What is the Paroli System?

If you are looking for a betting system you can use for blackjack, Sic Bo, Pai Gow, or craps, you may have heard of the Paroli system.  This system is sometimes known as the Reverse Martingale system.  What is it, and how does it work? 

With the traditional Martingale system, you double all your losing bets until you win.  This is a really bad system for money management, since it can take a very long time to win and make up for all of your losses, and you are likely to bust before you ever do.  The Paroli system is set up the opposite way.  You do not double your losing bets.  Instead, you double your winning bets. 

And you are not playing until you win; you are playing until you lose.  At that point, you can either go home, or go back to betting your original amount and working your way up again.  There are specific variations on this system as well.  One common method is to try to obtain three consecutive wins.  Mathematically, each approach has a different result.

What is the logic here?  Basically, the assumption is that wins and losses tend to come in streaks, and you want to bet more while you are winning and less while you are losing.  You do not need a huge bankroll to use it, and it is a much more stable method than the  Martingale system or a similar system. 

Of course, wins and losses often do not come in streaks, which is one flaw behind this thinking.  There is also a tendency for this system to generate a zero-sum situation rather than a winning situation.  Think about it.  If you tack up several small wins, successfully complete a three-consecutive-win progression, and drop back down to a small amount before you start losing again … great.  You’re in good shape.  If on the other hand you end up losing the largest bet, you just wipe out your smaller winnings.

If you want to experiment with money management systems like these, you definitely are better off playing around with the Paroli system than you are messing with Martingale.  It’s important though to understand these systems have all have limitations, largely connected to their underlying logic. 

Does winning and losing really happen in streaks?  Actually, with a game like blackjack, it very well might—sometimes.  Maybe you are on top form one week and not in great form the next; that does happen.  The luck aspect though hardly conveniently tracks your progress from game to game.  Lady Luck does not remember whether your last game was a win or a loss! 

You might have some cognisance though of whether you are playing well or poorly.  If you suspect your performance is not that great this week, it makes sense to bet less, and if you are pretty sure you are in great form the next week, bet more.  Make sure though you always keep your bets conservative enough to weather your losses, even when you are feeling confident! The majority of the online casino websites have many processes in place for this. After all, even card counters don’t win every time.