How To Use The 1 3 2 6 Betting System

The gambling industry is full of different betting strategies and systems that players employ to try and enhance their profits when placing different types of bets.

The 1 3 2 6 betting system offers a structured approach to gambling and is particularly popular with Casino betting.

It’s believed that the system emulates and is a different version of the Paroli Betting System.

The gambling industry is full of different betting strategies and systems that players employ to try and enhance their profits.  

The 1 3 2 6 betting system is mainly used for games such as Blackjack, Craps and Roulette. 

But does the 1 3 2 6 betting system actually work? This guide will explain how the 1 3 2 6 betting system in more detail, how it works and the advantages and drawbacks to using it. 

What Is The 1-3-2-6 Betting System?

Similar to the Fibonacci betting system and other Unit betting systems, this system requires you to follow a predetermined sequence with set stakes.

The first thing to do is choose your unit stake.  To do this, you must assess your bankroll and decide what would be affordable.  

For example, if you chose £10 as your unit bet and you won your first four bets, you would be betting 1 unit (£10), 3 units (£30), 2 units (£20) and finally 6 units (£60).  After this sequence, you then go back to the start of the sequence. 

If any of your bets lose during the sequence, you start at the beginning again with a 1 unit stake.

The 1 3 2 6 betting system is intended to be used when the odds are even so there’s a 50/50 chance of winning.

That’s why the system is popular in casino games as there are games that provide odds close to evens:

• Roulette: Red or Black 
• Blackjack: You or the Dealer 
•  Craps: Pass or don’t Pass 
•  Baccarat: Player or Banker

The 1-3-2-6 Betting System Broken Down

As mentioned, the system is based on a sequence of four different unit sizes, 1, 3, 2 and 6.  Each time your bet wins, you increase your unit stake by the next number in the sequence.  If you hit a loss, you simply revert back to the start of the sequence again.

Let’s assume you’re using a unit stake of £10 and see what it looks like:

Sequence Step One: 1 Unit

• Place a bet of 1 Unit = £10 
•  If your bet wins, move on to sequence step two 
• If your bet loses, repeat sequence step one for the next bet

Sequence Step Two: 3 Units

• If your first bet won, place a bet of 3 Units = £30 
• If your bet wins, move on to sequence step three 
• If your bet loses, repeat sequence step one for the next bet

Sequence Step Three: 2 Units

• Place a bet of 2 Units = £20 
• If your bet wins, move on to sequence step four 
• If your bet loses, repeat sequence step one for the next bet

Sequence Step Four: 6 Units

• Place a bet of 6 Units = £60 
• Irrespective of whether your bet wins or loses, begin the sequence again at sequence step one.

Let’s say you have a great day with your bets and all four of your bets in the sequence win:

1. Bet £10 - Win £10 (£20 returns)
2. Bet £30 - Win £30 (£60 returns)
3. Bet £20 - Win £20 (£40 returns)
4. Bet £60 - Win £60 (£120 returns)

Now, let’s not get carried away as you shouldn’t expect this type of luck on a regular basis.  However, this outcome would result in £120 profit which is not to be sniffed at.

So what would happen if the boot was on the other foot and all four bets lost?  

1. Bet £10 - Lost -£10 
2. Bet £10 - Lost -£10 
3. Bet £10 - Lost -£10 
4. Bet £10 - Lost -£10

So, this time you’re £40 down and whilst that might have provided a little damage limitation, it’s still a bit of a hit to your bankroll.

The above two sets of results aren’t unheard of but you’re more likely to get a mixture of results.  Let’s have a look at what a realistic run might look like using the 1-3-2-6 betting system with a unit bet of £10:

In this example we have run through the 1-3-2-6 betting system sequence twice to show you how the mixture of wins and losses might look. With 4 losses and 4 wins, you still make £80 profit.

Had all eight bets lost, you would be £80 down so always bet according to your budget.  This might mean unit bets of £1 instead of £10.

Pros And Cons Of The 1-3-2-6 Betting System

As with any betting strategy or system, there will always be pros and cons as no betting system comes with guarantees.  Here’s some of the advantages and disadvantages of using the 1 3 2 6 betting system:

Pros

• Suitable Stakes: It can be used for any size of unit stake. If you have a relatively small bankroll, you can use unit bets of £1.
• Simple: The sequence is written in stone so it’s pretty easy to understand and follow.
• Structured: Because the 1-3-2-6 betting system has a defined structure, it stops emotional betting.
• Reduces Losses: Thanks to the betting sequence in place, bettors shouldn’t make rash bets to chase losses.
• Control: As there are only four steps in the betting sequence, it can stop you from getting carried away when you’re on a winning run.
• Safe Bankroll: Provided you allocate the correct unit stake for your budget, the 1-3-2-6 betting system should prevent you from losing all of your bankroll.
• Healthy Profits: If you go on a good run of all four wins on the bounce, the profits can be healthy as you will have made 12 units in profit.

Cons

• Rigid Odds: Because you’re betting on 50/50 chances most of the time, the odds are set and can’t fluctuate in your favour. This also means the bookie still has the House Edge over all gamblers.
• Restricted Profits: The sequence can prevent further profits as you revert back to step one (1 unit) once you hit step 4. That said, it also stops you from losing too much if you’re not having much luck.
• Requires Commitment: The 1 3 2 6 betting system was created to provide a structured system. If you choose to use this system, you must stick to the betting sequence as any deviation from it undermines its purpose.
• Open to Risk: This system is perfect when you are on short streaks of winning. However, long losing streaks can eat away at your bankroll and it can be difficult to recover the funds.
• Restricted Use: Because the system requires you to find even money bets, you may struggle to find vast amounts of games you can bet on.

Hints For Using The 1-3-2-6 Betting System

Start Small: Whilst you’re new to the 1-3-2-6 betting system, keep your unit bets low whilst you familiarise yourself with the sequences. It might be wise to practice the 1 3 2 6 betting system in a simulated or free set-up.

Pick the Right Unit Size: It’s important that you don’t overspend. You need to choose a unit size that matches your risk tolerance and bankroll.  It’s suggested that you restrict your unit size to 1-2% of your bankroll. So with a bankroll of £100, your unit bets should be £1 to £2 each.

Know When to Stop: Systems like this, the Paroli system and the Martingale system can preserve your bankrolls if you have a lucky run.  However, the luck will run out at some point so try to set limits on how many times you play the sequence.  Don’t forget, the bookies and casinos will always play with a house edge. 

Bet Selection: Remember, the 1-3-2-6 betting system has been designed for placing bets that have even money odds or as close to 50/50 as possible.

Use The Same Markets:  It’s recommended that you try to bet on the same type of markets as you work your way through the sequence. For example, if you bet on a player on your first bet, continue placing player bets for the remaining three bets in the betting sequence.

Use More Than One Bookie: Don’t just restrict yourself to one bookmaker.  Open a few accounts as this gives you more opportunities to find the right odds.

Look For Offers: Following on from using multiple bookies, a lot of them offer all sorts of bonuses on sports and casinos. These can be in the form of free bets or odds boosts. 

What To Use The 1-3-2-6 Betting System On

This system was devised to be used on certain casino games because of the even money odds available on some games.

That’s still its main use but in recent years, the use of it has evolved a little to other sports betting. Let’s take a look at what you might use the 1 3 2 6 betting system on:

Blackjack

• Can be used on the base hand payout or any even money bets. 
• Avoid making side bets as it complicates the system.

Craps

• Great for Come/Don’t Come or Pass/Don’t Pass bets. 
• Try to stay away from Prop Bets https://outplayed.com/blog/what-is-a-prop-bet as the risks are higher.

Roulette

• Ideal for bets on odd or even, red or black or high or low.
• For example, bet £10 on black and continue the sequence if you win.

