Blackjack Betting Strategy 1-3-2-6 Guide
Summary: Blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6 is a positive progression system that defines how much you need to stake after a winning hand.You bet 1, 2 , 3, 2 and 6 units. The amount you stake is always a multiplication of your initial bet size and whatever number you reach in the sequence.
Table of Content:
- What is the Blackjack Strategy 1-3-2-6?
- How Does the Blackjack Strategy 1-3-2-6 Work?
- How to Use the Blackjack Strategy 1-3-2-6
- What Are the Pros and Cons of Blackjack Strategy 1-3-2-6?
- What Are Similar Betting Strategies that Can Be Used in Blackjack?
Blackjack is one of those casino games where a bit of planning can be very helpful. Indeed, if you use a basic blackjack strategy, you’ll know the mathematically optimal moves for every hand you’re dealt.
You can combine a basic strategy with a betting system to further your bets and increase your potential winning streak when you play our popular online blackjack games. Plenty of blackjack betting systems are out there, including the famous Martingale method. However, if you want one that provides clear guidelines at every point, you need to learn the blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6.
What is the Blackjack Strategy 1-3-2-6?
Blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6 is a positive progression system that defines how much you need to stake after a winning hand. It’s known as a positive progression betting system because you “progress” through the sequence of numbers each time you have even money bets win a hand.
Blackjack betting systems can also have a negative progression structure. The most popular negative progression system is Martingale. With the Martingale blackjack strategy, you double the size of your bet each time bet loses when you lose a hand and you return to your original amount after a win.
With the blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6, you adjust your bet size after a win and return to the sequence's start if you lose. Therefore, even though both systems have the same underlying premise (i.e. you adjust your bet size based on the result of which bet wins a hand), they’re opposite poles with regard to when to make an adjustment in the betting unit.
How Does the Blackjack Strategy 1-3-2-6 Work?
The blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6 is fairly simple to understand because the increments are included in the name, i.e. you bet 1, 2 6 betting system, 3, 2 and 6 units. The amount you stake is always a multiplication of your initial bet size and whatever number you reach in the sequence. To keep things simple, let’s assume the numbers in our sequence correlate with dollar amounts:
- We sit down at an online blackjack table and start with a $1 bet.
- You win this bet and that allows you to start the sequence.
- Then you win again. As per the blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6 rules, we have to bet $3 on the next hand.
- We adjust our bet size to $2 after winning the third consecutive win.
- We win again and stake $6 on our fourth hand.
- Take the profit and return to the start of the sequence after your fifth win in a row.
What’s nice about the blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6 is that you can start off betting any amount you like (within the game’s limits). That’s because each number in the sequence is a multiplier of player bet amount. So, let’s say you bet $5, and win a move to the second number in the sequence. The next bet size would be 5 X 3 = $15.
Anyone who plays blackjack games online or live knows that things don’t always go smoothly. Our example assumes we won every hand and moved linearly through the sequence. This might not happen every time you play.
What Happens if You Lose?
You may win the first hand, and then a third bet and lose. You may win three hands, followed by a fourth bet and loss. The point here is that you won’t always get through the sequence in one go. However, that doesn’t matter. The blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6 accounts for wins and losses. As we’ve said, you progress to the number multiplier when you win. If you lose a hand, you go back to the start.
The system is such that previous wins will offset losses. This only applies if you win your initial bet and get into the sequence of multipliers. If you do get over the initial hurdle, the worst you’ll do is break even (if you lose the first bet of the sequence). If you lose at the second bet or any other point in the sequence, previous wins will cancel out a loss and leave you with a small profit.
For example, let’s say you win three hands in one unit in a row and then lose:
- Hand 1: Stake $1 and win = $1 stake back + $1 profit = $2 return
- Hand 2: Stake $1 and win = $1 stake back + $1 profit = $2 return = running total profit = $2
- Hand 3: Stake $3 and win = $3 stake back + $3 profit = $6 return = running total profit = $5
- Hand 4: Stake $2 and lose = $2 loss + $5 profit from previous hands = $3 overall profit
There will be times you don’t make a profit. Specifically, if you don’t make it into the sequence and keep losing your initial money on hand, you’ll incur a loss. However, once you get into the sequence, you’ll either break even money or make an overall profit. Leave the game when you are happy with your winnings before risking losing all of it, and stop playing if you find yourself on a long losing streak.
How to Use the Blackjack Strategy 1-3-2-6
The sequence of multipliers is crucial when you use the blackjack or betting cycle strategy 1-3-2-6. Win an initial bet to start with the cycle. If you lose the initial bet, you don’t apply the betting pattern and your overall profit takes a hit. However, once you’re in the system, it’s designed to break even at least.
Therefore, if you want to use this blackjack betting system, we advise you to start small. Doing this allows you to navigate the tricky initial bet phase of the online casino without doing too much damage to your bankroll.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Blackjack Strategy 1-3-2-6?
Like all blackjack strategies, there are pros and cons to the 1-3-2-6 method:
Pros
- Clearly defined betting pattern.
- Break-even is guaranteed.
- You’re free to start betting any amount you like.
Cons
- Wins are never guaranteed.
- You need to overcome the initial bet (i.e. get a win first) before you can use the system.
What Are Similar Betting Strategies that Can Be Used in Blackjack?
The blackjack betting strategy 1-3-+ 3 2 6 system2-6 isn’t the only available progressive system. Other positive progression blackjack betting systems include:
Reverse D’Alembert You increase your bet size by 1 unit following a win, while decreasing it to single unit or by 1 unit after a loss.
2-1-2 = You bet two units and decrease to 1 per unit bet following a win, then go back to 2 units if you win again.
Fibonacci You follow the Fibonacci sequence of numbers (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 etc.) and progress each time you win. When you lose, you go back to the start of the sequence.
Paroli betting strategy The Paroli system is a strategy that doubles your bet after each win and returning to the initial bet after a loss. This method aims to take advantage of winning streaks while reducing losses during periods of consecutive losses.
All three betting systems have their merits, with the same applying to the blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6.
It’s important to remember that your results can vary each time you play. However, with a solid blackjack betting system in place and good bankroll management, you may give yourself a better chance of staying in the game.
That’s the best reason to try the blackjack betting strategy 1-3-2-6.
Learn about other blackjack strategies in our guides: