for completing this series.

The worst place for the player to lose is the second bet, since the winnings from the first bet as well as the initial stake can be lost. With the 1-3-2-6 system even if the player loses six times at the second bet (3 units), any losses can be wiped out by winning the fourth bet in the cycle once.

There are a number of variants of the 1-3-2-6 system e.g. 1-3-2-4 etc. They all work in the same way, using a multiple of the base bet and relying on a four-win sequence to turn a profit. While the 1-3-2-6 limits the maximum bet to relatively low levels (in comparison to the Fibonacci system for example), it is not recommended for any serious blackjack player. In the long term no betting system will turn a profit. By all means, try the 1-3-2-6 or paroli systems for fun but never risk money that you can’t mentally ‘write-off’ as entertainment costs.