Strategy · Labouchere System
Labouchere: cancel your way to a target.
Also called the Cancellation System, Labouchere is the system thinkers love. It's a written-down sequence — you cross numbers off until the page is empty, and your profit is exactly what you wanted it to be.
The Setup
Decide how much you want to win in a session. Break that target into a sequence of numbers that sum to your goal. For a $10 target, you might write: 1, 2, 3, 2, 2 (sum = 10). Each number is a multiple of your base unit.
The Rules
- Bet the first number plus the last number from your sequence on an even-money outcome.
- If you win: cross off both numbers.
- If you lose: add the lost amount to the end of the sequence.
- When all numbers are crossed off, the session is complete and you've hit your target.
Worked Example
Sequence: 1 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 2 (target $10).
- Bet 1 + 2 = $3 — win. Cross off 1 and 2. Sequence: 2 - 3 - 2
- Bet 2 + 2 = $4 — lose. Add 4. Sequence: 2 - 3 - 2 - 4
- Bet 2 + 4 = $6 — win. Cross off 2 and 4. Sequence: 3 - 2
- Bet 3 + 2 = $5 — win. Sequence empty. Target hit. +$10
Why It's Loved
Labouchere lets you design your session. Want a $50 target with low volatility? Write a long sequence of small numbers: 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-…. Want fewer, bigger spins? Use 5-5-5-5-5. The system bends to your appetite for risk.
Where It Bites
Long losing streaks make the sequence grow, and stakes can balloon faster than you'd expect. A short sequence can become a 12-number monster after six losses. Always cap your sequence length and walk away if it doubles in size.
Run a Cycle
Open the simulator and write a small starting sequence — say 1-1-1-1 for a $4 target. See how often you complete it without rewriting. The exercise is more useful than any theoretical chart.