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Oscar's Grind Roulette Strategy | LeoVegas

Oscar's Grind Roulette Strategy

There is a plethora of roulette strategies to choose from. Each expert will have their own favourite, which means finding the right one for you is often a method of trial and error. However, if you don't mind hard work and have patience, you might consider Oscar's Grind.

Oscar's Grind is a popular roulette strategy that involves betting on even-money bets, such as red/black, odd/even, and high/low.

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Involving low risk for consistent low gains, it's a tactic employed by many conscientious players. Read on as we give the complete guide to the Oscar's Grind roulette strategy.

What is the Oscar's Grind Roulette Strategy?

The name of this strategy comes from the author Allan Wilson. In a 1965 book, he interviewed a professional roulette player named Oscar. His system was to make small wins each day, grinding away at the roulette table. The bets made were never high and his tactic came to be known as Oscar's Grind.

With Oscar's Grind, the aim is to always make a profit that is equivalent to your original stake. Each session gets grouped into sequences. When you reach the intended profit, you end the sequence.

Oscar’s Grind Step-by-Step Guide

  • 1 unit bet to start. A unit is a set amount, usually a small percentage of your bankroll.

  • If you win the first bet, you have reached your 1 unit profit and the cycle resets. You start a new cycle with another 1 unit bet.

  • If you lose the first bet, you keep the same bet size for the next round.

    Increasing Bet

  • Each time you win a bet, you increase the next bet by 1 unit.

  • Goal is to get 1 unit profit. If the next bet would put you over that goal, you adjust the bet size down to only get 1 unit profit.

Resetting Bet

  • If you lose a bet, you keep the same bet size for the next round.
  • Cycle resets when you get 1 unit profit, then you start a new cycle with 1 unit bet.

Example Outcomes

Winning Streak

  • 1 unit bet and win, 2 units.
  • 2 units and win, 3 units.
  • 3 units and win, but 4 units would put them over 1 unit profit so they bet 2 units to get exactly 1 unit profit.
  • Cycle resets, player starts new cycle with 1 unit bet.

Losing Streak

  • 1 unit bet and lose, 1 unit.
  • 1 unit and lose, 1 unit.
  • 1 unit and lose, 1 unit.
  • Eventually they win and increase the bet by 1 unit.
  • Cycle continues until 1 unit profit is achieved, then resets.

Alternating

  • 1 unit bet and win, 2 units.
  • Lose next bet, 1 unit.
  • Win next bet, 2 units.
  • Lose next bet, 1 unit.
  • Repeat until 1 unit profit is achieved.

How Does the Oscar’s Grind Strategy Work in Roulette?

Each section in Oscar’s Grind breaks down into sequences that end once you have reached the desired profit. The profit should always be equal to the amount per bet you have staked. For example, if your stake amount is $50, then once you have $50 profit the sequence ends, and you leave the table.

Bets are always made on even money odds. In an easy game using Oscar's Grind, you would place a stake and it would win. You then have your profit and your stake back so you can leave the table. You come back another day and start another sequence. Through slow grinding, you are in profit and beat the table.

However, it gets more complex if you do not win and you get into negative numbers. First, on a loss, a stake should remain unchanged. So, if you bet $5 and lose, your next bet will be $5 and the one after that, should you lose again. Once you have a win, you should then change the stake until you make the desired profit.

Imagine you were betting $10 and you lose. As it was a loss, your stake needs to remain the same and you lose again. You are now at $20.

You stake $10 and win, which now takes you back up to - $10. You now have the option to change the bet as you won. Remember that you are aiming to bring a profit that is equal to your original stake, in this case, a $10 profit.

As you are betting in $10 increments, you need to reach + $20. This works out as a need to win $30, so you would have to bet $15 on an even money bet. If it wins, you then have the starting $10 stake, with a $10 profit, and the sequence ends.

How to use Oscar's Grind Roulette Strategy?

The fundamental aspect of using Oscar's Grind roulette strategy is to set the right stake amount. This is also your intended profit, at which point you will end the sequence and finish the game. Once you start to mess with this and go too far, you lose the fundamental principle of Oscar's Grind, causing it to fall apart.

For the example below, (X) will be your stake amount. This is the profit you are attempting to reach to end the sequence.

Place an even money bet of (X) amount. If it wins, you get the amount back with your stake. You have made a profit and completed an Oscar's Grind sequence.

Place an even money bet of (X) amount. If you lose, place another bet of the same amount. Carry this on, always betting (X) until you have a win.

When you have a win after a loss, you then need to do some mathematics. Total up the bankroll you have lost so far and work out how much you would need to stake to make (X) profit. You can then double your stake and work off losses to get back up to the profit you need to complete your Oscar's Grind sequence.

Oscar’s Grind Bankroll Management

When using Oscar’s Grind, experts say to start with a bankroll of at least 25-50 times your base bet. This gives you a cushion to ride out long losing streaks without blowing your whole bankroll.For example, if your base bet is $1, you should have a starting bankroll of at least $25-$50. This way you can do multiple betting cycles without risking your whole bankroll on one session.

