What is French Roulette?
French Roulette is a game of chance that comprises a roulette wheel, a ball, and a table. There are various versions of roulette and French Roulette is based on the standard European style roulette.
The French roulette wheel has numbered pockets ranging from 0 to 36. The object of the game is to guess which pocket or slot the ball will land on when the French Roulette wheel comes to a stop.
How to Play French Roulette
There are two types of roulette wheels, American and European. The difference between the two is the number of zeroes on on the wheel. American Roulette wheels have two 0's (double-zero), which increase the house edge considerably. French Roulette uses a European roulette wheel, which is a single-zero wheel, giving the player better odds. The numbers are also arranged differently on a French Roulette wheel.
The goal in a game of French Roulette is to predict which number the ball will fall on as it spins on the wheel. After the player places his bet on the table, the dealer (known as a croupier in French) releases a small ball onto the spinning wheel (in the opposite direction of the spin). The ball ultimately stops in one of the numbered pockets (slots) of the wheel and if the player has guessed where the ball will fall, he has won.
There are three types of bets in French Roulette. They are called inside bets, outside bets and call bets. An inside bet is when the player bets on a number or a combinations of numbers from 0-36 (corresponding to the number on the pockets of the wheel), which appear on the inside portion of the table layout. An outside bet is placed outside the table layout and is placed on colors (red or black) or on combinations of numbers.
Call bets in French Roulette are sometimes referred to as "announced" bets. There are several types of call bets. The two big call bets are Voisins du zero (which means Neighbors of Zero), which covers 17 numbers that appear as an arc on the betting table; and Tiers du Cylindre (which means one-third of the cylinder), which covers 12 numbers in the arc between 27 and 33.
The remaining 8 numbers on the wheel located in mini-arcs are called orphelins (orphans). The bets for these numbers are called Orphelins en plein, which covers the orphans with one chip on each number; and Orphelins a Cheval, which covers the "orphan" numbers with one chip on 1, one on 17, and the remaining chips on the other numbers.
How to Win at French Roulette
If the bouncing ball lands on the color, number or combination of numbers that you have bet on, you've won and, depending on the type of bet, your wager is returned to you at different rates.
Types of bets in French Roulette and their payouts are as follows:
The bet with the highest odds is the Straight bet; it pays 35:1. A Straight bet is an inside bet on a single number. The chip is placed on the table in the middle of the number.
A Split bet, which is another type of inside bet, pays 17:1. A Split bet is a wager on two adjacent numbers. The chip is placed on the table on the line that separates the two numbers.
A Street bet pays 11:1. A "street" is a horizontal row of three numbered spaces on the game layout. Therefore, a Street bet is an inside bet on one of these rows of 3 numbers. In a Street bet, the chip is placed on the outside line at the beginning of the row.
A Square bet - an inside bet on four numbers in a square layout - is placed at the horizontal and vertical intersection of these numbers. A Square bet pays 8:1.
A Line bet 5:1. A line bet is on 6 numbers (2 adjacent rows). The chip is placed between the two rows of numbers that are wagered on.
"Outside" bets pay less than "inside" bets:
A Column bet pays 2:1. This is an outside bet on one of 3 columns comprising 12 numbers. The chip is placed at the bottom of the chosen column.
A Dozen bet also pays 2:1 and is 12 numbers, which can be the first 12, the second 12, or the third 12.
Finally, the Even-Money bet pays 1:1 (even money). This bet is on 18 numbers (half the numbers on the wheel). This can be odd (all the odd numbers), even, red, black, 1 to 18, or 19-36.
Definitions and Terms for French Roulette
Called bet - also called an "announced bet." Called bets in French Roulette are types of bets along with inside and outside bets, which are placed on combinations of numbers.
Column - a vertical column of twelve numbered spaces on the game layout
Column bet - an outside bet on one of the columns of 12 numbers
Croupier - French term for roulette wheel operator or "dealer."
Dozen Bet - A bet on one of the sequences of 12 numbers on the layout. A player can bet on the "first" twelve, the second twelve, or the third twelve.
Douzaine - French term for the Dozen Bet.
Even Money - A bet that pays off at one to one. In roulette Red, Black, Odd, Even, Low, and High bets all pay even money.
Game layout - the area of the table featuring numbered spaces corresponding to the numbered slots on the roulette wheel, as well as other spaces used for various types of bets
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Inside bet - any bet placed using the spaces inside the numbered part of the game layout, including straight, split, street, corner, and line bets.
Line bet - A type of inside bet on 6 numbers comprising of 2 adjacent rows. The chip is placed between the two rows of numbers that are wagered on.
Orphelins - Literally "orphans" in French. This is a term for 8 numbers on the table layout that are not covered by the "Voisons du Zero" or "Tiers du Cylindre" called bets.
Outside Bets - One of the 2:1 or even-money bets found on the outside of the table.
Roulette ball - the ball used in a game of roulette, usually made of ivory, metal, or plastic
Roulette table - the table on which roulette is played, featuring a roulette wheel and game layouts
Roulette wheel - the wheel used in a game of roulette
Slots - the numbered and colored pockets of the inside track of the roulette wheel
Split bet - this is an inside bet on two adjacent numbers. The chip is placed on the table on the line that separates the 2 numbers.
Square bet (or corner bet) - a bet on four numbers in a square layout (as in 11-12-14-15). The chip is placed at the horizontal and vertical intersection of these numbers.
Straight bet - An inside bet on a single number. The betting chip is placed on the table in the middle of the number.
Street - a horizontal row of three numbered spaces on the game layout
Street bet - an inside bet on a "street." The chip is placed on the outside line at the beginning of the row.
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