Martingale Betting System

Choosing Your Blackjack Bets Using the Martingale System

Blackjack is a great game, especially for those who prefer incorporating some skills into the gameplay instead of simply relying on luck. Once you learn how to recognize blackjack games with player-friendly rules, mastering the correct strategy is rather easy. That said, you might be confused about which strategy to follow as there are various suggestions for successful blackjack play. That said, most blackjack experts agree that the basic strategy is the most efficient one when it comes to making the optimal decision on each hand that you may draw in blackjack.

• Brief History
• Overview
• How To Use It
• System Variations
• Pros & Cons
• Conclusion
• FAQ

In addition to strategies suggesting the best move, there are also many betting systems that will help players determine exactly how much they should bet on each round. This type of strategy is popular with players looking for a way to increase their winnings and compensate for any losing streaks they might go through. One popular betting system that may be used in blackjack sessions is the Martingale one. Although many players swear by this system, it can be quite risky for those with smaller budgets. To help you decide whether it is worth it to use the Martingale betting system, we suggest you read this article and see how this betting progression really works.

Overview

Martingale System

Martingale Variations

Pros & 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, who operated his gambling venue during the 18th century. Even though he wasn’t the person who came up with this betting system, it was named after him as he made it popular by promoting it among its casino clients. The exact origins of this betting progression remain unknown and gaming experts still haven’t come to a conclusion in regard 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 the likelihood of losing many hands in a row is low. 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 will also be 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 the bad luck streak and you lose again, 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.

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.

The Mini Martingale system is a variation that 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 that 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.

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 that 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, leaving you with insufficient amounts for 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.

FAQ: Martingale Betting System in Blackjack