Throughout the years, a number of betting systems and strategies have emerged, each one attempting to provide players with an efficient plan to accumulate more winnings. The games that require skills such as blackjack, are the ones that offer you the valuable opportunity to win by implementing a strategy. If you want to become a consistent winner while playing blackjack and make a profit, then you should learn a reliable strategy for your moves.
Also, it is really important to follow an efficient money management plan as this way, you will be able to retain your profits successfully throughout the course of the game. Players who place their bets randomly and act according to their current mood are bound to spend their available funds in no time.
A commonly used betting strategy is the so-called Martingale system. According to it, players have to double the size of their bet every time they lose and decrease it to its original size when they win. In order to determine whether this system is truly beneficial, let’s have a look at its main principle and its pros and cons.
Brief History
The Martingale betting system is said to be one of the oldest betting strategies in the gambling world. It is believed that it was invented in France but it got its name from a famous British casino owner Mr. Henry Martingale in the 18th century. Even though he wasn’t the person who had come up with this betting system, it was named after him because he made it popular by promoting it among its casino clients. The exact origins of the game remain unknown and gaming experts still haven’t come to conclusion in regarding to this matter.
Overview
The Martingale betting system is one of the oldest and most popular strategies. It is a negative progression betting system, meaning that you are required to double your bet when you lose and reset it to its original size when you win. This is the main principle behind the betting systems of this type. It is really just a matter of adjusting your bets accordingly in order to follow its plan. The main concept behind this system is that there is little likelihood to lose many hands in a row. This strategy suggests that at some point, you are bound to win and when this happens, your bet will compensate for all of your previous losses.
The Martingale betting system is very easy to learn and it is a strategy that can be used in many table games. Just like other famous betting systems, this one doesn’t aim at overcoming the house edge.
How to Apply the Martingale System in Blackjack
This betting system is really easy to understand and apply. Whenever you lose a hand, you are required to double your next bet. If you win, you should start from the beginning and place your base unit. It is entirely up to you to set the amount of one betting unit as the size of your bet should correspond to your bankroll for the day. In general, it is recommended to start the game by placing a small wager as this betting system is considered to be very risky as it can consume your funds in no time.
In order to illustrate best how the system works, let’s have a look at the following situation. Let’s assume that you have decided that one betting unit will be $5 which is your initial wager. You start by placing a $5 bet and the size of your next wager will be determined by the outcome of the round. If you win, then you are required to put exactly the same amount – $5. However, if you lose, you need to put a wager that amounts to $10.
If you continue lacking luck and losing, then your next bet is supposed to be $20. Let’s assume that the worst-case scenario occurs and this unfortunate trend continues. You have lost two more consecutive times and thus, you have doubled your bets twice – $40 and $80. Then, your strategy finally starts working and you win one hand. In this situation, you are ahead with your winnings as you have managed to make a small profit.
| Blackjack Martingale Betting System | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet Number | Bet Size | Hand Outcome | Net Winnings |
| #1 | 5 | LOSS | -5 |
| #2 | 10 | LOSS | -15 |
| #3 | 20 | LOSS | -35 |
| #4 | 40 | LOSS | -75 |
| #5 | 80 | WIN | +5 |
| #6 | 5 | WIN | +10 |
| #7 | 5 | LOSS | +5 |
| #8 | 10 | WIN | +15 |
Martingale Betting System Variations
The Martingale betting system has several variations that use the same concept as the original strategy. Some of the most widespread versions are the Anti-Martingale, the Mini Martingale, and the Grand Martingale System. The first of the above-mentioned systems is also known as the Reversed Martingale System and the difference between this version and the original system is that instead of doubling your bet when you lose, you are required to do so when you win. The Anti-Martingale betting system is considered to be safer than the Martingale, but it still does not guarantee you will win.
| Blackjack The Reverse Martingale Betting System | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet Number | Bet Size | Spin Outcome | Net Winnings |
| #1 | 10 | WIN | +10 |
| #2 | 20 | WIN | +30 |
| #3 | 40 | WIN | +70 |
| #4 | 80 | LOSS | -10 |
| #5 | 10 | LOSS | -20 |
| #6 | 10 | WIN | -10 |
| #7 | 20 | WIN | +10 |
| #8 | 40 | WIN | +50 |
The Mini Martingale system is a variation which aims at preventing players from wagering huge amounts of money if they are on a losing streak. In brief, it imposes a limit on the maximum amount of wager that can be put as its main goal is to make the system more moderate. With this variation, you will lose your funds much slower than if you apply the classic Martingale system.
The Grand Martingale is another very popular version which requires you to double your bet when you lose. However this time you have to also place one extra unit. The main idea of this version is to help you generate a bigger profit when you win. However, it is just as extreme and risky as the classic system and thus, it is not recommended.
| Blackjack The Grand Martingale Betting System | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet Number | Bet Size | Hand Outcome | Net Winnings |
| #1 | 10 | LOSS | -10 |
| #2 | 30 | LOSS | -40 |
| #3 | 70 | LOSS | -110 |
| #4 | 150 | LOSS | -260 |
| #5 | 300 | WIN | +40 |
| #6 | 10 | LOSS | +30 |
| #7 | 30 | WIN | +60 |
| #8 | 10 | LOSS | +50 |
Pros & Cons of the Martingale Betting System
One of the biggest advantages this betting system has is that it offers players the chance to make a small profit over a short period of time. Due to the fact that you are required to double your bet every time you lose, once you win, the amount you’ve wagered will compensate for all of your previous losses and you will even get a small profit from it.
Even though at first glance the Martingale betting system looks brilliant, it has some major flaws which should be taken into account. In theory, if you are able to double your bet when you lose, you are guaranteed to always win at some point and get back all of your funds plus a small profit. However, in reality, this is not the case.
One of the main disadvantages of this system is that it is a rather risky one due to the fact that it can cause you to lose all of your money in no time. It requires a sizable bankroll as if you happen to lose many consecutive hands, you will quickly run out of money which will leave you unable to place another bet. In addition, you will also reach the table limit and you will no longer be able to continue following the betting strategy.
Another major issue with the Martingale betting system is that it does not take into account some moves in blackjack such as splitting or doubling down. But if you ignore these moves while playing blackjack, you will significantly stack the odds in favor of the house. This is one of the main reasons why the Martingale betting system is not an efficient blackjack strategy
Conclusion
The Martingale betting system is one of the oldest and most used systems of this type. It can be efficient if you play roulette for a couple of hours, but if you prefer playing blackjack – it will not work in your favor. Of course, if you are not playing according to the basic strategy, you can apply the Martingale betting system, but you are bound to leave the casino with empty pockets. In general, all negative progression systems are considered risky due to the fact that they require you to increase your bet while you are losing.