In the grand casino halls, amidst the clinking of chips and the soft murmur of anticipation, French Roulette stands as a paragon of grace and strategy. This game, with its roots deeply embedded in the heart of 18th-century France, is not just a game of chance but a dance with fortune, governed by the whims of a spinning wheel and a small, elusive ball.
What is French Roulette?
Imagine a wheel, an elegant circle segmented into 37 pockets, each whispering the promise of victory or the spectre of defeat. This is the realm of the French Roulette table, where the numbers 1 through 36, along with a solitary zero, lie on a roulette wheel in wait.
Unlike its boisterous American cousin with its additional “00” slot, the French wheel is a study in refined probability, offering players a slightly more forgiving embrace.
How to play French roulette
The play begins with a ritual as old as the game itself. Players, with hopes high and strategies at the ready, place their bets on the French roulette table – a field of numbers, colours, and possibilities. The croupier then sets the wheel in motion and sends the ball spinning, marking the commencement of a suspenseful ballet. Where it stops, nobody knows, until it nestles into its chosen pocket.
The Basic Bets in French Roulette
Inside Bets: The High-Risk Courtiers
Within the inner sanctum of the betting layout, the inside bets hold court. These are the high rollers, the daring dreamers that bet on single numbers or small clusters. With names like straight bets, split bets, and corner bets, these bets whisper promises of substantial payouts for those brave enough to court their favour and place more bets.
- Straight: A straight-up bet involves placing chips directly on a single number, offering the highest payout of 35 to 1 but with the lowest probability of winning.
- Split: A split bet is made by placing chips on the line between two adjacent numbers on the table, covering both for a potential payout of 17 to 1.
- Corner: A corner bet, also known as a square bet, is placed at the intersection of four numbers, covering all of them with a payout of 8 to 1 if any of the four numbers wins.
Outside Bets: The Prudent Diplomats
Outside bets are the game’s diplomats, preferring a more conservative approach to wealth. Betting on the colour of the pocket, whether the number will be an odd money bet, column bet, or even money bet, or high (19-36) or low (1-18) bets, these options offer safer passages to profit.
The En Prison Rule
This rule presents hope when the fickle ball decides to rest upon the zero. Instead of losing their stake outright, they get the opportunity to imprison their bet on the table for the next spin. This act of chivalry allows the bet to be recovered in full if the next spin is favourable or forfeited to the house if not. En Prison is a testament to the game that will impact your final winning bet!
The Le Partage Rule
La Partage softens the blow when zero makes its unwelcome appearance. Players who have cast their lot with even money bets are met with a gesture of goodwill; instead of waving their entire bet goodbye, they are entitled to reclaim half of their stake. This rule significantly tempers the house edge, making landing on zero a less bitter pill to swallow.
Advanced Bets in French Roulette
When you play French roulette, advanced bets add a layer of excitement. These bets are placed on specific numbers on the wheel rather than the table layout. Some bets include:
Call Bets: The Siren Songs
Call Bets are intricate patterns of wagers that cover specific sections of the wheel. These are the siren songs, luring players with their complexity and the promise of covering significant portions of the playing field with a single, eloquent declaration. Among these:
- The “Voisins du Zéro” (Neighbors of Zero) covers the 17 numbers closest to zero
- Tiers du Cylindre” (Thirds of the Wheel) targets the 12 numbers opposite the zero
- Orphelins (Orphans) are bets made on the numbers not covered by the first two bets, whether odd numbers or even money bets.
These advanced betting options require a good understanding of the game and a strategic approach, offering a dynamic twist to the traditional roulette experience and the potential for significant rewards as you claim the winning number.
Differences between French and American Roulette Variation
- French Roulette has a single zero on the wheel, while the American Roulette wheel includes a single zero and a double zero, increasing the total number of pockets.
- Due to the extra double zero, the house edge in American Roulette is higher (5.26%) compared to the French (2.7% for most French roulette complete bets).
- French Roulette often features the “La Partage” rule and sometimes the “En Prison” rule, further reducing the edge on even-money bets. These rules are not typically found in American Roulette.
Differences between French roulette and European roulette
- French Roulette often features the “La Partage” rule, where players lose only half their even-money bets if the ball lands on zero. This rule is typically not present in Europe.
- The betting layout on the French roulette table is slightly different, with bet names in French and a more spread-out arrangement, compared to the compact European layout.
- French Roulette traditionally includes two types of bets known as “call bets” or “announced bets,” which are more commonly used in this version, not the European.
French and European roulette can be very similar in many instances, however, as you can see above regarding the various roulette rules, the roulette game, and final bets are what differentiates the European roulette table from the French.
Popular French Roulette Games
- Classic French Roulette: This is the traditional version of the game, renowned for its single-zero wheel and the classic betting layout. The key feature that distinguishes French Roulette from other versions like European roulette or American roulette, is the “La Partage” rule, which gives players half their even-money bets back if the ball lands on zero. This rule significantly reduces the house edge, making it a favoured option.
- French Roulette Gold: This variant is often part of the “Gold Series” of table games in many casinos, known for its high-quality graphics, realistic sound effects, and smooth gameplay. French Roulette Gold maintains the traditional rules of roulette but offers a more luxurious gaming experience with its polished presentation and added features such as expert modes and customizable betting layouts.
- Multi-Wheel French Roulette: This game allows players to bet on the outcome of not one but several roulette wheels simultaneously. This variant follows the standard French Roulette rules, including the “La Partage” rule, but increases the excitement and potential winnings by multiplying the number of active wheels. While more common in online platforms, some high-end physical casinos might offer a version of this game using electronic terminals linked to multiple live wheels, providing a unique and thrilling experience for players looking for something beyond classics.
Digital Spins: French Roulette Online
In the digital age, you can play French roulette online, all you have to do is find your favourite online casino. Here, amidst the pixels and the digital chips, the essence of the traditional roulette game remains untouched.
- Live Dealer French Roulette: This digital spin on French Roulette brings the real-life casino experience to your screen. Players can watch a live video stream of a dealer spinning the real roulette wheel and dropping the ball, just like in a physical casino. This version often includes a chat function, allowing players to interact.
- Mobile French Roulette: With the rise of mobile gaming, French Roulette has been optimised for smartphones and tablets, allowing players to place their bets and spin the wheel anytime and anywhere. These mobile versions are designed with intuitive interfaces, ensuring the layout of the roulette table is easily navigable on small screens.
- Virtual Reality (VR) French Roulette: Pushing the boundaries of digital gaming, some online casinos allow you to play roulette online, in a Virtual Reality environment. Players wear VR headsets to immerse themselves in a fully realised casino, complete with a detailed roulette table, wheel, and chips.
FAQ
It’s time to turn our attention to some of the most pressing questions in the minds of avid gamblers and aspiring players alike:
How many numbers are on a French Roulette wheel?
Thirty-seven. From 0 to 36, each waiting for destiny’s call.
How do I win at French Roulette?
Success lies in predicting the ball’s final resting place. Though strategies abound, remember that the French roulette wheel spins on the axis of chance.
The Difference between Call and Announced Bets?
These are the flourishes, the grand gestures of betting where players announce their intentions without immediately placing chips.
Roulette is more than a game; it’s a narrative woven with the threads of strategy and chance. Each spin of the wheel is a verse in an ongoing epic, each bet a stroke in a grand painting of fortune and fate. So, step into the casino’s hallowed halls, virtual or otherwise, and let the wheel spin. Who knows? Fortune might favour the bold or the one who’s there to just enjoy the game.
