Roulette wheels are designed and numbered in a very specific way to give the house a built-in mathematical edge. However, players have developed betting strategies over the years aimed at effectively covering clusters of numbers that are physically close together on the wheel. These are known as “neighbor bets.”
Understanding Wheel Sections and Neighbor Numbers
The roulette wheel doesn’t follow a sequential order when it comes to its numbering. Rather, the numbers are arranged in a way that alternates pairs of odd/even and high/low numbers around the wheel. This sequencing makes it difficult to accurately predict where the ball will land.
Neighbor bets are based on the premise that if the ball lands in a number pocket, there is a decent chance it could land in an adjoining pocket in either direction. For example, if you bet on 19, chances are slightly better that the ball will also land on 18, 20 or 22 since they are physically next to 19 on the wheel.
Roulette Wheel Structure
The roulette wheel at SpinagoCasino contains the numbers 1-36 plus a single 0 (European) or double 0 (American). The alternating odd/even and red/black numbers are designed to frustrate betting patterns. However, the sequency of numbers around the wheel can inform neighbor bet strategies.
Some key traits of standard roulette wheel numbering:
- Opposite sides of the wheel contain same final digits (e.g. 27 opposite 27)
- Odd/even pairs and high/low pairs sit adjacent on wheel
- Small number sequences occur (e.g. 26 next to 29)
Understanding these quirks helps identify related neighbor numbers.
Placing Bets on Wheel Sections
The main wheel sections that neighbor bet strategies focus on are:
Thirds of the Wheel
The wheel can be divided into three sections, each containing 12 numbers:
- 1st 12 (1-12)
- 2nd 12 (13-24)
- 3rd 12 (25-36)
Bets are placed to cover an entire third, hoping the ball lands somewhere within those 12 numbers. This offers a 32% chance of winning (12 won numbers out of 37 total).
Orphelins
The orphelins are numbers that don’t fit into any particular wheel section, including:
- 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31 and 34
Bettors will place a 5-chip bet to cover all 8 orphan numbers, giving them a 23% chance to win.
Half Wheel Bets
Some players will bet an entire half of the wheel:
- 1st Half: 1-18
- 2nd Half: 19-36
This offers a near 50/50 proposition but a lower payout.
No matter the wheel section, grouping numbers in clusters aims to simplify betting while improving odds over straight up number bets.
Employing a Neighbor Bet Strategy
There are a couple primary ways roulette players use neighbor bets:
Bet On Adjoining Numbers
Simply choose key numbers on the layout and place bets on that number itself plus the two immediate neighbors on either side. For example:
19, 20, 21
OR
32, 33, 35
This can be done with as many individual numbers as your betting limit allows. It covers small clusters with 5-number groupings.
Combine Neighbors and Wheel Bets
You can combine the neighbor bet concept with the wheel section strategies:
- Bet an entire third
- BUT also place neighbor bets on key numbers within that section
So if you bet the 2nd 12, you could put neighbor bets on 21-22-23 and 26-27-28 within that section. This greatly increases your chances of catching winning numbers.
Utilize Corner and Street Bets
Bets like the corner (covering 4 numbers) and street (3 numbers in a row) incorporate aspects of the neighbor strategy by covering closely located pockets. These outside bets can be used to complement your number clusters.
No matter how you structure them, neighbor bets take advantage of the wheel’s alternating number sequence to cover closely related pockets. Just be aware that more bets means a higher minimum stake. Have a betting budget and stick to it.
Managing Your Bankroll with Neighbor Bets
Having a smart money management approach is critical to successfully implementing neighbor bet tactics:
- Set a gambling bankroll and loss limit before playing
- Bet small percentages of your total bankroll
- Build winnings back into your bankroll
- Quit when you meet your loss limit for the day
Don’t let neighbor bets lure you into false confidence about guaranteed wins. The house still holds an edge across thousands of spins. Stay disciplined about your staking plan.
Many players increase bets aggressively after losses, hoping to chase winnings. This is a recipe for losing your entire bankroll. Have confidence in your strategy, but know when to walk away.
Pros and Cons of Roulette Neighbor Bets
|
Pros |
Cons |
|
Increase probability of winning vs straight bets |
Require more units to cover wider range |
|
Take advantage of wheel number sequences |
House edge still applies long-term |
|
Fun to cover whole wheel sections |
Have to watch chasing losses |
|
Customizable to fit betting budget |
Can get costly with many numbers |
Neighbor bets ultimately use quirks of the wheel layout and numbering to logically predict where the ball may land. Having a consistent staking approach allows you to stretch your roulette bankroll further.
Final Tips for Roulette Neighbor Bets
Some key tips to effectively employ neighbor bet strategies:
- Learn the wheel numbering layout
- Identify key patterns and related pockets
- Start small with 3-4 clustered numbers
- Combine neighbor bets with other wheel/section wagers
- Manage bankroll carefully
- Quit while you’re ahead
Roulette offers many great betting options like the neighbor wager. Understanding both the wheel itself and odds behind different bets allows you to develop customized strategies with better chances to win.
Stay disciplined, bet smart and always gamble responsibly. That is the key to roulette success using the neighbor and wheel section betting systems.
