The Oscar Grind betting System
The bet after that is two units (pursuing the principle of increasing the bet by one unit after a win).
If that loses, the series is down by six. The next bet is two (the principle of not modifying the bet after a loss).
If that bet wins, the series is down four and the next bet is three (the formula increase of one unit).
If that bet wins, the series is now down one unit and the next bet is not increased.
As stated earlier, no bet is ever large enough to net a series profit of more than one unit. In this example, the next bet is two — to convert a loss of one into a net gain of one.
If it loses, the series is now down three and the bet remains two. If that wins, the series is back to one down and the
formula requires a bet of two to put everything into the black by one. The profit goes into the pocket and a new series
begins with a bet of one unit.
When things go well at Craps, Baccarat, or Blackjack, this system may win its per-session quota in a very few minutes,
depositing the player at a crossroads. You did not travel all the way to the casino to quit after a quarter of an hour.
On the other hand, you are sworn to quit when moderately ahead. To resolve the dilemma and strengthen the all-important
sense of mastery, get up from the table and take a walk or a drink. Resume play later, preferably with a new loss limit
no higher than the amount that you have just won. If you lose it, you have simply handed the casino’s money back,
but you have squandered none of your own.
Sometimes losing bets and winning ones come in short clusters that pretty much balance each other.
Again, Oscar can be counted on to win, but it will take longer. And, of course, occasions arise when Oscar plunges deep into the red.
As the researches of Julian Braun have demonstrated, the procedure can almost always bail itself out. But I believe that this takes too long, risks too much, and, in any case, is likely to bring the conservative player to the stop-loss limit.
Once again, temptation arises.
If the system is so dependable, and the probability of ruin so slight, why not press on?
One answer is that recreational gamblers are not at their sharpest when fatigued. Neither do they enjoy themselves in
that condition.
For that reason, I think it is a mistake to let an Oscar series even approach the per-session stop-limit. Instead,
I prefer to terminate any series as soon as (a) it is more than 10 units down and (b) a loss on the next bet would
leave it 20 units down.
Interestingly enough, this state of affairs may be reached when one has already pocketed 20 or more winning chips.
To terminate the poor series and either take a walk or start an entirely new series is extremely advantageous.
If the pattern of table play changes, as it does so frequently, one may soon find the profit pocket bulging and the gain
limit at hand.
SUMMARY
STRATEGY FOR BEGINNERS
Use the tables in Appendix B for dry-run Oscar play at Baccarat and the even-money wagers of Craps and Roulette. Become familiar with the easy counting procedures. At the casino, play the system on the same simple wagers. Having reached the stop-gain limit, take one of the casino’s chips from your profit pocket and play a two-bet Paroli. If it wins, play another. If that wins, play still another and then stop play for the session, in a well-deserved spirit of self-esteem. And if you lose, quit at the stop-loss limit and congratulate yourself. You have budgeted wisely and will have ample funds for other sessions throughout your stay in the resort.