Baccarat

• Great for Banker or Player bets.
• Avoid ties as they aren’t even money bets.

Football

• Don’t forget you need even money bets of 2.0 (1/1). As there are so many leagues and games, it’s very likely you will find these odds.
• Don’t restrict yourself to looking only for a team to win. Look at other football betting markets such as First Goalscorer, Over/Under Goals or Shots on Target.
• Keep an eye out for Price Boosts. Bookies like Bet365 often offer even money bets on big matches.

Horse Racing

• You will find even money bets occasionally when betting on horses but they aren’t particularly frequent which means it might be difficult to follow the 1-3-2-6 betting system with any consistency.

Alternatives To The 1-3-2-6 Betting System

There are plenty of different betting systems and strategies out there that you could try.  What might be right for one person may not be right for another. As usual, there are no guarantees of success with any of them. 

The only guaranteed way to beat the bookies house edge and swing it in your favour is by utilising strategies such as Matched Betting or Value Betting.

Let’s take a quick look at some other betting systems:

Paroli Betting System

This is known as a positive progressive betting system that requires you to increase and decrease your stake based on the outcome of your bets. This system is also based on Unit Bets where you are looking for even money odds (50/50).

The Paroli betting system dictates that you double your unit stake after each win and revert back to your original stake after a loss.  If you manage to land three wins on the bounce, you then drop back down to the original stake.

Martingale Betting System

This works in contrast to the Paroli betting system because this time you double your stake after a loss and go back to using the original stake when you win. 

The Martingale strategy needs a significant bankroll as in essence, you could be chasing losses. Depending on your stake size, with a run of losses, you could be placing large bets which could also hit problems if there are betting maximums at casinos.  To get an in-depth understanding, read the Martingale betting system guide.  

D’Alembert Betting System

The D’Alembert system is one of the more conservative betting systems in that you only ever move up or down by one unit.  If your bet loses, you increase the bet by one unit and if your bet wins, you increase it by one unit.

This strategy is low risk as it’s aimed at limiting losses and gaining smaller wins.  You need to be patient with this strategy as you are never going to win big in one go.

Labouchere Betting System

This is one of the more complex unit betting systems. You need to create a sequence of numbers of your choice which are based on the profits you’re targeting.

Your first bet sees you betting the total units of the first and last number in the sequence.  If the bet wins, you eliminate those two numbers and place a bet using the next first and last numbers combined. Thai continues until you lose.  Once you lose, you add the value of the bet that lost to the end of the sequence and begin all over again. 

The original Labouchere system was based on creating sequences of 10 numbers.  However, this can take some time to work through so you can create smaller sequences if you wish.

As mentioned, this is a complex betting system so we recommend you read our dedicated Labouchere Betting System article if it’s a system you want to explore. 

The 1-3-2-6 Betting System FAQ

Is the 1-3-2-6 betting system profitable long term?

• No, is the short answer. There’s only four stages to the sequence so it’s designed for short-term profit.

Can the system be modified?

• It is possible to amend the 1-3-2-6 betting system. However, this could undermine the purpose of the system and in effect, means you aren’t actually using the system.

Is this system infallible?

• Absolutely not. No betting system is foolproof as the house will pretty much always have the edge. There are no guarantees and losing streak can happen. 

Is the 1-3-2-6 Betting System Legal?

• Yes, the system is totally legal. This is just another betting strategy. It’s not like card counting with casino games which is prohibited.

Summary

The 1-3-2-6 betting system offers bettors a structured betting strategy that is relatively low risk.  It can appeal to beginners due to its simplicity and the opportunities it can offer for short winning runs.

If you’re seeking a strategy to manage your bets in a less reckless fashion, the 1-3-2-6 system might be worth a try.  

Using a predetermined unit stake and structure can help avoid making mistakes and keep you in control of your bankroll.

It’s important that you remember that this system still operates on a 50/50 basis and success isn’t guaranteed.  One long losing run could still put a dent in your bankroll.