If you’re looking into blackjack systems, you’ll probably have heard of the Paroli system.
Though the game of blackjack is down to the luck of the cards you are dealt, choosing a bankroll management strategy like Paroli can assist you in responsibly and effectively managing your bankroll.
Want to know more about the Paroli system? This guide will take you through it all:
- How to use it in blackjack games
- Pros and cons
- Variations and alternatives
But first of all, what is it?
What is the Paroli System?
The Paroli system is thought to have been invented by a French mathematician and physicist called Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662). Pascal is also widely credited with the invention of the roulette wheel, as he supposedly created the wheel whilst trying to create a perpetual motion machine.
It is named Paroli due to the Latin word “par,” which means “equal to”. Put simply, the Paroli strategy involves doubling the play value after every win. This is done until you incur a loss or you’ve had 3 wins in a row.
The point where you return to the beginning is down to you. However, the most widely accepted approach is to return to the original value for another blackjack playing cycle after the value is doubled three times in a row.
How to Use Paroli in Blackjack Games
Many casino games are entirely down to luck, so the Paroli system is used for games like roulette, blackjack, and more, as a strategy to manage the coins or credits a player has to hand.
When the Paroli system is applied to blackjack, it goes like this:
- Choose your starting unit
- Play your first hand with your chosen value
- If you win, double your play value for the second hand
- If you lose, return to the starting unit
- Play your second hand accordingly
- If you win, double your play value for the third hand
- If you lose, return to the beginning…
… and so on, until you’ve won three times in a row.
Related Posts:
Why Use the Paroli System in Blackjack?
Compared to some other popular bankroll management systems for blackjack, the Paroli system is very simple, which makes it suitable for beginners and blackjack enthusiasts alike. This means that you don’t need to understand other blackjack playing strategies in order to use the system, but it can equally be used in combination with others.
When using the Paroli strategy in blackjack, a key thing to remember is that it can only be used on 1:1 plays. In other words, Paroli for blackjack is used for standard wins. This is where players place their play on whether their hand will beat the dealer’s, where there is a 50/50 chance of winning or losing.
This makes the Paroli system in blackjack unsuitable for:
- Side plays
- Split plays
- Double downs
- Insurance plays
In some cases, online blackjack may classify blackjack plays as a 1:1 play. However, it varies between platforms and could have odds like 3:2 or 6:5 for this type of play, so make sure to double-check this before using the Paroli strategy for placing plays on getting a blackjack.
Blackjack Paroli System in Action
To help explain the Paroli bankroll management system in blackjack, let’s take a look at an example. Just to quickly recap, you play your first hand with your preferred unit, and if you win, you double the play value, and if you lose, you return to the original play value. Here, there are five hands, where the unit is 1 gold coin (GC):
| Play Value | Result | Play Result | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GC | Loss | -1 GC | -1 GC |
| 1 GC | Win | +1 GC | 0 GC |
| 2 GC | Win | +2 GC | 2 GC |
| 4 GC | Win | +4 GC | 6 GC |
| 8 GC | Win | +8 GC | 14 GC |
As you can see, after the first win, the play value is doubled to 2 Gold Coins (GC). As mentioned before, after the play value is doubled three times in a row, the play value is reset back to the original unit of 1 GC, and another cycle begins. This means that a sixth hand would have a play value of 1 GC.
At the end of this example, the return is 14 GC. This may make the Paroli strategy look quite lucrative. However, as you’ll see a little bit later, Paroli can go quite up and down throughout the game. This can be a benefit of the strategy, as returns could be bigger, like in this example. On the other hand, returns can fluctuate quite quickly.
Let’s see what would happen if the fifth hand resulted in a loss rather than a win:
| Play Value | Result | Play Result | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GC | Loss | -1 GC | -1 GC |
| 1 GC | Win | +1 GC | 0 GC |
| 2 GC | Win | +2 GC | 2 GC |
| 4 GC | Win | +4 GC | 6 GC |
| 8 GC | Loss | -8 GC | -2 GC |
As you can see, this small change, which is equally as likely to happen, can result in a significant change in the overall return after five plays. After five hands, you could end up with -2 GC instead of 14 GC. As the results of each hand are entirely down to luck, this is an important point to consider with the Paroli strategy.
Pros and Cons of the Paroli System in Blackjack
Like all blackjack strategies and systems, Paroli has a range of advantages and disadvantages, some of which you may have already spotted. Let’s take a look at the key pros and cons.
Pros
Some benefits of using the Paroli blackjack system include:
- Players do not need to be blackjack pros. You simply change the play value as required.
- It is easy to understand, which makes it a good choice for beginners.
- It is suitable for people who have minimal GCs to hand and those who want to play with more, as you set the initial play value.
- Consecutive wins can result in big prizes, as you’re doubling the play value after each win.
- Only doubling the play value after a win can reduce the risk of big losses. This can make the strategy less risky.
Cons
On the other hand, Paroli has some downsides. Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting your blackjack strategy:
- Yes, Paroli provides players with rewards after wins, but wins are not guaranteed. Blackjack is entirely down to luck, and previous results do not affect those in the future.
- It is all over the place. This means that if you are on a losing streak, it can quickly reduce your bankroll.
- The returns from Paroli are pretty short-term, as consecutive wins in blackjack are up to chance.
Variations of the Paroli System
As mentioned earlier, the Paroli strategy in blackjack is reset when the play value has been doubled three times in a row. At this stage, the player returns to the original play value and begins the cycle again.
However, some players may choose to continue doubling their play for longer to capitalize on a winning streak. This is generally referred to as ‘extended Paroli’. It is worth noting that this can be risky, as the play value can become quite big quickly, which can mean losses hit harder.
In other cases, players might add more risk to the Paroli system by using different approaches. One of these is sometimes known as ‘Paroli 3’, and is generally used by players who have more GCs to play with or set higher units. The aim here is to win three hands in a row before resetting the play cycle.
However, after each win, additional units are added to the play. For example, after each win, the previous play value (PPV) is doubled, and another unit (U) may be added. In other words, the new play value = (2 x PPV) + U after a win. Of course, this could make for higher rewards, but it may also lead to drastic reductions in returns after a loss.
Related Posts:
Alternatives to Paroli in Blackjack
When considering blackjack strategies, it is important to make an informed decision on what is right for you. For this reason, you might like to take a look at other blackjack strategies such as:
- Martingale
- Fibonacci
- Labouchere
- 1-3-2-6
- Flat playing
- Oscar’s grind
For example, The Martingale system is essentially the opposite of Paroli, where you double your play after each loss.
There is no right or wrong choice, so feel free to experiment with different systems to see which you prefer.
Try Out the Blackjack Paroli System
Of course, by nature, the results of blackjack are down to luck of what cards are dealt and when. However, strategies like Paroli can be used to manage how many units are played during the game. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to try out a range of different systems in action to see which works best with your playing style.
You can test your skills at McLuck after reading our various social casino game guides. Be better prepared for all the fun and rewards that our social casino is about to send your way and enjoy the ultimate gaming experience.
