Most casino players are well aware that betting strategies rarely work in the long term, yet they are constantly devising new systems and methods with varying degrees of success. One of the most peculiar systems is the Base Two Strategy, which can be used for multiple casino games, including roulette, blackjack, and craps.
This is a relatively popular wagering system that is based on the simplest progression one could imagine – the player’s minimum and maximum bets. Unlike many other methods that consist of arranging one’s betting in accordance with a long and complicated sequence of numbers, the Base Two system has only two possible bet sizes. This is where its name comes from – that there are two fundamental bets that are placed throughout the entire game. Sometimes, this technique is referred to as Level Two system.
Interestingly, the origins of this strategy remain unknown and experts are not certain where and when it was first used in casino gaming. What they do know is that Base Two is quite risky and may turn out to be disastrous if not applied properly. At the same time, players who are well informed and have carefully picked up their two bases beforehand may leave the roulette table with a decent profit.
How It Works
The Base Two system involves a positive progression, according to which the size of the stake is increased after a winning spin of the roulette, while after a loss, the bet decreases. As with most betting progressions, this method can be applied successfully in any casino game, which has even-money bets. Therefore, gamblers would use this system on blackjack or on the pass and don’t pass bets on craps.
When we apply Base Two to roulette, we need to play any of the even-money wagers we prefer and bet on red or black numbers, even or odd, or low or high numbers. Players should know, however, that the chances of hitting red or black, for instance, are not fifty-fifty. Due to the presence of the green zero (or two zero pockets in the American roulette version), which is obviously neither black nor red (neither even nor odd, and neither high nor low), the chances that you would hit any of the even-money bets is 48.65% (47.36% in American roulette).
Following this logic, we can assume that each of these six bets is equally applicable to progressive betting systems such as the Base Two strategy. Players who adopt it can, therefore, stick to the same wager throughout their game or, alternatively, change their bets before every spin of the wheel. Once this part of the system has been clarified, we can continue to explain what exactly this strategy is.
It is probably the simplest form of structured betting and is easy to learn and understand by practically anyone. Before applying it, roulette players need to choose their “two bases”, which means the minimum and the maximum stake amount they feel comfortable with. This, of course, depends solely on one’s individual bankroll and willingness to take risks. For the minimum bet, players are advised to take the table minimum – $5 or $10 in land-based casinos or $1 online.
More things need to be considered when determining the second base of this system, however, i.e. the maximum bet. Typically, this should be the amount of money players are prepared to lose per spin. Another thing they need to take into account is the maximum betting limit of the table they play at. Last, but not least, they will need to choose a bet size in accordance with their bankroll – a max bet that is roughly up to 10% of your bankroll would be suitable.
Once the two bases are chosen, players can start with the initial bet and keep it until they win. When this happens, they place the max bet – if the following bet wins, the bet size remains the same, but if it loses, players go back to the beginning and place the minimum bet. For example, we have a bankroll of $200 and the table minimum is $5, so our two bases will be $5 (minimum bet) and $20 (maximum bet). Let’s see how the Base Two strategy works in 10 random bets.
Spin | Bet | Outcome | Payout | Profit |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$5 |
2 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$10 |
3 | $5 | Win | $10 | -$5 |
4 | $20 | Win | $40 | $15 |
5 | $20 | Lose | $0 | -$5 |
6 | $5 | Win | $10 | $0 |
7 | $20 | Win | $40 | $20 |
8 | $20 | Win | $40 | $40 |
9 | $20 | Win | $40 | $60 |
10 | $20 | Lose | $0 | $20 |
Total Bet Amount: $140 | Total Payout: $180 | Net Profit: $20 |
Risks Associated with the Base Two Betting Strategy
As we can see from the example above, this is an effective betting system as long as we experience a series of winning bets. The idea is that with this strategy, players can capitalize on their winning streaks. They keep betting the maximum amount until a loss is registered but by that time, they have already generated a decent amount of money that would not be lost with a single losing spin.
