In his book Monte Carlo anecdotes and systems of play (1910), Victor Bethell explains an interesting system for roulette. It is called the 'bread-winner' system. This book is available at amazon.com for $310.61!
You start playing one unit and, as long as you win you stow it away as a definite gain. If you commence losing, you continue to play flat or level stakes of 1 unit, until either you are one to the good, or the bank has won 5 from you. As soon as this has happened you begin playing flat stakes of 2 units, crossing out wins as they occur, and keeping a record of the losses.
Say you start with 3 losses , 2 wins, and then 4 losses, your score would like this: 1 {1} {1} 1 1 1 1 - [Note: {} = crossing out]
You are now 5 units to the bad and start playing flat stakes of 2 units. Suppose the game goes as follows: win lose win win lose. Your score-sheet will appear thus: 1 {1} {1} {1} {1} {2} 2
You continue staking 2. Suppose the game goes as follows: lose lose win lose lose lose. Having started afresh with the figures remaining, viz. 1, 2, your score-sheet will then read like this: 1 2 2 {2} 2 2 2
You have now lost 5 two's on balance, so you commence staking 3, and every time you win you will cross out 2 two's and write down a 1.
N.B. Be sure you do this. If you cross out a 2 and a 1 it will alter the whole system, and make it more dangerous for the player.
The table comes round in your favour, and gives you win win win.
Starting with your score as follows 1 2 2 2 2 2, the result after the above coups of 3 have been played will be as follows: 1 {2} {2} {2} {2} {2} 1 {1}
Now as all the two's have disappeared, you drop from a stake of 3 to 2 again, starting as follows: 1 1
Supposing you get one loss and two wins, your score will be: {1} {1} {2}, and you are quits once more - you must then recommence with a stake of 1 unit.
The bank has won 15 'coups' to your 11, and yet you have come out without loss. This is the merit of the slow and safe progression.
How much capital it would be necessary to have, to make this method nearly infallible? The player who had 2000 units would be in a very strong position. Remember that all safe systems are necessarily slow.
Of course, if the table had continued unfavourable, you would have commenced staking 4 as soon as five three's appeared on your scoresheet, and you would have lowered your stake to 3 again as soon as all the three's had been wiped out.
You start playing one unit and, as long as you win you stow it away as a definite gain. If you commence losing, you continue to play flat or level stakes of 1 unit, until either you are one to the good, or the bank has won 5 from you. As soon as this has happened you begin playing flat stakes of 2 units, crossing out wins as they occur, and keeping a record of the losses.
Say you start with 3 losses , 2 wins, and then 4 losses, your score would like this: 1 {1} {1} 1 1 1 1 - [Note: {} = crossing out]
You are now 5 units to the bad and start playing flat stakes of 2 units. Suppose the game goes as follows: win lose win win lose. Your score-sheet will appear thus: 1 {1} {1} {1} {1} {2} 2
You continue staking 2. Suppose the game goes as follows: lose lose win lose lose lose. Having started afresh with the figures remaining, viz. 1, 2, your score-sheet will then read like this: 1 2 2 {2} 2 2 2
You have now lost 5 two's on balance, so you commence staking 3, and every time you win you will cross out 2 two's and write down a 1.
N.B. Be sure you do this. If you cross out a 2 and a 1 it will alter the whole system, and make it more dangerous for the player.
The table comes round in your favour, and gives you win win win.
Starting with your score as follows 1 2 2 2 2 2, the result after the above coups of 3 have been played will be as follows: 1 {2} {2} {2} {2} {2} 1 {1}
Now as all the two's have disappeared, you drop from a stake of 3 to 2 again, starting as follows: 1 1
Supposing you get one loss and two wins, your score will be: {1} {1} {2}, and you are quits once more - you must then recommence with a stake of 1 unit.
The bank has won 15 'coups' to your 11, and yet you have come out without loss. This is the merit of the slow and safe progression.
How much capital it would be necessary to have, to make this method nearly infallible? The player who had 2000 units would be in a very strong position. Remember that all safe systems are necessarily slow.
Of course, if the table had continued unfavourable, you would have commenced staking 4 as soon as five three's appeared on your scoresheet, and you would have lowered your stake to 3 again as soon as all the three's had been wiped out.
Might come up into something else. Though I am not up to it actually. Just trying. 
