The Paroli System

When gamblers discuss blackjack strategy, the serious theorists refer to the blackjack basic strategy or to card counting. These strategies are the ones that work (at least much of the time). But there are other "strategies," which are actually betting methods and not playing strategies, and the Paroli system is one of them. The Paroli progressive betting system is a "positive" system, whereby you keep increasing your bets as long as you win.

In the Paroli betting system, you start by betting the minimum bet. If you win the first hand you increase your next bet; if you lose, you go back to your original bet. When you use the Paroli system, you are "pyramiding" your profits, building on the base of your successes and on the likelihood of hot streaks.

When you use the Paroli system, however, it's smart to have a budgeting plan before you sit down at the blackjack table. You need to look ahead when you use a progressive betting system, no matter which one you opt for. You should decide exactly how far you are going to increase your bets until you start from the minimum again. This depends on factors like the kind of game you're playing, the odds you're getting, and, of course, the amount of money you're playing with.

The Paroli system is a relatively conservative system; it does not require a large investment, especially if and when you set a pre-determined limit beyond which you're not willing to bet. The Paroli is also a relatively consistent and stable system, especially compared to other systems, particularly the "negative" ones.

The Paroli is designed to take advantage of hot streaks. The theory is that by raising your bets during a winning streak, you can win more than if you keep betting a stagnant amount.

If you are lucky enough to hit a streak - a big IF - the Paroli betting system offers you a chance to win a large amount of money from a small initial wager. On the other hand - and there are always other hands with progressive betting systems - streaks are unpredictable and they can end as soon as they begin. In the long run, even with a positive system like the Paroli, you can lose your initial bankroll, especially if you're not careful. And there's nothing positive about that.