French Roulette is the classical form of roulette because of its formal gameplay laced with strategy. It is played on a single-zero wheel made up of 37 numbered pockets with the addition of two exclusive and well-liked rules: “La Partage” and “En Prison.” This is a game full of chance and strategy, allowing players to test their luck in style.
Here, we will delve into what is french roulette and explore all its sides.
French Roulette Rules
French Roulette offers a unique twist on the classic game. You ought to know the details in advance.
French Roulette Wheel and Table
The French Roulette wheel is just like the European one because it contains 37 pockets that are numbered from 0 to 36; it contains a single green zero pocket, not like the American variety that contains a double zero. The table layout is different, and the bets happen to be in French:
- Pair: Even numbers
- Impair: Odd numbers
- Manqué (Lacking): Low numbers (1–18)
- Passé (Pass:): High numbers (19–36)
La Partage Rule
The “La Partage” rule means when the ball lands on zero, players with even-money bets (like red/black, even/odd) lose only half their wager instead of the full amount. This rule effectively reduces the house edge.
French Roulette Bets
Roulette French bets are categorized into inside bets, outside bets, and call bets. They gives different odds and payouts. Here are details about each option:
Inside Bets:
- Straight-up Bet: A bet on one number, payout 35:1.
- Split Bet: A bet on two adjoining numbers; payout force is 17:1.
- Street Bet: a bet on three numbers consecutively; pay-out-the 11:1.
- Corner Bet: A bet on four numbers that make a square. Pays 8:1.
- Six Line Bet: A bet on two adjacent rows, thereby covering six numbers; the payout is 5:1.
Outside Bets:
- Red/Black: Bet on the colour of the winning number; payout is 1:1.
- Even/Odd (Pair/Impair): Bet on whether the number is even or odd; payout is 1:1.
- Low/High (Manque/Passe): Bet on low numbers (1–18) or high numbers (19–36); payout is 1:1.
- Dozen Bets: Bet on one of three groups of twelve numbers (1–12, 13–24, 25–36); payout is 2:1.
- Column Bets: Bet on one of the three vertical columns; payout is 2:1.
Call Bets (Announced Bets):
- Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero): Covers 17 numbers near zero on the wheel.
- Tiers du Cylindre (Thirds of the Wheel): Covers 12 numbers opposite zero.
- Orphelins (Orphans): Covers the 8 remaining numbers not included in the above bets.
- Finales en Plein: Bet on all numbers ending with a specific digit (e.g., 5, 15, 25, 35).
- Finales à Cheval: Bet on numbers ending in one of two digits (e.g., 3 and 4, covering 3, 13, 23, 33, and 4, 14, 24, 34).
French roulette strategy and tips
While no strategy can guarantee consistent wins, understanding and applying certain French Roulette table game methods can help manage risk and potentially improve outcomes.
- Avail the rule ‘La Partage. Whenever possible, choose French Roulette games that implement the ‘La Partage’ rule. All this rule does is return half of your even-money bet-say, red/black or odd/even-if the ball drops into the zero pocket, thus dropping the house edge to 1.35% well below that of American Roulette of 5.26% and European Roulette of 2.7%.
- Pay attention to even money bets. Even money bets are like red/black, odd/even, and high/low bets that provide close to 50% winning chances and are the safest options during any roulette gameplay. Though the pays are 1:1, even money bets will give a more winning chance consistently, especially if combined with the ‘La Partage’ rule.
- Beware of betting systems. Various betting systems, such as the Martingale, D’Alembert, and Labouchère, are popular among roulette players. These systems involve adjusting bet sizes based on previous outcomes. However, it’s important to note that no betting system can overcome the house edge in the long run. Using these systems can lead to significant losses, especially during prolonged losing streaks.
- Avoid chasing ‘Hot’ numbers. Some players track ‘hot’ numbers—those that have appeared frequently in recent spins. However, each spin of the roulette wheel is independent, and past results do not influence future outcomes. Relying on patterns or streaks can lead to misguided betting decisions.
- Manage your bankroll properly. Come up with a particular budget for your roulette playing and religiously follow it. Know how much you are ready to lose without going over that limit.
- Play for enjoyment. Roulette is a game based on probability, and the result cannot be predicted. Playing the game should be for fun; therefore, a win will be an added advantage. This will enable the player to have a better experience while playing the game.
James oversees the content of our site and ensures the quality of every review and news article. With over 10 years of experience in the gambling industry, he has dedicated his career to exploring new trends and market analysis. James strives to make our articles accurate, understandable, and engaging for all readers. In his free time, James enjoys playing poker and has authored several books on poker strategy.