Similarly to most betting progressions, the Base Two system is based on the concept of the hot and cold streaks, also called by some players winning and losing streaks. The method seemingly limits the losses during cold streaks and maximizes the profits during hot streaks. However, the belief that there are such things as hot and cold streaks is a misconception and this is where the risk of Base Two lies. When we win several times in a row, we are not on a winning streak – rather, we experience a winning streak.
In reality, roulette is a completely random game based purely on chance – luck, on the other hand, is just people’s perception of the game’s probabilities coming to life. This means that players should not rely on winning streaks to turn a profit, as they may never experience such a favorable series of wins. It takes just a long losing streak, on the other hand, to lose huge amounts of money when using this method. In fact, even if losses are followed by wins and wins by losses over a total of 10 spins, the session would end in a net loss so significant that it would be hard to compensate for it, as demonstrated in the following example.
Spin | Bet | Outcome | Payout | Profit |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $5 | Lose | $0 | -$5 |
2 | $5 | Win | $10 | $0 |
3 | $20 | Lose | $0 | -$20 |
4 | $5 | Win | $10 | -$15 |
5 | $20 | Lose | $0 | -$35 |
6 | $5 | Win | $10 | -$30 |
7 | $20 | Lose | $0 | -$50 |
8 | $5 | Win | $10 | -$45 |
9 | $20 | Lose | $0 | -$65 |
10 | $5 | Win | $10 | -$60 |
Total Bet Amount: $110 | Total Payout: $50 | Net Loss: $60 |
The Base Two Betting Strategy Additional TipsIf the sequence starts with a winning spin, however, players would lose a total of $75 with the same alternating outcomes. The only scenario where this strategy is profitable is when the right circumstances occur. In other words, in order to generate some winnings with this system, players need to be certain they will win several bets in a row, which is, of course, impossible when playing a random game such as roulette.
Moreover, there is no guarantee that the gaming session will end with a profit even if players register more wins than losses. If the 11th spin in the table above was a winning one, the progression would still end in a net loss of $40.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Base Two Strategy
The first and most advantage of this wagering system is that is exceptionally simple and easy to learn. It can be applied by both experienced roulette players and complete novices. The strategy also eliminates the risk of reaching the maximum table limit because there are only possible bet sizes with it. In contrast, aggressive progressions such as the Classic and the Reverse Martingale require that you double your bet after a loss or a win and with such progressions, the stake could escalate to hundreds of dollars after only a few spins.
Under the right circumstances, the system could be very successful, indeed, as its main goal is to maximize one’s winnings and to limit the losses. After all, winning streaks do occur, although they are simply random and independent of previous outcomes, as explained above. Of course, the Base Two casino strategy has its weaknesses, as well, and they should be carefully considered in advance.
Additional Advantages and DisadvantagesThe biggest disadvantage of this method is its dependence on a very specific set of conditions, namely the occurrence of several consecutive winning spins. Such circumstances are, of course, possible but they are not certain. There is a very real risk of losing large amounts of money with this strategy even without experiencing long losing streaks, as demonstrated in the example above. In addition, the system does not include a rule that determines when to stop the progression. If continued for a long time, it increases the risk of losing your entire bankroll.
It is also important to know that the system cannot change the house edge of the game – this the fixed casino advantage built in every version of roulette that guarantees that the casino will win over the long term. Last, but not least, we should not forget that the Base Two betting method is very flexible and could be adjusted to suit every type of player. For a safer alternative, gamblers are advised to choose a max bet that does not exceed 5% of their entire bankroll.
Conclusion
Just like almost any other betting system in existence, the Base Two Strategy does not work in the long term and is not a foolproof way of securing winnings when playing roulette or any other casino game. If applied with caution, it could be very profitable and entertaining, especially for those gamblers who are looking for a new and exciting method for betting on roulette.
The strategy is also a good tool for structuring your bets even if you are new to the world of wagering systems. The Base Two method is simple and could easily be learned and applied even by beginners. It would be useful, however, if they determine not only the minimum and maximum bet sizes but also maximum limits for the wins and losses, expected from a single betting progression.