To protect your bankroll when using Oscar’s Grind, try these tips:

  • Keep your base bet small, 1-2% of your total bankroll.

  • Increase bet size after wins, but not too fast.

  • Reduce bet size if you get close to your profit target to avoid going over.

  • Set a loss limit per session, 5-10% of your bankroll.

  • Set a profit target per session, 1-2 units.

  • Stop play if you hit either your loss limit or profit target.

  • Track bankroll over multiple sessions.

  • Adjust bet size or profit target if bankroll goes down.

  • Take a break or stop if bankroll goes way down.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Misunderstanding the Bet Progression

Mistake: Not increasing bets after wins or keeping them the same after losses according to the Oscar’s Grind rules.

Solution: Follow the Oscar’s Grind progression:

  • 1 unit bet
  • Increase by 1 unit after a win
  • Same bet after a loss
  • Continue until 1 unit profitStick to the bet sizing rules.

Bankroll Management

Mistake: Not having enough bankroll to withstand losing runs.

Solution: Make sure you have a bankroll of at least 25-50 times your base bet. This gives you a cushion to ride out extended losing periods without wiping out your bankroll. Also limit your bet size to 1-2% of your total bankroll and adjust your bet sizes and profit targets if your bankroll starts to decline.

Chasing Losses

Mistake: Increasing bets aggressively after losses to get back to even.

Solution: Don’t chase losses. Stick to the Oscar’s Grind progression of same bet after losses. Increasing bets too fast will deplete your bankroll quickly.Instead, focus on grinding out small profits over multiple sessions. Don’t deviate from the system even during losing runs.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Oscar’s Grind Roulette Strategy?

Pro - Loss Averse

The Oscar's Grind roulette strategy is extremely loss averse. In its first instance, you will never stake more than a few units, even when losses seem high. As the aim is to make your profit and then finish, it cancels the possibility of high losses unless you lack the discipline to end at the right time.

Even when you encounter losses, they can quickly turn around into a profit. Stakes always remain static on a loss and only increase by one unit at a time. It would take an unfortunate streak for any losses to be high, so it is very loss averse.

Con – It Relies on Streaks

If you are lucky, you will win right away and complete your sequence. If not, you will lose, and this will start a patch of wins and losses which go backward and forwards. This can mean it takes an extremely long time to reach your desired profit, which is also quite low.

Yes, it is called Oscar's Grind for a reason. Yet you only really get anywhere when streaks happen. If they do not, you can fall into a slow downward step of losses, which can be a long and arduous process to get out of.

Pro – High Potential for Profit

When you are disciplined and have patience, Oscar's Grind has quite the profit potential. As you are aiming for a profit equal to your stake, you are increasing your probability of walking away from the table with extra money in your pocket. The more you play beyond this, the more you increase your chances of a loss.

For example, imagine you go to play roulette and use Oscar's Grind over three sessions. You bet $50 per stake. The first time you win straight out on the first go. The second time you have a long, grinding game but make a $50 profit. It happens again the third time. By the end of the week, you have made $150 in profit. This is much more than less disciplined people would make on other casino games.

Con – It is Repetitive

Many players avoid the Oscar's Grind strategy for one fundamental reason: It just is not that fun. Gambling is a form of entertainment, and Oscar’s Grind does not leave much of that. You have to do a lot of work for a small profit, then leave to play another day. If luck is on your side, the sequence will be over quickly. If not, you can undergo a long process to make a marginal gain.

It's not that much fun when you have a quick win and quit while you are ahead. By the time you travel to the casino, get chips, and place a bet if you win right away, the fun is over and it is back home. This is not how everyone wants their casino experience to be.

Oscar’s Grind Roulette Strategy FAQ

Is the Oscar’s Grind Roulette Strategy Considered Good for Beginners?

Oscar's Grind can be good for beginners, as it minimizes losses and with discipline, can cause a profit. However, Oscar's Grind isn't the most stimulating strategy. It's repetitive, requires a lot of patience, and does not yield high payouts. So, beginners should try a range of bets and strategies to enjoy the game and get familiar to the rules before limiting themselves to this.

Is Oscar’s Grind Strategy Better Than Martingale?

While there are similarities, Oscar's Grind and the Martingale are very different strategies. Both can only be used with even money bets. They also concentrate on recouping losses.

However, Martingale has slightly more risk involved. While it allows for higher returns, losses can come much quicker and be larger than that you would get with Oscar's Grind.

What Other Roulette Strategies Are There?

One of the most popular strategies in roulette is the Martingale strategy. It involves doubling up your bets when you lose, until you make back your losses and some profit. It's so popular that many people also use the tactic as an investment strategy. However, it is quite defensive, preventing loss but also limiting the potential for big wins.

A similar strategy is the Fibonacci. Like Martingale, it involves increasing your stake to claim back any losses. However, instead of doubling up, you use the famous sequence. For example, your first loss would be a one unit bet, the second loss would be one unit, the third would involve two units, and so forth.

Finally, a different strategy is the 666 roulette strategy. This involves placing a $66 stake across a wide section of the table. It results in a 10% chance of a loss but produces a small profit on most occasions.

Learn about other roulette strategies in our guide: