One of the casino games that is enjoyed live and on the Internet all over the world is Roulette. You may have seen the game with its long numbered table and spinning wheel and wondered if you would like to get in on the action. If you do, you should be aware that to generate interest in roulette, the European game has undergone some changes.
In Traditional European Roulette, there is a field of 36 numbers, 18 red and 18 black, as well as a Zero. You can bet an individual number, two numbers, three numbers, four numbers, five numbers, six numbers, or twelve numbers with a single bet (you can bet as many numbers as you like with multiple bets). You can also bet whether the first half of the numbers will hit or the second half, whether the number will be odd or even, red or black, whether it will come in the first, second or third part of the board, or whether it will come in the first, second, or third column..
To generate interest, some casinos have instituted one of two rules which had fallen out of favor and can be to the player’s advantage to know about and utilize. Tables with these rules are often called “French Roulette” tables and have a special layout with bets labeled in French. In this form of Roulette, the player may have the option of “La Partage.” La Partage applies only to even money bets, such as Odd vs Even, Red vs Black, or 1-18 vs 19-36. If the spin comes up Zero, which would normally be a loss for these bets, La Partage allows you to take half of your bet back. This is similar to the “Surrender” option once offered in Blackjack, although in this case, since there is a clear loss, you would always take La Partage.
A more interesting rule that can save you money is the “En Prison” rule. In this variation, when your even money bet lands on Zero, you have the option either to surrender half your bet as in La Partage, or let your bet ride, keeping it “in prison” for another spin. If you make your wager this time, you get your full bet returned to you. If not, you lose your entire bet. Clearly En Prison is a more favorable rule, since it affords you the chance to try to keep your entire bet, if you so choose, but your casino will not always offer this option.
When should you play French Roulette as opposed to the Traditional European version? Always! The La Partage and En Prison rules considerably reduce the house’s edge against you, which should be your main concern when playing any casino game against the house. With the wide variety of casinos on the Internet, you should always find and take advantage of the ones that provide the most favorable rules for your game of choice. Do your research and you will be rewarded with a more fun and hopefully more profitable experience.
Tom Shannahan has been playing poker since he was 16. He grew up watching his father play with friends once a week. He currently writes part time for Pokerlistings.com where you can find more great information about how to Play Poker and various Poker Games.
