Roulette is one of the simplest casino games to learn, and in part that’s because there isn’t much strategy to it. There is no sure-fire way to predict where exactly the ball will land on the roulette wheel, but here are several tips for reducing the house edge and improving your chances of winning some chips using basic roulette strategy.

Reduce House Advantage

The odds of winning a straight up bet (a bet on a single number) are 1 in 37 for a single-zero roulette wheel, or 1 in 38 for a double-zero wheel. By paying 35 to 1 on straight up bets instead of 37 or 38 to 1, the house gains an advantage of 2.63 percent (single-zero) or 5.26 percent (double-zero). So, whenever possible, choose to play single-zero roulette where you will face a lower house advantage.

Make More Outside Bets

Outside bets may have lower payouts, but you also have higher odds of winning with these bets. That’s why most serious players stick to outside bets like red/black, even/odd, or high/low for most spins. These bets basically give you a 50-50 chance of guessing correctly.

Use the Surrender Rule

If you are playing on a double-zero roulette wheel, ask the dealer if the casino offers the surrender rule. Normally, if you make an even-money bet (like red/black) and the ball lands on 0 or 00, you lose. When the surrender rule is in effect, however, you only lose half of your bet in this situation.

Try Inside Betting Strategies

If you truly can’t resist the allure of those high-paying, long-odds inside bets, it’s best to use a strategy that allows you to bet on as many numbers as possible on each spin. You won’t necessarily make big money, but you will enjoy more small wins and be able to play longer.

The double street quad strategy is a good place to start. This strategy allows you to cover over half of the numbers using six chips. Make two double street bets of two chips each and one quad bet of one chip. Then choose one number you haven’t yet covered and place a straight bet on it. You can bet your lucky number, but make sure it doesn’t overlap with any of the other bets.

For example, you could bet on 10-15 and 28-33 for your double streets, 17, 18, 20, and 21 for your quad, and 5 for your straight up bet. If the ball lands on 10-15 or 28-33, the house pays 5 to 1 on your two-chip bet for a profit of six chips. If the ball lands on 17, 18, 20, or 21, the house pays 8 to 1 on your bet for a profit of three chips, and if the ball lands on 5 the house pays 35 to 1 for a profit of 30 chips.

Play at a Full Table

One final tip for enjoying roulette is to always play at a full table. That way, you will average fewer spins per hour and extend the time spent at the table enjoying the gaming experience.