D’Alembert System of Betting – Explained

One of the systems used in a betting game is a Progression. Martingale and D’Alembert System are examples of this betting system which works on the principle of reducing stakes after a winning bet and increasing stakes after a losing bet.

Usage of D’Alembert System

The popularity of this system is particularly high when it comes to playing at the Roulette table due to the nature of its outcome probability. So, when a player places similar bets in games where the probability of each outcome is independent of the previous outcome, this system is usually applied with considerable success. In the case of Roulette, the system assumes that red will come up almost the same number of times as black, in the long run.

There are simple steps to build a strategy in place to use this betting system which includes:

Rule 1: Deciding one unit of the bet

The first thing a player needs to decide is the amount of money to place in a single unit of betting, also called the base unit. It is recommended to place less than 5% of your total betting bankroll in one unit. 

Rule 2: Start with a single unit

The D’Alembert System stipulates that players stake just a single unit of money in the first bet of a game cycle.

Rule 3: Increase units after a losing bet

In case of a losing bet, the units staked in the next wager must increase by one unit. As an example, if a stake of $5 is lost in a bet, the next wager should increase to $10. If you lose again, the subsequent wager must increase to $15.

Rule 4: Decrease units after a winning bet

In case of a winning bet, the units staked in the next wager must decrease by one unit. However, as an exception, if the bet is won in the first wager, the units staked in the next wager remains the same.

Theoretically, this strategy will hold the player in good stead as winning bets will be of higher value than losing bets. It is simple enough and one has to choose games that have the probability of winning roughly the same number of bets as losing them.

Practical Results of the D’Alembert System

Despite being the strategy of choice for many players, the system has many practical difficulties. It can usually help players in the shorter run to win money. Players can theoretically win money even if they lose the number of bets than they win due to the in-built nature of the strategy. 

However, when you are faced with a continuous losing streak without a win, this is the sequence which breaks the bank for a player and turns out to be very expensive indeed. Such streaks are quite common at Roulette and can cause you to lose your entire bankroll with the D’Alembert System. In the right set of sequence and events, the system works perfectly to win money but given the wrong sequence, it fails profusely. In general, this system is not recommended for players.