How Does Progressive Betting Work In Blackjack? The Basics

31.07.2020, 11:15

Most blackjack players use flat betting, which is when you bet the same amount all the time. However, some gamblers want more. Progressive blackjack betting systems are popular among players who want to win big and bring more excitement to the game.

In this article, we’ll look into two types of progressive betting in blackjack (positive and negative), and the most common systems for each type. By the end, you’ll have a good understanding of whether a progressive approach is for you.

Progression Betting: Definition

What is progressive blackjack betting? Such systems have specific rules and conditions for either raising or decreasing the bet size. You take the results of the previous hand into consideration when adjusting your stakes. Exactly how you adjust depends on the system being used, i.e., whether it is a negative progression or a positive progression.

Generally, the most well-known systems are very easy to learn. The progressive blackjack rules are straightforward and only involve minor calculations. Also, there is no need to prepare. Other than having sufficient funds, you can start using any system whenever you want.

Positive Blackjack Betting Progressions

Positive progression implies that you need to bet higher when you’re winning and lower when you’re losing. Of course, it’s hard to tell when a winning or losing streak will end. So, like in all instances of progressive blackjack betting, you need to take it slow. If you increase your bets in small amounts, it will help you avoid getting wiped out by a series of losses.

Paroli

The Paroli strategy is a blackjack progressive betting system that takes advantage of winning streaks. Before playing, you’ll need to choose a number of wins in the progression. Let’s say your winning streak will start at three. Here is an example scenario:

You bet $5 and win $5.
For the next round, you bet $10 and win $10.
The third time you place $20.
Regardless of the outcome, you go back to the original $5 bet and start over.

If you lose at any part of your three-win progression, you’ll need to begin the sequence over again.

One Half Up

Another popular progression is One Half Up, where you raise your bet after two consecutive wins. Each bet after that is increased by one half of your original bet. Here is how it works out:

Suppose your first successful bet is $10.
You place another $10, and if you want, you can start the progression.
The next bet is $15 (one-half higher than the original one).
If you win, you place $20 and so one.
If you lose, you go back to the original $10 with a profit.

Negative Blackjack Betting Progressions

A negative progression is based on the idea of increasing your bets after a loss. The reason is that when you eventually win, it will offset all the previous losses. Many players are especially interested in learning how to play progressive blackjack because negative progression promises massive returns (if you win).

Martingale

The Martingale system is one of the oldest and most popular betting methods. It’s based on the notion that it’s unlikely to have numerous consecutive losses and a big win is bound to break it up. Here, whenever a player loses, they need to double their next bet to win the money back. After winning, they start over. Here is an example:

You place $5 and lose the hand.
The next bet is $10.
If you win, you go back to $5 bets; if you lose, you raise the stakes to $20.
Continue the cycle of doubling the bet size until you win.

D’Alembert

This system also requires you to raise your bet by one unit after losses and lower them after wins. You need to decide what the unit would be before you start playing. It can be $1, $10, or anything else. Obviously, we recommend going for smaller units. For a $1 unit, it plays out like this:

Place $1, and if you lose, you’ll place $2; if you win, place $1.
Bet $2 and if you lose, raise it to $3; if you win, lower the next bet by $1.

If you have the same number of wins as you do losses, you will make a profit.

The Dangers of Progression Betting in Blackjack

The premise behind progressive betting in blackjack is based on the gambler’s fallacy. Many people believe that if a coin landed on heads ten times in a row, then it would be more likely to land on tails the next time.

They apply this belief to blackjack as well. However, each time you play, the outcome depends on your skill, dealer’s hand, the house edge, and many other factors. But the likelihood of your next win is never affected by the results of the previous hand.

If you had an unlimited pot of money to bet with, you would have enough flexibility to play with progressions. But no one has an unlimited bankroll, and it leaves them exposed to big losses. Players would either run out of money or reach the table betting limits.

Summary

There are no foolproof systems that guarantee profits in online blackjack games. You have a much better chance to win if you use card counting techniques. Also, as a beginner, you should master basic strategy before playing for real money. A combination of the two will give you better results than diving straight into betting strategies.

If you’re still interested in trying progression betting in gambling games, we recommend sticking to positive systems. The negative betting progressions are too dangerous, and you risk spending your entire bankroll if you use them consistently. But a positive system is much gentler to your funds as well as your emotional stability.

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