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Love Thy Neighbour – The Roulette Neighbour Strategy Explained

July 19, 2024

Some would say that roulette is a game requiring both luck and strategy at the same time. A strategy that professional players use is known as The Neighbour Strategy. What this strategy involves is not just betting on one number, but also the numbers either side of that central number, hence the name. 

Here, we will explain how the neighbour strategy works.

What is the Roulette Neighbour Strategy?

The neighbour strategy refers to a group of bets where players place chips on any given number as well as its immediate neighbours. 

In European roulette, which can be found at the best online casinos, there are 37 pockets (1-36 plus zero), therefore players should select a central number and bet two numbers either side of that number on the wheel e.g., if a player chooses 17 then their other selections would be 2, 25, 34 & 6.

How To Apply The Neighbour Strategy

Choose a Central Number. Players should decide which specific number they want to place their bets around. Players can base this decision on frequent occurrences in past spins, number superstition or simply personal choice.

Work Out The Surrounding Numbers. Identify all relevant neighbouring numbers on the wheel. For example, if a player’s choice is 7, then the neighbouring numbers would be 28, 12, 35 & 3.

Place Your Bets. Players should bet equal amounts of money on the central number and the two neighbours on either side. So if £10 were being bet on number 7, then an additional £10 would need to be bet upon 28, 12, 35 and 3, respectively.

Spin The Wheel. Once all bets have been placed it’s time for players to spin the wheel and hope that luck is on their side. 

Advantages Of Using The Neighbour Method

More Coverage. By choosing groups instead of individual numerals, players naturally increase their odds of winning, and as long as the ball lands in any part of their chosen cluster of numbers, they will win.

Balanced Risk. The neighbour strategy tends to adopt a safer approach to gambling since it spreads out risks across multiple outcomes and doesn’t just rely on hitting one number, which, although highly rewarding, is extremely difficult to achieve. Although payouts may be lower than if an alternative strategy had been used, the probability of winning is higher, leading to more stable results over the course of a few games.

Fits Different Playing Styles. Players who tend to play safe or those who prefer a more aggressive approach can benefit from this strategy. Players have options where they can cover larger or smaller sections by increasing or reducing the central number and neighbouring numbers covered by each bet.

Disadvantages Of The Neighbour Approach

More Expensive. When betting on a single number, a player’s total stake is limited; however, when many numbers are involved, this value increases. If frequent wins do not happen when using this strategy, then a player’s bankroll could diminish rapidly. 

No Change In House Edge. It doesn’t matter what strategy a player adopts, it won’t affect how much advantage casinos have. 

Roulette Neighbour Strategy

The Neighbour method adds some strategy to playing roulette (betting on a cluster of numbers that greatly improves your odds of success) instead of just placing a wager on one number and seeing what comes up.

By betting on all neighbouring numbers, players have a better chance of winning on a given session compared to a direct single-number bet. 

This strategy could be seen as a way to keep the game more entertaining for a longer period of time, but always keep in mind to play responsibly and within your budget.

Written By
David Lynch

Experienced writer and editor based in Ireland. Attends poker events, covers all casino games and slots, but is really a keen blackjack and roulette player at heart. A sports fanatic among all other things with a soft spot for soccer and F1