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Roulette Call Bets

S. Stoynova (editor) |

What Are Roulette Call Bets

Roulette Call BetsRoulette is an enchanting game with simple rules. It is one of the most popular and most played games both online and in land-based casinos. Being invented by two French brothers, the game has preserved its basic rules over the years. Roulette is a game, dependent mostly on luck, rather than on strategy. Thus, the real strategy is to make the right bet and wager only money, which you can afford.

Basically, players are given control over the risks by placing particular bets on specific numbers or colors. There is a different payout with each type of bet. Naturally, bets that have a lower probability of landing offer higher payouts. Covering larger sections of the betting layout provides better chances for players to win but lower payout. In order to determine which option is best for them, players should know the nuts and bolts of the different bet types and their payouts.

The rules of roulette are simple, but the complexity comes from the betting options the game offers. To better understand the different bets, every player should know that there are three main variations of the game – American, French and European. In fact, the European and French roulette tables are governed by pretty much the same rules. Here, it should be mentioned that there are European tables, where the French rules are valid as well. Before starting to play, find the most strategic seat, which will provide you with access to all parts of the betting layout, and make sure that you are familiar with the rules on the table.

We will start by introducing players to the main variations of roulette and the two main categories of bets, namely inside and outside bets. Then, we will provide further information on the betting options available on French roulette tables. We will examine in detail the essence of the two major groups of call bets – the variable call bets and the fixed call bets.

Variations of the Game

Roulette Type of WheelsThough the basic framework is the same for each game, the difference occurs with the number of pockets. In American roulette, there are thirty-eight pockets in total – thirty-six numbered pockets and two zero pockets. The presence of the second zero-pocket increases the house edge to 5.26%, and that is the reason why it is considered as less advantageous to the player than the other two variations. Though one may think that one pocket is trivial, it can actually make a considerable difference in terms of risk assessment.

On the other hand, European roulette has only one zero-pocket for a total of thirty-seven pockets. This means that the chances for the house to win are only 1 out of 37 possible ones. This decreases the profit of the house significantly to 2.70%.

Placing a Bet

Placing a BetThe game starts when all the players place their bets by using the betting layout, which every table offers. It is comprised of an inside part, which contains all the numbers represented on the wheel. The outside part consists of a section, which represents the different categories of the numbers – for example, black vs red numbers or even vs odds. To place a bet, players needs to put the chips on the particular section of the layout. Depending on the type of bet they want to place, the chips are arranged in a particular way.

Considering the structure of the betting layout, it makes sense that the two main bet types in roulette are inside and outside. Inside bets are placed on a particular number or group of numbers, whereas outside bets are placed on one of the groups of numbers that include red/black, even/odd, and high/low. Inside bets are riskier since they usually involve only a few numbers, whereas outside bets can be placed on as much as half of the betting mat. Needless to say, this is reflected in the payouts the different bet types offer.

Additional Betting Options on the French Table

Additional Betting Options on the French TableAlong with the two types of bets that are common for all three variations of the game, there is one more type, which is quite exciting for most players. It is native to the French table, but it is also offered in a large number of European tables, with virtual tables being no exception. These are the well-known ‘call bets’. The name is significant enough to get how the bet works. Players need to say out loud the bet, without covering it with chips. That is the reason why it is also referred to as a bet on credit and it is forbidden in most casinos.

Please note that “announced bets” are similar to “call bets”, but there is money on the table, which covers the bet. These bets are made before the croupier announces “No more bets” and before the ball lands on a particular pocket of the wheel. There are various types of these bets.

The Variable Call Bets

The Variable Call BetsTo be more precise, it should be noted that there are two major groups of call bets – “fixed” and “variable”. This means that the variable type of bet is placed on different numbers on the wheel, in accordance with the preferences of the player. The are 2 different types of fixed call bets, which are explored in details in the following lines.

The Neighbors

The Neighbors cover 5 numbers in total. This type of bet involves wagering on a single number and the two numbers to the left and the right of it. The bet costs 5 chips, and it is a straight-up bet. For instance, if a player wagered a neighbor on 0, he or she would be betting on the numbers 15, 32, 0, 26, and 3. With this type of bets, the player decides which will be the “central number”. Based on that, the other 4 numbers are determined.

To calculate the odds of the bet, we need to take into account that the French wheel has one zero pocket and 37 in total. So, the chances for the player to win are 5 out of 37 possible, which equals 13.5%.

The Finals

That is the other type of the variable bets, also known as “finaal” or “finale” bets. These are subdivided into two types:

Finales en Plein Bet

It is placed on a digit, preferred by the player and all other numbers that end on that particular digit. For example, your favorite number is 3, so you place your bet on “Finales 3”. This bet covers 3, 13, 23, and 33. Depending on what is the selected digit, the bet covers either 3 or 4 numbers. If the player selects 9 as a final number, the bet is placed on 9, 19, and 29. The odds of winning are 10.8% for 3 covered numbers or 8.1% for 4 covered numbers.

Finales a Cheval Bet

It is quite similar to the Finales en Plein Bet. Here, the player selects two digits and places a bet on all the numbers, which end on that digit. For instance, “Finales 4/5” means that the bet is placed on 4, 14, 24, 34, 5, 15, 25 and 35. This is a combination of split and straight bets, which makes it more complicated for amateur roulette fans. Depending on the preferred digits, the bet is placed on 8 or 6 numbers and it can cost from 3 to 5 chips.

Full Complete Bet

The Full Complete or Maximum Bet is normally preferred by high-stakes roulette players, and it covers all inside bets. With this in mind, there are also players who use the Full Complete Bet to cover outside bets like dozens and columns, but this is rarely the case.

The main reason why players prefer using this bet type is that it allows them to cover a greater range of numbers, thus spreading the risk. Say nothing of the handsome payout winning Maximum Bet award. No matter the appeal of this bet type, gambling enthusiasts should not forget that such bets can quickly eat up their bankroll as they are rather expensive.

The reason why this bet type is better suited for high-stakes players is that when placing a Full Complete Bet, the staked amount should reach the ceiling on straight-up bets. Still, this might not necessarily be the case, as in some brick-and-mortar casinos, roulette fans might be required to keep their bets below this limit.

Something essential roulette fans should bear in mind is that while making such a bet, they will not place any of their chips on the betting layout. While being in a land-based casino, gambling enthusiasts simply need to tell the dealer that they want to make a Full Complete Bet and they will be good to go as soon as the dealer acknowledges the bet type and the staked amount.

Presuming that you have decided to make such a bet on 17, this will mean that you will place a Straight-Up bet on that number, as well as four Split bets, on 17 and 14, 16, 18, and 20. Additionally, you will place four corner bets on 17, 16, 13, and 14, another one on 17, 18, 14, and 15, another one on 17, 16, 19, and 20, and the last one will be on 17, 18, 20, 21. Finally, players should make two Six Line bets, one on 17, 16, 18, 13, 14, 15, and another one on 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

The Fixed Call Bet

Unlike the variable call bets, the fixed ones are placed on a particular section of the wheel, which is always one and the same. The wheel is subdivided into three main sections, which outline the different types of bets.

French Roulette Call Bets

Voisins du Zero Bet

The name is very significant for this type of bet. Those who are fluent in French will immediately recognize that this bet is placed on numbers, which are “neighbors of zero”, including the zero itself. If we look at the wheel, this is the section from 22 to 25. In other words, this bet covers the following numbers: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25.

The bet is placed on 17 numbers and it is a combination of split and corner bets. Players place 2 chips on the trio 0, 2, 3 and the corner 25, 26, 28, 29. The other numbers are represented by split bets, covered by 1 one chip for each pair of numbers. The bet costs 9 chips in total and the odds of winning are 45.9%, since it covers the biggest portion of the wheel.

Tiers du Cylindre Bet

This type of bet refers to the 12 numbers, which are opposite to the “neighbors of zero”. In fact, the name means “thirds of the wheel”. The bet is placed on 12 numbers, which represent the section from 27 to 33 (including). In other words, these are the following numbers: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33. It is a split bet, which requires 6 chips. The odds of winning are 32.4% and it covers the second largest portion of the wheel.

Orphelins Bet

This bet covers all the numbers, which are not included in Tiers du Cylindre or Voisins du Zero Bet. That is the reason why they are called orphans, because these are not “adopted” by any of the two opposing sets. The numbers, included in this type are 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31 and 34 and it costs 5 or 8 chips, depending on which of the following subtypes you will go for:

Orphelins en Cheval Bet

It is represented by 4 split bets and one straight bet on the number 1. What is unique with the Orphelins bet is that it places an overlapping bet on the number 17. Hence, the split bets look as follows: 6/9, 14/17, 17/20 and 31/34.

Orphelins en Plein Bet

It is represented by straight-up bets on all the 8 numbers. The player places 1 chip on every number.

Jeu Zero Bet

This type is also known as a zero game. It is very similar to the Voisins du Zero Bet, but it covers a smaller section of the wheel from 12 to 15, including the zero itself. In other words this section contains the following 7 numbers: 0, 3, 12, 15, 26, 32, and 35. It allows players to bet on the closest numbers to zero by utilizing split bets on 0/3, 12/15, 32/35 and one chip only on the number 26.

Call bets are not offered by every casino, but these definitely contribute to the excitement, which the game provides to its fans. That is the reason why the French tables with call bets are one of the most dynamic in casinos.

FAQ:

Call bets are special wagers in roulette, typical for land-based roulette tables where players can simply announce their wagers without placing chips on the table initially. They’re mainly found in French and European roulette variations. These bets cover specific sections of the roulette wheel, not the table layout, offering a quick way to bet on groups of numbers related by proximity on the wheel. Call bets have been also implemented in numerous online versions of roulette, allowing players to make more advanced bets.

The “Voisins du Zero” (Neighbors of Zero) covers a large swath of the wheel around the zero, including 17 numbers from 22 to 25. It’s a mix of split and corner bets requiring 9 chips. With almost half the wheel covered, your odds of winning are roughly 45.9%, making it a popular choice for many players.

The “Tiers du Cylindre” (Thirds of the Wheel) bet covers 12 numbers opposite the zero, offering a 32.4% chance of winning, with 6 chips being placed on split bets. The “Orphelins” (Orphans) bet coverd the numbers not included in the Voisins or Tiers call bets, using either straight or split bets, and including a unique overlap on number 17, offering a different strategic angle for betting.

The “Jeu Zero” (Zero Game) bet focuses on the numbers closest to zero, covering seven positions on the wheel with four bets (three splits and one straight on 26). It requires 4 chips and offers a targeted way to bet on this high-probability section of the wheel, appealing for players looking to capitalize on the wheel’s layout.

Call bets can significantly enhance your roulette strategy, allowing complex betting patterns without the need to place chips on every number individually. They offer a strategic depth, especially for

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