Posted by Have you ever heard of the Cover Table System? Otherwise known as “cover all bases”, this technique is used by Roulette players to improve their odds by placing chips on as many numbers as possible. The idea is to maximise your chances of winning on every spin of the wheel.
So, is this strategy a winner? Read on to find out more!
Different techniques to cover the table
How many numbers can be covered on a Roulette table? There are several techniques; one of the most popular is to place 5 “double street” bets – otherwise known as a line bet. The odds of winning are 30/37! If a player bets £1 on five double streets, each win will return a £1 profit. However, if you hit the wrong number or the ball lands on the Zero, you’ll lose £5.
Betting options and payouts
Roulette offers several betting options, each with different odds and different payouts. Lucky straight bets will turn over a 35/1 payout, whereas betting on colours only offers a 1/1 return. The Cover the Table strategy is slightly different. The idea is to increase the odds of winning every time you spin the wheel. To put it briefly, the risk of loss is lower, but then so is the profit! This rule applies to all betting options, even if the numbers aren’t all covered.
Cover the Table strategy: popular bets
To illustrate this point, we’ve used £1 unit stakes. The odds and payouts have been calculated according to the rules of a single-zero Roulette wheel.
Bet 35 numbers
| Unit stake: | £1 |
| Total stake: | £5 |
| Numbers covered: | 35 |
| Potential profit: | £1 |
| Chances of winning: | 94.59% |
Betting on all numbers (for example, 37 numbers at European Roulette) is a risky method that should be discouraged. Sure, it guarantees a win each time, but the overall outcome would still be negative.
Bet 17 splits
| Unit stake: | £1 |
| Total stake: | £17 |
| Numbers covered: | 34 |
| Potential profit: | £1 |
| Chances of winning: | 91.89% |
Bet 11 streets
| Unit stake: | £1 |
| Total stake: | £11 |
| Numbers covered: | 33 |
| Potential profit: | £1 |
| Chances of winning: | 89.19% |
Bet 5 double streets
| Unit stake: | £1 |
| Total stake: | £5 |
| Numbers covered: | 30 |
| Potential profit: | £1 |
| Chances of winning: | 81.08% |
Bet 1-18 and third dozen
| Unit stake: | £1 |
| Total stake: | £5 |
| Numbers covered: | 30 |
| Potential profit: | £1 |
| Chances of winning: | 81.08% |
Players bet £3 on numbers 1 to 18 and £2 on the third dozen to improve the odds of winning. Either bet will return a £1 profit, but any other number or the Zero slot implies a £5 loss.
Tips & tricks for long term profit
Betting on every number at Roulette may seem like a foolproof method but bear in mind that it’s almost impossible to recover from such a hefty loss. Frustrating as it may seem, the best advice is to limit your time and money spent at the table. Frequent Roulette players know that the best way to make a profit is to stop playing as soon as you’ve won a set amount of chips.
Our thoughts on the “Cover the table” strategy
There is a problem with the Cover The Table system! As with all winning strategies at any table game, the house edge always has the upper hand. The green zero in European Roulette, and the double-zero in American Roulette, are independent numbers that the cover system cannot beat. If the ball lands on the Zero, it defeats any outside, street or split bets.
With single-zero Roulette, there are 37 numbered slots. But a single number only pays 35/1. Therefore the Roulette winnings don’t quite match the numbers, and in the long run, the player loses. American Roulette is even worse as there are two Zeros to beat.