People are constantly looking for magic ‘recipes’ that will stretch their bankrolls and boost their wins. Many strategies of how and when to place bets developed over the years to pit a measure of skill against the wiles of Lady Luck. The Oscar’s Grind betting strategy is one of these, and avid gamblers, especially those dedicated to table games such as roulette and blackjack, use it all over the world.

Gambling experts are not certain when this particular system saw the light. The first mention of the Oscar’s Grind strategy appeared in The Casino Gambler’s Guide, a witty book on gambling and gambling risks published in 1965. The author described Oscar as a disciplined and painstaking gambler who played roulette for a living. It’s not clear if Oscar was indeed a real person, but Victor Bethell, the author of Monte Carlo Anecdotes and Systems of Play, described a similar approach called the Paroli. This strategy resembled the Martingale system, without carrying the bankroll risks.

An interview with a gambler called Oscar detailed his gambling approach. This player believed one should plan for one profitable round during a betting cycle and work or ‘grind’ for it – hence the term Oscar’s Grind.

Some also refer to this betting system as Hoyle’s Press. Ironically, Hoyle and his or her origins are also lost in the mists of time. In roulette circles, players use a similar betting strategy called the Pluscoup Progression.

This article examines Oscar’s Grind a bit closer and what it means to ‘grind’ out small winnings. We also look at how you can apply this strategy to various table games.

What is Oscar’s Grind betting system?

The Oscar Grind betting system has been popular for years, and to this day, gamblers apply it when taking a turn at the tables. Players that regularly win small amounts and don’t mind putting in hours of play to achieve their goals are known as ‘grinders’.

Ordinarily, this system is employed with even-money bets based on a preset and specific winning goal. It’s different from other betting systems, such as the Martingale, Labouchere, or Fibonacci approaches, in that it presses bets after winning.

Players usually achieve their winning goals. However, these can come on the back of some significant losses. 

When you employ this approach, your bets won’t increase as rapidly as with other known and more aggressive systems. This makes it a ‘grind’ to attain your winning target. Some believe it decreases a player’s chances of achieving a goal, but it does allow players to gamble for longer periods and stay within their budgeted bankrolls.

Statistics show that Oscar’s Grind works well in streaky games but tends to perform poorly in choppy games. A streaky game is one where a player experiences a sequence of wins in a row. A choppy game, on the other hand, is when the dealer and player go back and forth with wins and losses.

How does Oscar’s Grind work?

Let’s simplify the Oscar’s Grind betting system by breaking it down.

• Set your bankroll. This is the money you want to spend in a session of gambling.

• Choose a winning target. This goal must be achievable with a single bet. In other words, one unit of your intended wager must be equal to your set winning target.

• Place your one-unit bet. If you lose or tie, then you repeat the same bet. If you win, you increase your next bet with one unit.

• Repeat this process until you reach your winning goal or until your bankroll is depleted.

If you don’t have enough money to repeat a bet, then the principle dictates that you bet as much as you can. Should a next-bet win cause you to exceed your set winning target, reduce your bet to the winning goal minus your current balance.

As the name suggests, this is a slow and systematic approach. When applying this system, statistics indicate that players don’t win or lose large amounts. Players will win in overall winning or streaky conditions and lose in overall alternating or choppy situations. When evaluating the Oscar’s Grind betting system over time during several sessions, players seem to break even.

All of this may sound complicated, but it’s in fact quite simple. You bet in cycles and aim to make one unit of profit in a cycle. When you reach your profit target, it signals the end of a cycle and the start of another.

Keep in mind that Oscar’s Grind is a progressive betting system. This means it aims to increase your winning. So, if you lose, your bet remains the same, but if you win, you increase your bet by one unit.

This strategy is more commonly used in games with even-money bets. An even-money bet is where you have an even or 50/50 chance of winning or losing. However, players reported it works with other games such as roulette. The practical implementation of this system with various table games will make Oscar’s Grind approach a bit clearer.

Oscar’s Grind betting system in roulette

The first thing that you need to keep in mind is that roulette is not a true even-money betting game. The zeros tip the even odds, but many players firmly believe the Oscar’s Grind system works with roulette. However, players do proclaim it works best on your even-money options such as Odd or Even, Red or Black, and High or Low – this being the division between the first 18 and second 18.

Begin your Oscar’s Grind roulette strategy by selecting a table-stakes bankroll. Ensure you get enough chips to wager on every spin. Gambling experts recommend players choose a single-zero wheel with the added benefit of the En Prison or La Partage rules to limit the house edge. Statistics show that implementing Oscar’s Grind in American roulette that features a zero, double zero, and a house edge of more than 5% significantly increases the risk of losing.

After you’ve selected your bankroll and wheel for Oscar’s Grind roulette, you place a bet on either of the above-mentioned options. For example, if you place a bet on red and lose, you repeat the same bet on red until you win. If you win, you increase your bet by one unit. When you reach a profit of one unit, your cycle ends and you reset.

Oscar’s Grind at the blackjackTable

In the Oscar’s Grind betting system for blackjack, players start a game by betting one unit on the first hand. Should you win that hand, your Oscar’s Grind cycle ends with achieving its one-unit profit goal and you start another. If you lose, then you re-bet one unit until you win.

Sometimes your wins after a few losses won’t reach your one-unit profit target. In this instance, you should repeat the same bet until you reach your profit target or lose your money. Remember, a cycle ends when you reach your profit target.

You only increase your wagers – and only by one unit – if you win. Keep in mind that you aim to achieve a set profit of one unit. So, if you placed a four-unit bet but stand at a two-unit negative for the cycle, you’ll bet three units during the next round to keep your profit at one unit.

Oscar’s Grind blackjack is a laborious and longwinded approach to blackjack. However, many do believe that this steady and persistent strategy proves beneficial in the end.

How can you use Oscar’s Grind betting system in craps?

Applying Oscar’s Grind in everyone’s favorite dice game, craps, seems almost ironic. This table game is fast paced as opposed to the even-paced and grinding betting system.

In Oscar’s Grind craps, you simply follow the principles of the betting system. Choose your profit goal as one unit of your intended wagers. Then, as with blackjack and roulette, play in cycles. Increase your unit when you win. Keep your units the same when you lose. And remember, reaching your set profit target effectively ends a cycle.

Using Oscar’s Grind betting system in baccarat

Baccarat resembles blackjack to an extent. It’s different in that players don’t receive their own hands. There are only two hands on the table – the dealer’s and the banker’s. Players bet on either of these hands, and the hand closest to nine takes the win.

The strategy follows the principles explained above. Set your bankroll and decide on your theoretical winning target. Ensure that one wagering unit is equal to your profit goal. As with the other table games, you increase your units on wins, keep them the same on losses, and end a betting cycle when you’ve reached your target.

The bottom line

The Oscar’s Grind betting system will most likely frustrate you if you seek the thrill of fast and big wins. However, if you want to extend your playing time, this system may prove effective. Just keep in mind that it requires a degree of concentration, restraint, and patience. 

This method goes hand-in-hand with disciplined gambling and realistic expectations. Never forget that gambling is a game of chance and no gambling strategy guarantees success.